Race Control Staff - The Heart Of Formula One Racing
Well, one may not be fooled that Formula One is a driver’s sport only. Though it is true that at the end of the day it is the driver who wins the race or becomes the ultimate hero but actually Formula One is a team sport for which every man present on the track is equally involved and committed for a race run smoothly. The collective effort and dedication of the entire crew of FIA and the track itself turns a driver, a team or a race into a failure or a success story. The most seasoned drivers or even the technically most advanced cars could turn the track and the race into disaster and chaos if the race is not controlled precisely.
Race control means the act of monitoring and supervising every single stage and every single moment of the race starting from the practice to qualifying and then finally on the race day.
The facilities offered by different circuits may vary but there are some essentials that remain constant everywhere thus allowing the FIA Race Director as well as the entire staff to take timely and correct decisions while trying to keep things safe as well as legal and scheduled.
Dedicated Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system and screens are provided to keep delivering images from every part of the circuit so that any location that might be facing a problem could be detected quickly allowing an immediate, appropriate action by the FIA crew.
One very important process that is carried during the race is the provision of timing data that gives timely information to the teams as well as to the Formula One management. This information of timings also gets updated on real time at Formula1.com’s 'Live Timing' section.
However, bedsides these stats, the Race Director also has access to additional minute information, like the pit lane speed trap which allows him to keep a close eye on all sessions of the day to ensure safety along with obeying of all the regulations.
A very efficient and advanced network of telephone and radio also keeps the principal marshals, the medical centre, the medical response car as well as safety car in close contact with each other. This ensures a quick response by everyone in case of any emergency on the track.
The safety car is always ready waiting for the slightest order from the Race Control to rush to the troubled place and also to escape from the track with equal swiftness after having it cleared.
The Race Director also has the assistance of a large army of FIA personnel and staff of the local circuit itself. The other key players of the race control are the race stewards who make sure that all the rules and sporting codes are followed properly. The most common of all reasons of penalties is the 'drive-through', or disobeying the safety car rules like overtaking it etc.
Other disciplinary issues that are more complicated, like concluding the actual man behind an accident or pointing out the driver responsible for having two cars collided with each other, are normally assessed as the race finishes so that more time is taken to make the accurate decision.
When a very serious incident takes place on the track or a condition becomes very dangerous due to bad weather etc., the race director determines whether or not the race should continue or be halted.
It is an acknowledgment and an honour for the professionalism of the men and women who are among the Race Control staff at the Grand Prix as the smooth running of such furious drivers and roaring cars are in their hands. Also, it is due to their capability that the problems are resolved and wrapped up quickly on the track that carries such untamed swift cars.
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