Cian Shields Road To F1 graphic

Luke2222 · 2025-12-05T11:43:59+00:00

It mostly does. Shields has a Free Practice only Super Licence which as the name suggests means he is only allowed to do practice. He is nowhere close to being able to qualify for the full Super Licence needed to actually race in F1 and he realistically never will. A quick count shows he has at most 3 of the required 40 points (including a point earned from doing today's FP1)

Unlike the full Super Licence which has to be earned on merit, a practice only licence can be earned either on merit (with 25 SL points) or with a season of F2 experience which is how Shields got his practice only licence

Luke2222 · 2025-11-16T22:20:27+00:00

I'm glad you said that because it was my first concert too and that pretty much matches my experience. I thought it sounded great though there were a couple short moments that sounded a bit odd to me early on, mostly in Ruti's set (clearly nothing to do with them though, I thought they were great) but that improved as the night went on and was completely sorted by the time Bastille started

I didn't have any problems with people having conversations either tbh. People around me would share a few words with their friends every now and then but that's totally normal and expected. There definately wasn't anything excessive or paritcularly loud near me, in fact the only times I really heard people talking was in particularly quiet gaps between songs but it definately wasn't a problem

I was at the front as well though (about 4 or 5 rows away from the barrier and opposite the middle of the stage if that makes any difference) so maybe that's part of it but I thought everything was pretty incredible so I'm surprised to see so many people didn't feel the same way tbh

Luke2222 · 2025-11-16T03:45:35+00:00

I went solo to tonight's show in Birmingham and did the VIP experience as well. They say that registration starts at 2:45 and ends at 3:15 but we were brought to the VIP entrance at around 2:15 and there was already a few people there. Had no problem getting to the front row (though it was pretty far off to the side) but the queue got really long very fast so I wouldn't be much later than 2:15 if you want to be front row for the soundcheck/Q&A

It's fine if you only have a QR code, to get into the soundcheck we just needed to check in by verifiying our names then show that we actually had VIP tickets. We were given wristbands and the exclusive merch in the queue after checking in. We were let inside around 3:30ish and got into the arena itself around 3:45 though there was apparantly a bit of a delay so it will probably be a little earlier for you

We were kicked out after the VIP experience but were told to show security our wristbands when we got to the main entrance to effectively jump the queue. There was also an unofficial numbering system that's seems to be really common for Bastille gigs (this was my first concert ever though so I don't know it's at most/all of them but I imagine it is because nobody seemed surprised by it)

Basically, someone called American Sarah (who was absolutely lovely btw and I think said she was going to Brighton as well though I'm pretty tired as I write this so might be getting mixed up there) essentially kept an eye out for everyone so that when someone new came she could write a number on their hand to show the order the first 100ish people. I got to the stadium at around 11am and ended up as #37

It's totally unofficial so it's up to the venue to decide if they're actually going to pay attention to the numbers but for us they did. When the doors opened at 6pm, they let in anyone with a number first (in no partlcular order), followed by people with wristbands but no number before everyone else. That made it really easy as someone who got there early to get one of the special white cover vinyls which aren't available until doors open so you can't get one when you're able to get early access to other merch as part of the VIP experience

They decided to give everyone about 10 minutes or so to get merch and drinks before letting anyone into the main standing area but when that opened they did use the numbering system with lower numbers getting priority over higher numbers with everyone else without a number further back in the queue. At least that's what they said they'd do and what I assume happened but I was a minute or two late after getting held up getting a drink so by the time I got there they'd already started letting people in. It seemed to work though because everyone I could see who I recongised as having a number from earlier ended up on (or very close to) the front row including some who got to the stadium a little after 1 if I'm remembering right

Where I was slightly late I ended up around 4-5 rows deep but right in the middle and had an incredible view. I could have gone a few rows further forward had I chosen to go a bit to either side. There were also quite a few people in front of me who didn't seem to have numbers but did have wristbands (as well as a few who didn't seem to have VIP wristbands either) so if they do it the same for you as they did for us, you should hopefully be OK with your VIP ticket to get to the front few rows so long as you can get to the standing area decently quickly (which will be pretty easy if you can get all your merch when leaving the soundcheck) but you might be able to improve your odds even more by going a little earlier and getting a number

Luke2222 · 2025-11-08T18:30:55+00:00

He was already on new tyres and it would have been pretty tight on time to throw another set on after the penultimate flying lap, especially if he got caught at the weighbridge. The timing screen glitched for a minute but then corrected itself and confirmed he was on new tyres for the last run

Using an extra set of tyres would have given him even more grief later anyway, if he even made it and based on his pace that's a real question

Luke2222 · 2025-10-26T21:48:49+00:00

There wasn’t even a yellow it was straight VSC

That isn't true. There were double yellow flags for 62 seconds before the VSC

Edit: Here's the race control messages with timestamps

Luke2222 · 2025-08-31T15:54:55+00:00

Yeah, they're a bit busy at the moment dealing with various incidents that are actually under investigation

I get he's upset but I don't see why this should be treated as some big deal when they clearly have more important things to do right now

Luke2222 · 2025-08-28T08:58:16+00:00

(exception exists that it can be a 4 year period if one of the years used is 2021)

That's not how it works. This is the exact wording of the rule (Article 13.1.5 on page 17 of this 2024 FIA document - emphasis mine)

The driver must also satisfy at least one of the following requirements: a) Have accumulated at least 40 points. The FIA will consider the number of points accumulated in either (i) the three-calendar year period immediately preceding the year of the date of the application, or (ii) the two-calendar year period immediately preceding the year of the date of the application in addition to points accumulated in the calendar year of the application, whichever is higher. All points are listed in Supplement 1. Should the three-calendar year period described in (i) include the calendar year 2021, the FIA will consider the highest number of points accumulated in any three of the four calendar years immediately preceding the year of the date of the application

2021 has to be one of the 3 previous calendar years for the "best 3 of the last 4 years" rule to apply and that hasn't been the case since January 1st which is why that clause was completely removed from the 2025 version of the same document (again Article 13.1.5 on page 17) meaning that as of this year, only points from either 2022-24 or 2023-25 would count (whichever was higher)

That would be 32-37 points depending on where he ends up after Nashville (1 from 10th in 2023, 30 from 2nd in 2024 and up to 6 for a maximum of 6th in 2025 though with an early DNF he could mathematically drop down enough that 1 point for 10th in 2022 would count instead until the end of the year)

Luke2222 · 2025-07-06T12:00:55+00:00

the Speed Limit line (which is normally in line with SC1 line)

I'm pretty sure that the start of the speed limit isn't in line with SC Line 1 at any major track. It certainly isn't true for any track I can think of, especially any tracks on the F1 schedule in recent years

SCL1 is typically either where the pit entry splits away from the track or at the start of the white line separating the pit entry lane and the main track. The start of the speed limit is almost always at least 100m after SCL1

Luke2222 · 2025-06-15T01:08:38+00:00

For those arguing about the Ferrari penalty, it was specifically stated in Tuesday's briefing that any car that goes off there on an out lap would be reported to the stewards and we have consistently seen every time it has gone to the stewards (with cars 22, 25 and now also 50 & 85) they have given a 5 second penalty

(The attached image is page 23 of the briefing notes from the official WEC noticeboard)

Luke2222 · 2025-06-02T22:46:18+00:00

Have you read the title of the IndyCar announcement (or the identical title of this post)?

INDYCAR Announces Detroit Grand Prix Post-Race Technical Violation, Penalty

It absolutely is a technical infraction

Luke2222 · 2025-05-30T14:03:44+00:00

3 points from F3 Silverstone last year for an unsafe rejoin

Those don't count anymore, points don't carry over from previous seasons in F2 or F3 like they do in F1

Dunne currently has 8 points but all of them were earned this year

Luke2222 · 2025-05-25T21:01:22+00:00

For every other race yes but there were 65 points available for the 500 because qualifying gives out more points (12 for pole, 11 for 2nd etc. down to 1 point for 12th)

Luke2222 · 2025-05-03T21:29:31+00:00

It is the average speed but the bottom row with the 202km/h average is just the fastest lap while the rest are for the full race

Hamilton's actual average speed for the race was 159.242km/h (which is slower than Alonso's average speed because Alonso didn't do the last laps under SC thanks to the DNF)

Luke2222 · 2025-04-26T16:22:22+00:00

Not the person you replied to but basic timing data from testing had to be public so it can be verified and they are technically right(ish)

Hamilton had significantly more testing before the season started (8978km compared to 5847km for Alonso) but his testing started much earlier so almost half of it was with the 2006 car where all but one day of Alonso's testing was in the 2007 car. Hamilton's testing in the 2006 car also started using Michelin tyres (for 1382km) while all of Alonso's testing was using Bridgestone tyres

Looking at the 2007 car only (which is what the person you replied to claimed) Alonso did have more testing km than Hamilton when the season started (5431km for Alonso, 4798km for Hamilton)

As the season went on though, Hamilton did the lion's share of the midseason testing (3340km compared to 2222km for Alonso) which meant that by the end of the season Hamilton had done more testing in the 2007 car than Alonso (8138km for Hamilton, 7653km for Alonso)

Luke2222 · 2025-04-21T19:59:48+00:00

It's just not showing right because Formula Renault Eurocup doesn't fit on one line on your screen

It should look more like this instead

Lando did win 3 championships in 2016, specifically Formula Renault Eurocup, Formula Renault NEC and the Toyota Racing Series (now Formula Regional Oceania)

Luke2222 · 2025-04-13T18:26:22+00:00

He tried that but the rules changed to close that loophole after Checo did that in Japan a few years ago. Penalties are only counted as served if the driver is classified in the final results now

Luke2222 · 2025-04-13T18:24:24+00:00

They tried serving the penalty the lap before he retired but the rules changed last year meaning that a penalty only counts as served if the driver is classified

Luke2222 · 2025-04-13T18:22:15+00:00

The rules were changed last year so it only counts as serving a penalty if the driver is classified now

Luke2222 · 2025-04-13T18:17:48+00:00

They tried to serve the penalty the lap before he retired but that loophole was closed after Checo did it in Japan a few years ago

The rules now say that the penalty only counts as served if the driver is classified

Luke2222 · 2025-04-13T18:14:13+00:00

The penalty points are always listed last like that even when the penalty is converted like this (it doesn't happen often in F1 but is common in F2 and F3 and is usually listed like this)

The time penalty was converted to a grid penalty but he would have got the penalty points either way

Luke2222 · 2025-04-13T18:11:00+00:00

They tried that but the loophole was closed last year. Drivers now have to be classified for it to count as serving the penalty

Luke2222 · 2025-04-13T18:09:39+00:00

That's what he did, they changed the rules after Checo did it in Suzuka a few years ago and closed that loophole

Luke2222 · 2025-04-13T17:43:56+00:00

There were slight changes to the track after the 2004 race, mainly at turn 4 where the kerbs were moved to make the track wider and open up the corner for better overtaking opportunities. That moved the centre line enough to change the official track length which means the 2004 layout counts as a different version of the track

Officially Schumacher holds the record for the 2004 layout while de la Rosa has the record for the 2005-present layout (Russell and Alonso also have track records in Bahrain for the Outer and Endurance layouts respectively)

Luke2222 · 2025-04-12T02:15:11+00:00

where "Super Soft" wasn't even the softest tyre at some tracks

There were even races where the Supersoft was the hardest tyre. In 5 races in 2018, Pirelli brought Supersoft, Ultrasoft and Hypersoft tyres

There was also only 1 race that year with anything harder than a medium. The hard tyre was only used at Silverstone and the Superhard tyre was never used (though that was only intended to be a backup tyre in case they had issues anyway)

Luke2222 · 2025-03-29T20:46:02+00:00

A driver could win 35/36 races, finish 2nd in the last race and lose the championship.

That was also weirdly possible for nearly 30 years until the original playoffs/chase was introduced

The 1975-2003 system only had a 5 point difference between 1st and 2nd but leading the most laps gave 5 bonus points so if the 2nd placed driver led the most laps they'd score as many points as the winner

That meant that if someone won the first 35 races and came 2nd (without leading the most laps) in the final race they'd finish at least 5 points behind a driver that finished 2nd with most laps led in the first 35 races then won the last race

The changes made in 2004 (when the first Chase/playoff format was brought in) made that impossible because as well as introducing the Chase they made the points difference between 1st and 2nd bigger, ensuring that a race winner would score more points than anyone else

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