Life at the back of the pack

Over recent years’, the life at the back of the pack in Formula 1 has got increasingly difficult. With the addition of new media technologies, a drivers’ individual race can be analyzed lap-by-lap, potentially showing any minor flaws that would beforehand have gone unnoticed.

During the Malaysian Grand Prix, the HRT of Narain Karthikeyan made contact with two World Champions’ of the sport, both incidents ruining their races and resulting in them finishing much further down the order than they are accustomed to. Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel are the two most recent World Champions’ in F1, and you’d think would be highly capable passing a much slower car be it either for position or simply lapping the car.

However, both Button and Vettel made contact with Karthikeyan and both were forced to pit for repairs. Button damaged his front nose, whereas Vettel picked up a puncture which shredded the tyre. Where Jenson Button took full responsibility for the incident, reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel threw his toys out of the pram and called the Indian driver both an “idiot” and a “gherkin”, but how difficult is it for drivers’ at the back of the pack?

Whilst most of the attention is mainly focused at the sharp end of the field, drivers’ such as Glock, Pic, de la Rosa and Karthikeyan may well be woefully off the pace and struggling for position, but they most certainly have their work cut out for the duration of their race. Lots of criticism meets these drivers’ when the leaders’ begin lapping them, as they frantically try and both let the leaders’ through, but also keep their own personal race alive as they battle with each other.

This factor was evident in Malaysia, as Karthikeyan was visibly both trying to let Vettel though, keep up with the pace of the Marussia in front and remain aware of where Webber was behind him. Inevitably this all become too much and concentration levels dipped as the Indian collided with Vettel. Naturally when this occurs, both the driver, team and race fans across the globe raise their hands in dismay, but it’s very rare for it to be 100% malice from the driver getting lapped.

Another factor is where exactly are the lapped drivers’ supposed to go? If they stray off the racing line, their tyres will collect marbles, which will therefore affect their own personal race. If they remain on the racing line, forcing the lapping cars’ to stray off the line, then they also will collect marbles and have their race affected. It’s a vicious circle that the blue flags can’t always solve.

This problem doesn’t just occur at the back of the pack, as the drivers’ lap more and more cars, they will eventually begin to lap cars’ nearer the points. This therefore means these drivers’ have more to fight for and fasters cars, which means it all becomes increasingly confusing and difficult for the drivers’, marshals, and race stewards alike. The drivers’ have to both continue their individual race pace, allow the faster cars’ through, and watch for blue flags. The marshals have to spot the “slower” cars and wave the blue flags at them, and the race stewards have to decide if certain drivers’ should be penalized for impeding others. No wonder tempers rise, like with Vettel in Malaysia.

There has been criticism of the blue flags in the recent years, most notably from Caterham team boss Tony Fernandes who said they should be banned as all cars on the track are racing. That is a fair statement, yet if these incidents’ occur with blue flags, imagine the hell that would break loose if they were banned!

Either way, it’s tough work for all involved out there. It’s fair to remember that although cars’ at the rear of the order may not be as important as the race leader, they are all individually committed to their own race, be it for 23rd or 3rd.

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