XPB Big Brother in Formula 1
31.01.2010
D he stewards and the FIA have often stood in the past in criticism. In the event of rule violations on the racetrack, double standards were often applied. Some sinners got away with a black eye; others were punished disproportionately hard. Often it was also because the race management lacked adequate evidence. That should change now.
The FIA wants to install an even more precise GPS system in the cars and the race management. Until now, the position measurements of the vehicles were accurate to five meters. The new technology allows location to be determined with an accuracy of less than one meter. If a driver shortens a chicane, touches the white line in the pit exit or illegally overtakes under the safety car, the race management will in future automatically give an alarm.
TV recordings at the push of a button
This makes it possible to get an overview on the spot and quickly pronounce possible penalties. In the event of an alarm, the team concerned also receives these images on their monitors on the pit wall, so they can react immediately to decisions by the commissioners.
If the system had been in place last year, the Hamilton /Trulli dispute would be in Melbourne hasn't been revealed until days after the event. The commissioners could have watched Trulli's overtaking maneuver behind the safety car immediately, and they would also have recognized that Hamilton had trapped the Toyota driver.
F1 teams have to bear costs
The new technology has its price. The FIA spreads the cost of 750,000 euros among the 13 teams. The electronics in racing cannot be stopped. Soon there will be no more flag signals on the route. Illuminated panels are already showing the drivers dangerous situations, a termination of the race or the request to allow overtaking.
But in all cases there is still a marshal next to it. The FIA wants to do without that soon. What is shown on the light panels then applies. The same information is shown on the display of the cars. The driver can no longer claim that he has not seen anything.
