2014 Japanese Grand Prix + Couch Discussion Thread

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:08

went wrote:According to Sutil, Bianchi hit the crane.

Oh dear

Dj_bereta · Post by **Dj_bereta** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:10

The helicopter is ready. Oh god, I hope Bianchi get well and return to racing.

Nin13 · Post by **Nin13** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:10

Bianchi taken in heli

BigG80 · Post by **BigG80** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:11

Feel a bit sick thinking about Bianchi hitting the crane. I'm hoping the podium means he is ok.

Jocke1 · Post by **Jocke1** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:11

went wrote:According to Sutil, Bianchi hit the crane.

Eerily similar to De Villota, then.

Nin13 · Post by **Nin13** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:12

Good news is that they have put him in heli inside 10 min, he must be okay now. If it was serious than there would have been more time spent on track for resuscitation.

Post by **Bobby Doorknobs** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:12

Come on Jules, you'll pull through.

went · Post by **went** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:13

Bianchi is unconscious. He was sent to the hospital by car because the helicopter can't fly safely.

Oh dear... :cry:

TheFlyingCaterham · Post by **TheFlyingCaterham** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:14

good_Ralf wrote:I guess no champagne will be sprayed on the podium.

Your rumour has been confirmed correctly

Post by **Miguel98** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:16

https://twitter.com/afelixdacosta/status/518675422415183872

Crap...

. I'm having a really bad feeling about this.

TheBigJ · Post by **TheBigJ** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:18

Why aren't they showing footage of the crash? Must be bad...

went · Post by **went** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:20

TheBigJ wrote:Why aren't they showing footage of the crash? Must be bad...

Spanish TV folks say they have pictures and that the car is "completely smashed" and they are refusing to show them.

AxelP800 · Post by **AxelP800** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:22

Looking at the a first image of Bianchi's car..... Oh my God

Nin13 · Post by **Nin13** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:22

went wrote:Bianchi is unconscious. He was sent to the hospital by car because the helicopter can't fly safely.

Oh dear...

What an idiot FIA. If heli can't take off why we're they racing. In past they have stopped why not today.

Nin13 · Post by **Nin13** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:24

TheBigJ wrote:Why aren't they showing footage of the crash? Must be bad...

They never show. Like senna crash last few seconds is not yet released.

girry · Post by **girry** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:25

whiting has screwed up, that was an insta safety car.

hope for the best..

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:29

I did wonder why they cut to seemingly pointless footage of the Sauber garage for so long just before the red flag.

Post by **mario** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:30

Nin13 wrote:
went wrote:Bianchi is unconscious. He was sent to the hospital by car because the helicopter can't fly safely.

Oh dear...

What an idiot FIA. If heli can't take off why we're they racing. In past they have stopped why not today.

Yesterday, after qualifying, Kravitz mentioned that the local authorities had promised that, if any driver was injured and the medical helicopter couldn't fly, that they would provide a police escort for any ambulance convoy, which appears to have convinced the FIA that they would be able to race.

Unfortunately, it is one of those contingencies that you would have hoped would never have to be put into action, and it is casting a very long shadow over what had been an enjoyable race until that point - the situation does not sound good for Bianchi, and I can only hope that the initial reports are making the situation sound worse than it actually is.

TheBigJ · Post by **TheBigJ** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:32

fjackdaw wrote:I did wonder why they cut to seemingly pointless footage of the Sauber garage for so long just before the red flag.

Stewards used a sheet to cover treatment of Bianchi behind his car in order to block tv from seeing any pictures.

roblo97 · Post by **roblo97** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:34

TheBigJ wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:I did wonder why they cut to seemingly pointless footage of the Sauber garage for so long just before the red flag.

Stewards used a sheet to cover treatment of Bianchi behind his car in order to block tv from seeing any pictures.

IIRC, they did that at Spa in 2001 when Burti had his crash there.

AndreaModa · Post by **AndreaModa** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:35

Whatever the aftermath of all this is, I suspect a lot will be made of the conditions being too poor for the helicopter to fly. No doubt we'll see a rule change to allow FIA to overrule all other parties when considering rescheduling a race. Should have been run earlier in the day.

With all that said, obviously hoping Bianchi is okay. The most important thing we can all take from this as ordinary spectators is to not get hysterical and not start a blame game. In those sort of situations, no-one is at fault. The truck needed to move the Sauber, and it's unfortunate that for Jules, he crashed right where it was. If it hadn't been the crane, he might have hit the Sauber, and possibly even Sutil if he hadn't got out in time.

TheFlyingCaterham · Post by **TheFlyingCaterham** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:36

TheBigJ wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:I did wonder why they cut to seemingly pointless footage of the Sauber garage for so long just before the red flag.

Stewards used a sheet to cover treatment of Bianchi behind his car in order to block tv from seeing any pictures.

[...]

Nin13 · Post by **Nin13** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:37

I think with a typhoon in vicinity it might be not safe for helicopter.

Ed24 · Post by **Ed24** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:38

It's one thing to try and allow a car recovery in the dry, but i feel it was crazy not to call a SC immediately for Sutil's crash in the wet on such a fast corner.

TheBigJ · Post by **TheBigJ** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:38

TheFlyingCaterham wrote:
TheBigJ wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:I did wonder why they cut to seemingly pointless footage of the Sauber garage for so long just before the red flag.

Stewards used a sheet to cover treatment of Bianchi behind his car in order to block tv from seeing any pictures.

Really FIA? Bianchi might be injured. People want to know what happened. Why would you cover it up?

NSFW perhaps, at 10.38 GMT+1 in the morning when some kids could be watching their first F1 race? It only serves to fuel negative speculation...

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:39

AndreaModa wrote:Whatever the aftermath of all this is, I suspect a lot will be made of the conditions being too poor for the helicopter to fly. No doubt we'll see a rule change to allow FIA to overrule all other parties when considering rescheduling a race. Should have been run earlier in the day.

With all that said, obviously hoping Bianchi is okay. The most important thing we can all take from this as ordinary spectators is to not get hysterical and not start a blame game. In those sort of situations, no-one is at fault. The truck needed to move the Sauber, and it's unfortunate that for Jules, he crashed right where it was. If it hadn't been the crane, he might have hit the Sauber, and possibly even Sutil if he hadn't got out in time.

That said, Martin Brundle has been wincing for *years* every time one of those trucks is on track - with so much specialist racing and safety equipment used in Formula 1, it's always alarming to see these huge pieces of construction equipment lumbering about on the circuit.

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:40

TheFlyingCaterham wrote:Really FIA? Bianchi might be injured. People want to know what happened. Why would you cover it up?

Standard procedure. Formula One is watched by children, so it's really in everyone's interest to keep the traumatic pictures at a minimum. We will learn soon enough the full extent of any potential injuries.

fjackdaw · Post by **fjackdaw** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:40

TheFlyingCaterham wrote:
TheBigJ wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:I did wonder why they cut to seemingly pointless footage of the Sauber garage for so long just before the red flag.

Stewards used a sheet to cover treatment of Bianchi behind his car in order to block tv from seeing any pictures.

Really FIA? Bianchi might be injured. People want to know what happened. Why would you cover it up?

This is sarcasm, right?

girry · Post by **girry** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:41

TheFlyingCaterham wrote:
TheBigJ wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:I did wonder why they cut to seemingly pointless footage of the Sauber garage for so long just before the red flag.

Stewards used a sheet to cover treatment of Bianchi behind his car in order to block tv from seeing any pictures.

Really FIA? Bianchi might be injured. People want to know what happened. Why would you cover it up?

Bianchi IS seriously injured.

They dont show it because it generally isnt very tactful to show material of potentially a fatal accident in live feed. And tthe FIA are exactly right to do that.

If my memory serves right (could be wrong too), checo's crash at Monaco quali 2011 wasn't instantly shown either

Zergon · Post by **Zergon** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:41

Hopefully Bianchi will be ok, what a bad way to end otherwise good race.

good_Ralf · Post by **good_Ralf** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:41

In 1994 Martin Brundle went off at the same place IIRC and nearly hit a tractor/caterpillar. Instead he collided with a marshall, causing the marshall a horrendous leg injury. Martin has said ad nauseum how he thought he was going to die as he aquaplaned towards the tractor and he could have lost his life.
And in 2007 at the Nurburgring, the SC quickly scampered out of the way when Vitantonio Liuzzi spun off, nearly hitting the SC and kissing the back of a tractor. Both came within yards/inches of disaster.

Don't want to be morbid BTW so I'll delete this post if it upsets anybody.

Dom_Wings · Post by **Dom_Wings** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:43

Fingers crossed for Jules.

The Dutch Bear · Post by **The Dutch Bear** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:44

TheFlyingCaterham wrote:
TheBigJ wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:I did wonder why they cut to seemingly pointless footage of the Sauber garage for so long just before the red flag.

Stewards used a sheet to cover treatment of Bianchi behind his car in order to block tv from seeing any pictures.

Really FIA? Bianchi might be injured. People want to know what happened. Why would you cover it up?

They also did that when Schumacher crashed in 1999. Unless it is confirmed that a driver is OK, they won't show him. They have bad memories about doing so in 1994.

CoopsII · Post by **CoopsII** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:47

Bianchi went by ambulance because the helicopter couldn't land/takeoff I believe. Which comprises his treatment a little bit. Not good.

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:52

TheFlyingCaterham wrote:
TheBigJ wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:I did wonder why they cut to seemingly pointless footage of the Sauber garage for so long just before the red flag.

Stewards used a sheet to cover treatment of Bianchi behind his car in order to block tv from seeing any pictures.

Really FIA? Bianchi might be injured. People want to know what happened. Why would you cover it up?

They don't let the drivers use even mild swear words on the podium, they aren't going to show what is potentially a driver dying in what must have been a massively destructive crash. This isn't Game of Thrones.

Post by **Londoner** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:53

Rosberg and Vettel sounded close to tears when being interviewed by the BBC.

Post by **mario** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:55

fjackdaw wrote:
AndreaModa wrote:Whatever the aftermath of all this is, I suspect a lot will be made of the conditions being too poor for the helicopter to fly. No doubt we'll see a rule change to allow FIA to overrule all other parties when considering rescheduling a race. Should have been run earlier in the day.

With all that said, obviously hoping Bianchi is okay. The most important thing we can all take from this as ordinary spectators is to not get hysterical and not start a blame game. In those sort of situations, no-one is at fault. The truck needed to move the Sauber, and it's unfortunate that for Jules, he crashed right where it was. If it hadn't been the crane, he might have hit the Sauber, and possibly even Sutil if he hadn't got out in time.

That said, Martin Brundle has been wincing for *years* every time one of those trucks is on track - with so much specialist racing and safety equipment used in Formula 1, it's always alarming to see these huge pieces of construction equipment lumbering about on the circuit.

On the other hand, I am struggling to see how you could easily move a car that has crashed, and therefore cannot be easily wheeled away, without some sort of mobile crane.

Having a somewhat cumbersome mobile crane near the edge of the track is not an ideal situation, and it is true that in the past we have had a few close calls when marshals have been trying to remove a stricken car in damp conditions. However, I'm not sure what alternatives could easily be used to replace the mobile cranes - perhaps you could try to clad the outside of the crane with some sort of protective padding, but that could then compromise the safe working of the crane for the operators and the marshals around it, so I don't think there is an easy way out of that situation.

Ed24 · Post by **Ed24** » 05 Oct 2014, 08:59

mario wrote:
fjackdaw wrote:
AndreaModa wrote:Whatever the aftermath of all this is, I suspect a lot will be made of the conditions being too poor for the helicopter to fly. No doubt we'll see a rule change to allow FIA to overrule all other parties when considering rescheduling a race. Should have been run earlier in the day.

With all that said, obviously hoping Bianchi is okay. The most important thing we can all take from this as ordinary spectators is to not get hysterical and not start a blame game. In those sort of situations, no-one is at fault. The truck needed to move the Sauber, and it's unfortunate that for Jules, he crashed right where it was. If it hadn't been the crane, he might have hit the Sauber, and possibly even Sutil if he hadn't got out in time.

That said, Martin Brundle has been wincing for *years* every time one of those trucks is on track - with so much specialist racing and safety equipment used in Formula 1, it's always alarming to see these huge pieces of construction equipment lumbering about on the circuit.

On the other hand, I am struggling to see how you could easily move a car that has crashed, and therefore cannot be easily wheeled away, without some sort of mobile crane.

Having a somewhat cumbersome mobile crane near the edge of the track is not an ideal situation, and it is true that in the past we have had a few close calls when marshals have been trying to remove a stricken car in damp conditions. However, I'm not sure what alternatives could easily be used to replace the mobile cranes - perhaps you could try to clad the outside of the crane with some sort of protective padding, but that could then compromise the safe working of the crane for the operators and the marshals around it, so I don't think there is an easy way out of that situation.

The alternative is calling a safety car, not about the type of equipment used.

Fetzie · Post by **Fetzie** » 05 Oct 2014, 09:00

Adrian Sutil refused to talk to the BBC about Jules Bianchi's accident.

Ed24 · Post by **Ed24** » 05 Oct 2014, 09:01

He'd already made some initial comments earlier to other outlets, so perhaps is just sick of talking about it (understandably).