All eyes in Belgium on new race start rules

  • Published on 19 Aug 2015 11:28
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra

A big talking point at Spa this weekend will be the FIA's new rules regarding race starts. The mid-season change has divided paddock opinion, with some applauding the shift away from engineers and technology, and back to the drivers.

Others, however, worry that teams will struggle to adapt their 2015 systems to the new rules. "The cars were not designed for this sudden change," Lotus' Pastor Maldonado is quoted by the Swiss newspaper Blick. "It can even be dangerous."

His teammate Romain Grosjean told the French magazine Auto Hebdo: "Perhaps there will be more uncertainty, but the teams will work hard on it. "I do not think the situation will change drastically. It will never be like in GP2, where the driver has full control over the starts," he added.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen agrees that while the drivers' workload will go up, the FIA clampdown is unlikely to prove revolutionary. "We will have to remember to do all the right things," he told the Finnish broadcaster MTV at a karting event in Helsinki.

"A few things will influence whether it works or does not work, but I don't think it's going to revolutionise things in one way or another. As long as we remember to do the right things, it should be pretty ok," Raikkonen added. (GMM)

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    "It will never be like in GP2, where the driver has full control over the starts," And therein lies the problem with the current state of F1. Instead of drivers it's a competition of which team has the best software.

    • + 0
    • Aug 20 2015 - 20:59

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

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

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

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country France
  • Date of b. Apr 17 1986 (37)
  • Place of b. Geneve, France
  • Weight 71 kg
  • Length 1.8 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar