Whiting: Drivers can try to anticipate the starts
Formula 1 drivers are allowed to try to anticipate the extinguishing of the red lights at the start of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, as Charlie Whiting stated.
Charlie Whiting, the FIA race director, revealed that drivers had the opportunity to bet on the moment when the red lights go out during Grand Prix starts. Indeed, at Monza during the Italian Grand Prix, some observers were surprised by Lewis Hamilton’s reaction time, 50 milliseconds.
But according to Auto Motor und Sport, it is virtually impossible for the Mercedes driver to have reacted to the lights going out, as a human’s reaction time is higher. In other sports, athletics first and foremost, if an athlete reacts in under 100 milliseconds, it is considered a false start. But not in F1.
But Whiting explained that despite a very low reaction time, Hamilton did not jump the start because what he did is allowed: « For us, it’s not like in athletics. We proceed on the basis that anyone attempting to anticipate the start risks being penalized. But if they take the risk and start as soon as the lights go out, then they’re lucky. »
