Chinese fire drills?

[Indy-hp]

You know, Bernie's suggestion that F1 purposefully wet the track at certain races to make it more exciting, and Pirelli's support for the idea, got me to thinking--are there other, similar, things F1 could do to make the show better? For example:

Should F1 institute Chinese fire drills? Like Pirelli suggests, maybe with a ten-minute warning but sprinkled randomly through a race.

At the sound of a horn, make the drivers pull off the racing line and stop within 30 seconds, get out and run two 360s around their cars, and get back in. We could see some tremendous changes of position that would really spice up the races. I can see Jenson struggling with his harnesses and hear Matchett's voice: "if only the team had gone with "Harko" harnesses, they release easier...." Great opportunities for drama.

What do you think? Good idea?

[numetalbizkit]

Jenson's ability to run 360s faster than anyone else would give him an unfair advantage. F1 would have to institute harness rules and team orders bans for harnesses in order for it to be fair.

I think they should have the cars at one end of the pit straight and force the drivers to run down to them and start them up and drive away, and at a random whistle they should stop, get out, and run a lap around the track and get back in and drive off.

[JMFVET]

Teammates should have to run around the cars, which ever driver is faster jumps in the seat he likes most. If Jenson's car is running rough, has wing damage, or worn tires he has the choice of taking Lewis' car, and visa versa.

I like the rain maker idea, but they have that HUGE indoor ski resort in Dubai. Makes me think it would be much more challenging on snow.

[Baigu]

I think drivers should do their own pitstops. Come into the pits, stop the car, change all 4 tires by themselves, get back in, start the car, and head out of the pits.

[Automotive]

Each fire drill, add a driver who is out of the race - the F1 version of the lucky dog (fitting in China). Drivers run around the cars on the grid until Bernie blows the whistle. Drivers get in any car they want but one will not have a seat, so best to take the car nearest you. That way there is one more driver than cars. Next fire drill is 2 laps after the next car goes out of the race. Imagine the strategy. Race ends when one car is left on track with a driver inside. Driver skill is much easier to detect this way, as Alonso can be in a Virgin, Trulli in the McLaren and Schumacher back in the Ferrari....until the next fire drill....

Shanghai'd in Shanghai I call it.

[JMFVET]

We have so many good ideas here. Bernie should pay us a consulting fee. ;-/

[Sleepcheap]

Yup, lotta great ideas here. I was thinking how cool it would be to see F1 cars running a Figure-8 race. Then I realized that might get a little old so how about changing a chicane into a cross-over loop? All the benefits of a figure 8 but retaining other track features as well.

[Indy kiwi]

Well Suzuka is a figure 8 layout and is a great track. How about a figure 1 track? Oh sorry, that would be NHRA!

[Sleepcheap]

Suzuka kind of made me think of it. Easy fix there, just demo the bridge and make it a cross road.

[Baigu]

Suzuka kind of made me think of it. Easy fix there, just demo the bridge and make it a cross road.

How about a take off ramp. Put Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock in the 2 seater.