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Japan: Traffic lights for Honda

© Rob Smith
By Phil Huff October 9 2008
Honda Racing F1 are expected to introduce a traffic light system into their pit stops at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix, despite the very public and obvious problems with Ferrari’s original innovation. The traffic light system does, theoretically, speed up pit stops, shaving a few tenths of a second off each stop.

Whilst that’s not a significant amount of time on its own, it could give a driver the possibility of overtaking a car more easily in the pit stops.

It is believed that the Honda system works in a similar way to Ferrari’s, with each corner of the car having a person responsible for pressing a button once the wheels have been placed on the car and attached correctly. A fifth button belongs to the fuel man, who would press his once the fuel rig  has detached from the car. Finally, one other person has an over ride button that would keep the lights on red if, for example, Adrian Sutil happened to be coming down the pitlane.

The time saving comes from a light being quicker to react than a man lifting a lollipop, and then the driver reacting quicker to a light than the board moving upwards. It would also prevent drivers reacting to small movements of the board, although would not prevent hose watching – the practice of watching the fuel hose in the wing mirror and going when the hose is removed, whether the lollipop is up or not.

The system also removes the very physical presence of a lollipop on the helmet should a problem become apparent immediately after the all clear, and it’s this that has caused Ferrari their problems in the past.

It remains to be seen if Honda will suffer the same problems that Ferrari have. We sincerely hope not, but can’t help think that old technology sometimes has a place, even in the most technical of sports.

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