2017 Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand PrixFormula 1 

Pezzarinho17
You know what, having both practice sessions cancelled today is probably the best thing that could happen for the 2017 Chinese GP. Having teams and drivers unprepared for the race might put some variation back into the procession.
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Some say the McLaren engines are singing with happiness at not having to run.
 
Less practice sessions becomes unfair on the teams if there aren't any more test sessions throughout the season. They do need time to develop the cars and test what works or not. Restricting practice with the current testing days will harm the sport, not improve it.
 
I think generally we're talking about just losing the practice sessions in China and returning in Bahrain. I won't speak on behalf of @Liquid though, might mean permanently! :D

No change to the schedule, so race will remain on Sunday.
 
If the weather is the same as today, very much so. If that helicopter can't get to the nearest hospital, or if the police can't assist an ambulance to make it within 20 minutes then it is a no go.
 
AutoMotorSport and Niki Lauda are reporting that on Sunday, there will be more wind and the clouds will be higher, so chances are better than today. They asked a steward and he said that even with a police escort, the nearest hospital cannot be reached with a car under 1h, so they rely on the helicopter.

Crazy thing is, just after FP2 was cancelled, the Porsche Supercup was allowed to drive...their rules are not that strict.
 
Back in the day, GP races were lacking almost everything in the way of medical facilities. I remember Jackie Stewart organizing a medical trailer with doctors and operating facilities on the site of each GP. Have things regressed?
 
sems4arsenal
@Pezzarinho17

So from what I'm understanding tomorrow the weather is fine, but Sunday it might not be?
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Correct, though see above for a little more information than I have seen so far. Sounds like they are confident that the weather won't affect the helicopter.

Looking through some of the comments on Facebook, you see a lot of people frustrated that the weather at the track didn't look that bad and focused on the "F1 cars should be allowed to race in the wet" argument instead...
 
Dotini
Back in the day, GP races were lacking almost everything in the way of medical facilities. I remember Jackie Stewart organizing a medical trailer with doctors and operating facilities on the site of each GP. Have things regressed?
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No but this is probably an aftermath of Bianchi death (Bianchi had to be taken to the hospital by car because the medical helicopter couldnt fly with the typhoon around).

They probably have a medical center at the track but quite limited, same for MotoGP, they have a medical clinic on the track with them but when a serious accident occured, they are still taken by helicopter to a hospital.
 
Dotini
Back in the day, GP races were lacking almost everything in the way of medical facilities. I remember Jackie Stewart organizing a medical trailer with doctors and operating facilities on the site of each GP. Have things regressed?
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No, they have progressed in the name of safety. Can you imagine the backlash if a driver was critically injured, losing blood, and passed away due to the ambulance being stuck in Shanghai traffic?

As someone who actually races, I applaud the foresight. The safety of the drivers needs to be a top priority, even if it occasionally affects the show.
 
Sky were saying there are two hospitals closer to the circuit, but neither have the neurological facilities and expertise required. Medical centres at the circuits are more diagnostic and preparatory than a full hospital, and they require access to a full time facility that knows there is a Grand Prix on, and is prepared for injuries caused by motor racing.
 
Would having just one practice session be cheaper for the teams by increasing the GP lifespan of the engines and other components?
 
ukfan758
Would having just one practice session be cheaper for the teams by increasing the GP lifespan of the engines and other components?
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With only 8 days of actual pre-season testing they need as much as possible to get their setups right for the race. I think the first quarter of the season they should have the normal weekend length but progressively shorten it in time and then eliminate a session one by one until it's just one short practice session, normal qualifying, and the race. The reasoning being that later in the season they are already better adjusted and don't need as much of that. If you look back you can probably see less high end teams running their cars on track in practice sessions towards the end of the year.
 
Front what I read on BBC Sport, the idea of pushing the race forward to Saturday was suggested, but quickly quashed by the teams.

The other idea, as Hamilton has suggested, would be to have/re-do practice all on Saturday, and then have qualifying on the Sunday morning before the race. Could be an idea since the weather for Saturday is supposed to be the best it'll be all weekend, with Sunday being better than Friday's albeit with rain overnight.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/39526963
 
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RX-7_FD3S
No but this is probably an aftermath of Bianchi death (Bianchi had to be taken to the hospital by car because the medical helicopter couldnt fly with the typhoon around).

They probably have a medical center at the track but quite limited, same for MotoGP, they have a medical clinic on the track with them but when a serious accident occured, they are still taken by helicopter to a hospital.
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The cancellation of a practice session happened in MotoGP a few years (2011, perhaps?) back as well, for the same reason as todays. Certainly whilst it's disappointing for fans and viewers, safety is paramount, and a driver or riders' well-being shouldn't be compromised by using incorrect procedures. A shame, but an absolute necessity.
 
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Colour me intrigued for the progress this weekend.

1) Possible inclement weather.
2) Teams all complaining a bit about wet weather tires.
3) Limited practice.
4) If we saw cars occasionally spinning in the dry (i.e. the different amount of rear downforce compared to previous cars) that will be magnified by wet conditions.

This could be completely bonkers. I applaud them for not running if they couldn't address all of their medical rules/regs though. Good on 'em.
 
Did this really happen?

C8yv_EZVoAMjO0r.jpg:large
 
Red Bull Racing has some homework to do :grumpy:

On the positive side: we will see some nice overtaking by Max during the rainy race on Sunday
 
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