ROUND 2: 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2024

Circuit stats

  • First Grand Prix: 2021
  • Number of laps: 50
  • Circuit Length: 6.174 km
  • Race Distance: 308.45 km
  • Lap record: 1:30.734 Lewis Hamilton (2021)
  • 2023 winner: Sergio Perez

Track Map

Image

  • misery mansion
    4•4 months ago

    His start was massively compromised as a result, since he stopped and started again.

    Arguably defined his race v Piastri all told. I think it was right to not penalise him tbh

    • @[email protected]
      0•4 months ago

      I agree that it was detrimental to him this time around since he lost focus and actually started far after the others because of it. I’m still interested in seeing if the decision was made because he actually fucked his own start or if it was because the sensors didn’t detect the jump though. If it’s the sensors I believe it could open pandora’s box as it would be a definitive advantage to get even the slightest of rolls before dropping the clutch.

      • misery mansion
        2•4 months ago

        I think the rule of thumb is if you catch it and stop before starting again you’re broadly OK. It happened in 2020 IIRC with the same result but for the life of me, I can’t remember who

        • @[email protected]
          3•4 months ago

          I think the rule of thumb is if you catch it and stop before starting again you’re broadly OK.

          This is not the rule. The rule as it currently exists is completely based on if the sensor detects movements which are greater than the amount specified by the regs. If Norris had started moving 0.05 seconds before lights out but moved a low enough distance as to not trigger the sensor, it is considered a legal start even if he made no attempt to ‘catch it’.

          • @[email protected]
            1•4 months ago

            Yep that’s exactly my concern. This seems abusable. Drivers could theoretically stop further back from the grid and use that distance to get the car rolling before fully dropping the clutch, limiting tire slip. Someone posted the rules about grid placement and while there is a rule against sideways position or angle, there isn’t anything about being further back. It’s probably not going to happen but I personally would try that short rolling start in practice just to see.