Proposal to lift stricken F1 cars by helicopter in the future

  • Published on 28 Oct 2014 11:46
  • comments 2
  • By: Rob Veenstra
October was a horror month for the F1 backmarker Marussia. The first, tragic blow came in the shadow of the Suzuka typhoon, when the promising talent Jules Bianchi skidded into a recovery vehicle. He remains in a Japanese hospital, but the latest unofficial news about the Frenchman is brighter.

Italy's Omnicorse claims Bianchi, 25, might soon be considered stable enough to be transferred from Japan to Europe, much to the relief of his French parents. The report said Bianchi's next destination could even be Lausanne, Switzerland, and the very same building that until recently housed the F1 great Michael Schumacher.

At the same time, veteran F1 minds including Ross Brawn and Stefano Domenicali are working on a panel that is deeply investigating the circumstances, causes and reaction to the Bianchi crash. The respected correspondent Alberto Antonini, writing in the specialist Italian Autosprint, said the FIA panel is looking into whether Bianchi's crash may have been caused by the new in 2014 'brake-by-wire' system aboard his Marussia.

Electronic brake-by-wire, working in conjunction with the complex energy recovery systems for the new turbo V6 engines, has been problematic up and down pitlane in 2014. Antonini said some insiders suspect brake trouble may have contributed at Suzuka, after eyewitnesses did not see tyre marks on the track before the Bianchi crash scene. "Perhaps it is no accident that at Sochi, Max Chilton - the only Marussia in the race - was stopped for a reason that is not fully understood," he added.

Meanwhile, the Swiss newspaper Blick is reporting that a company called Air Zermatt is proposing that stricken F1 cars be lifted from danger by helicopter in future rather than by driving dangerous recovery vehicles into the escape zones. "This is a safe, easy and quick method," said the helicopter company's chief executive Gerold Biner, who said Air Zermatt's standing proposal to the FIA remains unanswered.

Finally, Marussia backer Andrey Cheglakov confirmed to the Russian news agency Itar-Tass that he has indeed withdrawn from the F1 team. "This is a sad note," he is quoted as saying, "but I want to express my gratitude to each member of the team, both at the track and in Banbury. We made the impossible possible, becoming the only team to earn points of the three that came to the world of formula one in 2010. We had the smallest budget but the most motivated staff," Cheglakov added. (GMM)

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • scf1fan

    Posts: 58

    Yeah sure, that sounds a lot safer! <Rolls Eyes> High winds, power lines, rain, jet/aviation fuel, down wash, near by trees/building . . . etc. etc. etc.. Nothing at all to worry about there . . . And oh yeah? What about the track workers trying to hook the car up?? (Jet packs?) Is it really that hard to put the race under caution for a few laps or have a temporary stoppage if conditions are really that bad? The primary problem at Suzuka was that they sent the retrieval team out into the track area before they had control of the track for the conditions!

    • + 0
    • Oct 30 2014 - 01:26
  • I agree with the previous comment 100%.

    • + 0
    • Oct 30 2014 - 15:23

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2 2024
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia
5 - Apr 7 2024
Japan
19 - Apr 21 2024
China
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America
17 - May 19 2024
Italy
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco
7 - Jun 9 2024
Canada
21 - Jun 23 2024
Spain
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary
26 - Jul 28 2024
Belgium
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22 2024
Singapore
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America
25 - Oct 27 2024
Mexico
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America
29 - Dec 1 2024
Qatar
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2 2024
7 - Mar 9 2024
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24 2024
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7 2024
19 - Apr 21 2024
3 - May 5 2024
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19 2024
24 - May 26 2024
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9 2024
21 - Jun 23 2024
28 - Jun 30 2024
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7 2024
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21 2024
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28 2024
23 - Aug 25 2024
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1 2024
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15 2024
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22 2024
18 - Oct 20 2024
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27 2024
1 - Nov 3 2024
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24 2024
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1 2024
6 - Dec 8 2024
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar