Should f1 run coupes?

You want to quote from the biggest moaner in the history of F1? :s hock: He didn't moan about the millions he made now did he ;)

If drivers really though that F1 was so dangerous, they would find something else to do.

"Danger is the most important thing, like salt is to cooking" - Stirling Moss

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Originally Posted by Rollo

If there'd been some sort of plexi cover in front of Aryton Senna, then it's possible that the suspension pieces wouldn't have pierced his face.
http://www.benchapman.com/project/image51.jpg

If there'd been some sort of plexi cover in front of Felipe Massa, then it's highly likely that the errant suspension spring from Barichello's Brawn would have been deflected. Massa now has a titanium plate in his skull because of the inherent design flaw of F1 cars.

Obviously a closed cockpit is no guarantee of survival but it is safer. Doesn't it make more sense to aim for a higher standard than to settle for a worse one? If Formula One is supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport, then why shouldn't it also lead the way in terms of safety development?

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Er, that's why F1 cars now have high cockpit sides, to prevent wheels encroaching on the driver's helmet. Look how far the tubs (didn't) rise up alongside the drivers in 1994 and compare them to where they are now. I wouldn't call open cockpits a design flaw either. They are designed to be that way.

Enclosing the driver in F1 requires a radical redesign of the machines. You can't just put something over their heads and enclose them. I'm also quite sure that F1 drivers can get out of the modern cars without having to take off the headrests if they're in a hurry.

I'll point you to Simona de Silvestro's accident at Indy this year - car on fire upside down, and she manages to get herself out. Extracting oneself from a gull-wing car upside down and on fire is quite a different kettle of fish.

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Originally Posted by 555-04Q2

Or drivers could just not race in F1 or any other open wheel formula. They know the hazards of racing in an open wheel formula, they accept it and they get paid big bucks for it. If it was really a concern, they would not be in F1.

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That's exactly what I was thinking, they know what their doing, hell, they would probably argue against people trying to make it closed roof. It's their risk that they choose to make, just like saying a soldier shouldn't be sent to war because he might be shot at, he knew what he was doing when he signed up.

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Originally Posted by Andrewmcm

Er, that's why F1 cars now have high cockpit sides, to prevent wheels encroaching on the driver's helmet. Look how far the tubs (didn't) rise up alongside the drivers in 1994 and compare them to where they are now. I wouldn't call open cockpits a design flaw either. They are designed to be that way.

Enclosing the driver in F1 requires a radical redesign of the machines. You can't just put something over their heads and enclose them. I'm also quite sure that F1 drivers can get out of the modern cars without having to take off the headrests if they're in a hurry.

I'll point you to Simona de Silvestro's accident at Indy this year - car on fire upside down, and she manages to get herself out. Extracting oneself from a gull-wing car upside down and on fire is quite a different kettle of fish.

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F1 cars don't catastrophically catch fire all that often though?

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Originally Posted by Berwickk

That's exactly what I was thinking, they know what their doing, hell, they would probably argue against people trying to make it closed roof. It's their risk that they choose to make, just like saying a soldier shouldn't be sent to war because he might be shot at, he knew what he was doing when he signed up.

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Yes, but if reasonable steps can be taken to make that soldier safer then they should be...... the soldier expects to have body armour, helmets and so on....

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Originally Posted by Berwickk

That's exactly what I was thinking, they know what their doing, hell, they would probably argue against people trying to make it closed roof. It's their risk that they choose to make, just like saying a soldier shouldn't be sent to war because he might be shot at, he knew what he was doing when he signed up.

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Welcome to the forum :)

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Originally Posted by Daniel

Yes, but if reasonable steps can be taken to make that soldier safer then they should be...... the soldier expects to have body armour, helmets and so on....

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Does your bed have sides so that you don't fall off it? ;)

There is only so much one can do for safety in any form of sport, job, hobby, day to day life etc. We cannot account and cover for everything.

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Originally Posted by 555-04Q2

Does your bed have sides so that you don't fall off it? ;)

There is only so much one can do for safety in any form of sport, job, hobby, day to day life etc. We cannot account and cover for everything.

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OMG I hadn't realised the risk! I will order some bed sides straight away!

C'mon Dan. You are being a bit padantic about the whole safety issue.