Jules Bianchi passes away following accident at 2014 Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix

  • Thread starter Thread starter Blitz24
  • 1,602 comments
  • 113,445 views
Milouse
They shouldn't race F1 the years that end with a 4.
Click to expand...
Someone's already pointed out that October doesn't like motorsport... It's almost exactly a year since Sean Edwards lost his life. The previous Octobers it was Simoncelli and Wheldon. :(
 
Imari
There's always going to be a way for a driver to take a direct hit to the head in an open cockpit car, it's merely a question of probabilities.

Besides, there's still the deceleration issue. You could make the roll bar out of unbreakablium, but going from 150mph to zero in 2 inches is still going to kill. If something is coming in at head height the only thing the roll bar/airbox can realistically do is deflect it over the top of the car. Stopping it is mostly out of the question. Obviously that's not going to work if the incoming object is a JCB.

I'm not sure how much there is to be done in terms of modifying the cars to be survivable in that sort of accident. The time would be better spend outfitting the JCBs with some sort of deflection shield so that the car simply can't go underneath them. The first thing that springs to mind is bumper cars, but I'm sure it can be done better than that.

But if the big hunk of metal is surrounded by a foot of energy absorbing rubber at a height designed to interact with the safety structures of an incoming car, that's a big step up from a big hunk of metal with pointy bits at head height.
Click to expand...

This. The possibility of a car getting underneath the crane truck was the danger IMO. But ultimately, the SC should have deplyed before the crane truck.
 
So according to some Tweets, Bianchi's father said that he's currently undergoing a surgery after a head trauma...
 
Bianchi's father saying serious head injuries and critical condition, according to French news.
 
hsv
Bianchi's father saying serious head injuries and critical condition, according to French news.
Click to expand...

He also added that we shouldn't wait for news in the next 24 hours.
 
Hope he survives the surgery easily :(
 
Grayfox
I am thinking of metal skirts that stick out and point downward at 45*
Kinda like this.
.|-|
/__\
Click to expand...

That would be a good start. Anything to hook into the side or front crash structures instead of the airbox or the driver's head.

Not sure whether the angle helps or hinders, giving the car a launch ramp might be worse than just slamming it into a wall. But that's why engineers earn the big bucks. :)

zzz_pt
This. The possibility of a car getting underneath the crane truck was the danger IMO. But ultimately, the SC should have deplyed before the crane truck.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but if they really want to be safe they need to eliminate the possibility for that type of accident.

Even under the safety car the F1s aren't really going that slow. Plenty fast enough that it's conceivable that they could aquaplane, spin, skip over the gravel and hit the JCB. The car would be going slower, obviously, but de Villota wasn't actually going very fast when she hit that truck either, she just got unlucky with how it hit her.

Even under safety car I could see it being possible that a very similar accident could happen, especially in that spot. There really isn't that much space between the track edge and the barrier, the safety is mostly based on the fact that the cars will strike the barrier a glancing blow in all but the most bizarre of accidents.
 
The FIA have confirmed that Jules Bianchi has suffered a severe head injury and is currently undergoing surgery.
 
They have also said he will be transferred to intensive care after surgery.
 
Ninners
The FIA have confirmed that Jules Bianchi has suffered a severe head injury and is currently undergoing surgery.
Click to expand...

Oh no!! not another comma please...
 
I've been up for a bit but man this is horrible news. I have been thinking the same for track equipment regulations. Get ones that are low or just a truck like a Ford, Chevy or a Dodge that can be low, or build plates to stop the cars from going underneath it.
 
Imari
Yeah, but if they really want to be safe they need to eliminate the possibility for that type of accident.

Even under the safety car the F1s aren't really going that slow. Plenty fast enough that it's conceivable that they could aquaplane, spin, skip over the gravel and hit the JCB. The car would be going slower, obviously, but de Villota wasn't actually going very fast when she hit that truck either, she just got unlucky with how it hit her.

Even under safety car I could see it being possible that a very similar accident could happen, especially in that spot. There really isn't that much space between the track edge and the barrier, the safety is mostly based on the fact that the cars will strike the barrier a glancing blow in all but the most bizarre of accidents.
Click to expand...

I agreed. The SC is not a single solution. They need to combine several things (SC+speed limit+protected crane). Maybe a new flag :)
 
Grayfox
,

I hope he pulls through.
F1 has not seen a crash releated death of a driver in a few years IIRC.
Click to expand...
Or 12 months, depending on how you look at it.
 
zzz_pt
I agreed. The SC is not a single solution. They need to combine several things (SC+speed limit+protected crane). Maybe a new flag :)
Click to expand...


No need. The yellow flag means slow down. If drivers don't slow down that is their fault no one else's.
 
Tired Tyres
No need. The yellow flag means slow down. If drivers don't slow down that is their fault no one else's.
Click to expand...

Usually they don't "slow" that much. They don't overtake or just left the right foot a little.

Imposing a speed limit would be safer IMO.
 
Tired Tyres
No need. The yellow flag means slow down. If drivers don't slow down that is their fault no one else's.
Click to expand...

How much do you slow down?

Remember that first lap spin under SC?
Even with a safety car this could have happened.
 
Tired Tyres
No need. The yellow flag means slow down. If drivers don't slow down that is their fault no one else's.
Click to expand...
If you can't see the yellows, or they aren't displayed soon enough...
 
hsv
If you can't see the yellows, or they aren't displayed soon enough...
Click to expand...

They are displayed on the steering wheel and drivers are supposed to look at marshal posts to see what flag is being shown.

Grayfox
How much do you slow down?

Remember that first lap spin under SC?
Even with a safety car this could have happened.
Click to expand...

Code 60 maybe?
 
Statement from the FIA:

BzLjoa7CUAQkJ7M.jpg
 
Not seeing the flags is why they brought out the electric LED ones but they can be hidden in the rain and spray.

What could be done is divide the track into 15 or even 20 sections and if a zone goes yellow when a car is in said zone.
They get a flashing colored light in the cockpit.
 
This is sad news indeed. I hope Bianchi goes through this surgery and recovers fast.

I'll expect Alexander Rossi to replace him for Sochi, and maybe races after that.
 
My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.

Hope it's not life threatening and he makes a recovery.
 
Grayfox
What could be done is divide the track into 15 or even 20 sections and if a zone goes yellow when a car is in said zone.
They get a flashing colored light in the cockpit.
Click to expand...
They already have that.
 
The real issue here, in my opinion, isn't to do with the weather conditions or visibility, it's to do with when rescue vehicles are on track and whether or not an additional white flag should be shown.

In my opinion all recovery vehicles should be under white flags and then only when the sector's speed has been "neutralised". In this case the marshalls were doing what they do; acting quickly, efficiently and bravely to clear a minor incident. Sadly today fate was tempted a little too much.

Grayfox
Not seeing the flags is why they brought out the electric LED ones but they can be hidden in the rain and spray.

What could be done is divide the track into 15 or even 20 sections and if a zone goes yellow when a car is in said zone.
They get a flashing colored light in the cockpit.
Click to expand...

That's what they do now.
 
The cranes should not be needed to be on the track side of the tyre wall.
Cranes can easily reach and carry the distances and weights needed to recover F1 vehicles.

Sad sad day...thoughts are with JB and his family.
 
Back