F1 passing rules?

[captainmorgan]

What are the implicit passing rules that drivers follow? I'm curious as I've never heard them specifically elaborated before. How 'legal' are they, in other words, what happens if they are broken?

For instance, if one car is half a length ahead than another into a turn, does the 2nd car HAVE to yield?

Also, is it true that cars can't make a 2nd blocking move... and what is the reason behind it. What makes Webber by reputation a difficult driver to pass?

[Saribro]

Also, is it true that cars can't make a 2nd blocking move... and what is the reason behind it.

AFAIK, this is only at the start on the straight. I suppose otherwise people would be swerving all over the track, causing even more 1st turn (or even pre-turn?) crashes.

[Tom]

If someone is overtaking you down a straight you're only alowed to cut them off once, as long as you give them room to avid you, then you can't swerve to block them again There is some debate as weather you are allowed to go back onto the racing line coincidently blocking them a second time.

The half car length rule does not mean that the car being overtaken must yeild but must allow plenty of room for the overtaking car and not drive across his bows (like Montoya didn't in Canada) and risk a collision. They can still fight for the position round the outside of the corner though, but most drivers will try to cut back behind the overtaking car and try to get them on the inside of the exit.

[manchild]

AFAIK, this is only at the start on the straight. I suppose otherwise people would be swerving all over the track, causing even more 1st turn (or even pre-turn?) crashes.

No, no. Its general rule. Straight or not... once you choose the line you can't change it to defend your postion - if you choose inner line and someone tries to overtake you from the outer line (or vice-versa) you can't block him and in the case of contact you're the one to blame (Schuey-Hill 1994, Schuey-Villeneuve 1997).

[saam]

well back in 1994 were these rules out? or clear to all drivers? or were they introduced after the so called, collisions???

[mini696]

They were introduced because of MS, doing his infamous 'chops' on obviously faster cars. Basically he wasn't even giving them a sporting chance.

[Autumnpuma]

The sporting regs are pretty open to the steward's interpretation on this. I think the part that covers this is:

INCIDENTS: Section (52)

Incident means any occurence or series of occurences involving one or more drivers, or any action by any driver, which is reported to the stewards by the race director (or noted by the stewards and referred to the race director for investigation) which: (I'll snip the parts not needed for this...)

--forced a driver off the track;

--illegitimately prevented a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre by a driver;

--illegitimately impeded another driver during overtaking.

Now, this means that going off-line to prevent a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre is illegal; but I think a 'gentleman's agreement' is in play that you get one freebie.

Webbo is difficult to pass because he alters his line going into corners if you are following him. He will go for a medium entry so that if you don't have much room on the inside to try a pass and not enough speed for an outside pass. On exit he runs either tight or wide, depending on where he sees you at the apex.

[Rob W]

So how come MS hasn't been bailed up more often over the Schumy swerve? I've seen him do it a few times in what can only be viewed as bitterly unsportsman-like behaviour.

Rob W

[Autumnpuma]

The regulations give quite a lot of leeway to the stewards; and we all know that they are not impartial.

I would imagine that the Schuey-chop is sometimes viewed as legal because he is swerving to get onto the line. There were a few races (most notably with Mika Hakkinen) that Schuey pushed Mika off the track with the 'chop', but since Mika never formally complained, I would guess nobody took formal action against it.

[DaveKillens]

What Shu did a few years ago on starts has been addressed, it's now considered improper, and subject to scrunity by the stewards. Autumnpuma pretty well covered it, but as always, it's final decision is up to the stewards, and they are very human.
But we won't see any of that from Shu, he has to win, not take his opponent out and risk DNF. If you have the point lead, that's a different case, and it has been done by various drivers.

[[EDF]Fx]

I disagree. A racedrivers objective is to go as fast as possible and if he can find a competitive edge within the rules then he certainly should use that edge. If its allowed by the rules then its not unfair or unsportmanlike in my opinion.

In my opinion its the responsibility of the FIA to have rules that dont dont allow for driving thats not in the "interest of the sport".

/ Fx