Spanish Grand Prix: The formation lap will be particularly scrutinized
The formation lap of the Spanish Grand Prix of Formula 1 will be particularly observed by the stewards and the FIA, after several drivers have complained about their slowness since the beginning of the season.
Tradition of Formula 1, the formation lap allows for both the safe clearing of the starting grid and, as its nickname “warm-up lap” suggests, a gradual warming up of the car and its tires. It is conducted at a relatively slow pace, which slows down even more towards the end of the lap, as the drivers take their positions on the grid. This is to prevent the first drivers from waiting too long before the last drivers are stationary.
However, since the beginning of the 2014 season, several drivers have complained that the formation laps have been particularly chaotic, with some even having to stop. In China, for example, pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton significantly slowed down towards the end of the lap, almost coming to a halt as he took his position.
Taking this situation into account, FIA officials, led by Charlie Whiting, asked drivers in a briefing before the Spanish Grand Prix to ensure that the formation lap proceed at a more acceptable and consistent pace, according to Autosport, under penalty of facing penalties.
Sebastian Vettel confirmed this: [The formation laps] are too slow. We have talked about it and we will see what happens. For Romain Grosjean, this situation is not surprising given the parameters that drivers have to consider: I think first that the new rules make forming the pack more difficult because you don’t want to drain your battery during the formation lap. So, everyone acts differently to save the battery.
« But then I think some teams or drivers leave a big gap with the car in front of them, and you can see in the rearview mirror that the guy has come back but still wants to maintain a gap. It’s a fact that the engines are not very powerful on this lap and it makes things complicated, » he admits.
On Lewis Hamilton’s side, one of the architects of this stop-and-go pace, everything is perfectly acknowledged: “I’m just trying different things because during the drivers’ briefing, they said there’s no rule on how fast or slow you can go, so I’ve gone from one extreme to the other.” However, he admits: “One of the extremes may have gone too far, but I’m on pole, so I’ll do a slightly faster formation lap [today].”
He explains the issue of a formation lap slowdown: « What you are trying to do is minimize the drop [in temperatures] when you’re at the end of the lap and need to slow down. If you start doing your burnouts and line up on the grid, and you have to wait more than a minute for everyone to be in place, the temperatures drop, and you could potentially have a bad start. That’s what I’m working on. »
Nico Rosberg has the final word: « Charlie clarified that for both sides, so the people at the back are not allowed to leave big gaps and we, at the front, have to keep the pace. It’s clear and I’m sure we will do better. »
Meeting at 2:00 p.m. to see if the recommendations have been followed.
