Pre-race 1 min silence - minority of drivers shame

[richard_sykes]

Jordan ran with a blackened nose cone.

[Craig]

Whilst it was a shame the minutes silence was poorly organised I don't think we need to go too over the top with the tributes. Without wanting to sound sick, this wasn't 9/11, we as Londoners have been here before and, no doubt, will be here again. The best way is to get on with things as usual - a minutes silence is fitting but I wouldn't expect teams to run without liveries, etc. And I certainly wouldn't expect the race to have been cancelled as I have heard some people say! That would have been ridiculous.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by forzaf1

I think it was pretty obvious when the silence was as the crowds when quiet.

I was there not all the crowd was quiet. Lots of those sirens.

Shame there.

I haven't seen the driver bit yet (got to watch the Rugby first!). I suspect it is a minor point, I'll see!

[SeaneyC]

To my ears all the airhorns started going off a minute after the silence started..... then confusion for about a minute as to whether the silence had actually started or not.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Logrence

Is this even an issue? Is it relevant?

Yes

and

Yes.


IMO.

[Jordi]

Mountain out of a molehill. I only saw Jacques comment something to Monteiro and smile a moment but then quickly returned to the "minute-of-silence face".

I wonder why did they do it in the grid - I remember Monza 2001 the minute being in the drivers parade, with much less people and activity going on the grid. Surely everyone would have noticed about when it started and finished? I don't care if it's on TV or not, you can always replay it on TV.

[Francesca]

I thought it hugely disrespectful, to see Villeneuve with a beaming smile on his face, let alone chatting.

[Hazard]

Originally Posted by richard_sykes

Jordan ran with a blackened nose cone.

Oh, I thought that was a new paint scheme!

I don't for a second think that any of those drivers would deliberately violate a one minutes silence, so I'll subscribe to the c*** up somewhere theory.

I was flicking between the LMES & the Grand Prix at the time, so didn't really notice it had started...evidently just as much as the drivers hadn't.

I'd be curious to see race attendees opinions of what happened, but in the end, I think we'll just find out it was just poorly orchestrated.

[BootsOntheSide]

Another weekend, another FIA organisational mess-up. No disrespect intended by anybody IMO.

[SeaneyC]

The drivers actions on the podium were suitably muted IMO today, which would lead me to believe that it was a comms error of some description whilst everyone was congregating on the grid.

[Stephen Green]

Ok, I was there and can tell you that during the minutes silence the whole circuit was quiet. There was an announceent made first thing today telling everyone when the minutes silence would be so there should not have been any misunderstanding!

[Hazard]

Darn it. The priest catcher has spoken...

Damn those ingrates to hell!

(By the way, I'm not being sarcastic...)

[Dutton]

Originally Posted by Logrence

Is this even an issue? Is it relevant? You can't force everyone to take in part in a minute's silence anyhow.

This is the bottom line of the matter. Judging peoples' morality is a rather messy task, as evidenced by the world we inhabit.

I guess, as seems to have been said in this thread, all one can say is, basically: "A pity it wasn't organised properly."

Nothing else you can do.

[jb59892]

I'm not going to place any blame on any one party or person. However, it was very noticable during the high lights programme that no drivers or team members were shown during the one minute silence, only track marshals and the fans.

In comparison, I also watched the MotoGP high lights from Laguna Seca. The whole minutes silence was shown and during that time it was almost exclusivly the riders and team member who were shown and there was absolute silence from every one.

I have only watched two races live this season (I used to watch all of them live even if it meant getting up at 3am), the US and British Grand Prix, and both of them have made me ashamed to be an F1 fan.

To all those in the sport (and just to let you know I have watched F1 for over 20 years now), the FIA, the FOM, the drivers, teams and sonsors; I've had it with F1. I'm going to find a sport where every one involved works together to give the fans what they want, entertainment and not petty arguments!

[Hip Priest]

Originally Posted by Logrence

Is this even an issue? Is it relevant? You can't force everyone to take in part in a minute's silence anyhow.

You can't force people to participate in a silence, but if you deliberately talk through one it shows you are a classless buffoon. I'm no royalist, but i remember observing a minutes silence for the Queen Mum, simply because to break it would show a lack of dignity and respect.

The only qualm i have about criticising the drivers, is that they may not have known it had started.

[Barbazza]

I was on the grid - we never heard any announcement of a minute's silence. You simply cannot hear any of the PA commentary down there, even if there is a rare moment when engines aren't revving and the crowd is very quiet. Have to say I had forgotten about the planned silence until I read this - on the grid I never noticed any obvious moment of quiet.

[IL LEONE]

I think this matter is being blown out of proportion. I'm sure that all the drivers, team members and people in the crowd are some what respectful to all those that incurred loss in the recent events in London. It is apparent that due to the lack of organization things went a little 'pair' shaped and it shouldn't be contested who or who isn't respectful to the issues.
With media coverage it is unfortunate that these things are highlighted. I really hope that there isn't an issue raised with this in the media today.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by Craig

Whilst it was a shame the minutes silence was poorly organised I don't think we need to go too over the top with the tributes. Without wanting to sound sick, this wasn't 9/11, we as Londoners have been here before and, no doubt, will be here again. The best way is to get on with things as usual - a minutes silence is fitting but I wouldn't expect teams to run without liveries, etc. And I certainly wouldn't expect the race to have been cancelled as I have heard some people say! That would have been ridiculous.

Agree 100%, as a side issue will there be a minutes silence at sporting events around the western world for the estimated 200 that died on the same day when a ferry sank?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4670877.stm
or maybe the 20 miners that died in mine in china.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/4670575.stm

I doubt it, but can't think of a reason why.

[Mr V]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

I think, to be fair, there was no announcement about when the silence was over, which led to a lot of awkwardness.

As it happens, there was an announcement. We heard it where we were, so i'm sure the drivers did as well with all those tannoy's along the start/finish straight.

I have to say though, not that i timed it or whatever, but it did seem a very long minute.

[Don K]

Originally Posted by Hazard

Well, if they can't organise a one minute zip lip...what chance did they ever have of sorting out the Indy tyre issue

Why should the organisers ot the race at Silverstone try to sort out the Indy tyre issu?

[Piglet]

Mark's right about the grid and PA systems you do not hear any announcements when you are on the grid or (at Silverstone) in the pit lane, it was very difficult to know when the silence started or finished.

Personally I don't think that it's the right time to do the minutes silence at that stage before the race - they drivers, mechanics etc. all preoccupied with what they are doing and what they are going to do and I'd rather see it done at another time rather than just before the drivers are going to get into their cars.

[josvandeperre]

My recollection is that it was Max and some Government minister who started chatting first after about thirty seconds - nothing like setting a good example chaps.....

[Andrew Kitson]

From my viewpoint circuit commentator Ian Titchmarsh ( his 30th British GP commentary BTW), announced the minute silence and it could just be heard on the grid and pits from the trackside speakers due to the air horns. You could hear him say 'thankyou everybody' at the end clear enough.

[Hugh Jarce]

Originally Posted by Mr V

As it happens, there was an announcement. We heard it where we were, so i'm sure the drivers did as well with all those tannoy's along the start/finish straight.

Agree with Mr V - we were a few seats in front. There were plenty of air horns as the anthem finished before they could get a chance to communicate the silence. But they did - on a tiny speaker in front of us - and we all heard.

The place was quiet and while we stood respectfully for those who also work in London who were blown to smithereens last week, the big screen showed a number on the grid chatting and nudging each other.

It didn't look good.

In some ways ITV were also to blame for cutting to those images - I think if that wewre going on, the Director should have kept images 'on air' that were appropriate.

[Piglet]

The trackside speakers all face inwards. When you are in the pit lane or on the grid with the noise from the grandstands and the noise from the pit lane believe me you cannot hear the pa system!