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17th
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From McLaren
McLaren Formula 1 team details here the most frantic 30 minutes in Grand Prix racing - the half-hour that leads up to the start of the race.
00:30 minutes The pit lane opens, and remains open for 15 minutes - this allows drivers, equipment and personnel to get out onto the grid, from where they can begin the countdown to the start.
00:28 Our communication team hook into the garage wifi to Tweet shots of the cars leaving the garage before heading out to the grid.
00:25 The cars arrive at the back of grid. The rules dictate that once they arrive at the rear of the field, they need to cut their engines and be pushed through the throng to their grid positions. This is when the grid is at its most frantic and exciting.
00:24 As soon as the car arrives at its appointed slot, it's jumped on by an army of mechanics, who plug in coolers, laptops and cables to monitor the car's life support systems. The race engineer, clipboard in hand, gives the instruction: “1m to fire-up.”
00:23 The ignition is flicked on, the rear wheels are removed - but kept in their heating blankets - and the engine is started. It turns over - enabling the water temperature to be measured and monitored.
00:15 The pit lane closes - any cars that have yet to leave the pit lane will no longer be permitted to start from the grid. Front wing flap settings are cross-checked by the mechanics on the grid and the mechanics back at the garage, who'll also adjust the spare front wings
00:12 The mechanics are instructed to carry out a wheelgun check, testing the hydraulic bottles to make sure there's power in the system. The race engineer gives another instruction” “One minute to fire-up.”
00:11 Another fire-up. The race engineers radio to the driver physiotherapists to make sure both Button and Magnussen are ready to return to the grid after their hurried trips to the toilet.
00:10 The drivers get suited up, pulling on their balaclava and zipping up their overalls. They fit their helmets and HANS devices and climb into the cockpit, where they're strapped in by one of their mechanics. Once properly fitted and comfortable, they'll don their gloves. The 10-minute marker is also the point at which the race start can be aborted due to weather conditions.
00:08 The wheels and tires currently fitted to the car are removed. Another instruction: “One minute to fire-up.”
00:06 Race tires are fitted. The set-number is cross-checked, tire blankets are double-checked to ensure they're still powered on, and that the tie-cords that tighten the blankets aren't snagged between the tires, the hubs and the brake ducts.
00:05 Four lights are illuminated on the starting gantry as the countdown continues.
Driver and race engineer conduct a quick radio check. The race engineer runs through a list of steering wheel switch settings ahead of the start. At the five-minute marker, the start can now be officially delayed - but with no option to change tires.
00:04 The mechanics raise the car up on its front and rear jacks, reaching underneath to remove the short-stands that have kept it suspended for the past 20 minutes.
00:03 There are three lights illuminated on the starting gantry. Race tires must be fitted by this point. The race engineer instructs the mechanics to remove all the fans, coolers and ancillaries that are currently plugged into the car
00:02 The tire blankets are removed - the mechanics drape the unplugged covers over the tops of the wheels to keep the rubber up to temperature.
00:01 There are now two lights illuminated on the starting gantry. The race engineer gives the instruction: “Engine start. Start dropping the car down.” The car's jacks are released.
30s left “Clear the grid of personnel.” The 30-second instruction is given to the driver.
20s left The driver is instructed over the radio to initiate the start systems.
15s left There is one light illuminated on the starting gantry. All grid personnel must now be clear of the track and behind the white lines that mark the track limits.
10s left Race engineer to driver: “Launch map on. 10 seconds to go.”
5s left Race enginer to driver: “Five seconds to go.”
0s left The red lights go out and the parade lap starts.
The cars return to the grid. The first pair of red lights illuminates. The race to get to the grid is over - the race to the finish line is just about to start...
McLaren Formula 1 team details here the most frantic 30 minutes in Grand Prix racing - the half-hour that leads up to the start of the race.
00:30 minutes The pit lane opens, and remains open for 15 minutes - this allows drivers, equipment and personnel to get out onto the grid, from where they can begin the countdown to the start.
00:28 Our communication team hook into the garage wifi to Tweet shots of the cars leaving the garage before heading out to the grid.
00:25 The cars arrive at the back of grid. The rules dictate that once they arrive at the rear of the field, they need to cut their engines and be pushed through the throng to their grid positions. This is when the grid is at its most frantic and exciting.
 |
| Jenson Button's McLaren MP4-29 being pushed on the grid. (Photo: McLaren) |
00:24 As soon as the car arrives at its appointed slot, it's jumped on by an army of mechanics, who plug in coolers, laptops and cables to monitor the car's life support systems. The race engineer, clipboard in hand, gives the instruction: “1m to fire-up.”
00:23 The ignition is flicked on, the rear wheels are removed - but kept in their heating blankets - and the engine is started. It turns over - enabling the water temperature to be measured and monitored.
00:15 The pit lane closes - any cars that have yet to leave the pit lane will no longer be permitted to start from the grid. Front wing flap settings are cross-checked by the mechanics on the grid and the mechanics back at the garage, who'll also adjust the spare front wings
00:12 The mechanics are instructed to carry out a wheelgun check, testing the hydraulic bottles to make sure there's power in the system. The race engineer gives another instruction” “One minute to fire-up.”
 |
| Kevin Magnussen receives the last-minute instructions. (Photo: McLaren) |
00:11 Another fire-up. The race engineers radio to the driver physiotherapists to make sure both Button and Magnussen are ready to return to the grid after their hurried trips to the toilet.
00:10 The drivers get suited up, pulling on their balaclava and zipping up their overalls. They fit their helmets and HANS devices and climb into the cockpit, where they're strapped in by one of their mechanics. Once properly fitted and comfortable, they'll don their gloves. The 10-minute marker is also the point at which the race start can be aborted due to weather conditions.
00:08 The wheels and tires currently fitted to the car are removed. Another instruction: “One minute to fire-up.”
 |
| Kevin Magnussen getting ready in the cockpit. (Photo: McLaren) |
00:06 Race tires are fitted. The set-number is cross-checked, tire blankets are double-checked to ensure they're still powered on, and that the tie-cords that tighten the blankets aren't snagged between the tires, the hubs and the brake ducts.
00:05 Four lights are illuminated on the starting gantry as the countdown continues.
Driver and race engineer conduct a quick radio check. The race engineer runs through a list of steering wheel switch settings ahead of the start. At the five-minute marker, the start can now be officially delayed - but with no option to change tires.
00:04 The mechanics raise the car up on its front and rear jacks, reaching underneath to remove the short-stands that have kept it suspended for the past 20 minutes.
00:03 There are three lights illuminated on the starting gantry. Race tires must be fitted by this point. The race engineer instructs the mechanics to remove all the fans, coolers and ancillaries that are currently plugged into the car
00:02 The tire blankets are removed - the mechanics drape the unplugged covers over the tops of the wheels to keep the rubber up to temperature.
00:01 There are now two lights illuminated on the starting gantry. The race engineer gives the instruction: “Engine start. Start dropping the car down.” The car's jacks are released.
30s left “Clear the grid of personnel.” The 30-second instruction is given to the driver.
20s left The driver is instructed over the radio to initiate the start systems.
15s left There is one light illuminated on the starting gantry. All grid personnel must now be clear of the track and behind the white lines that mark the track limits.
10s left Race engineer to driver: “Launch map on. 10 seconds to go.”
5s left Race enginer to driver: “Five seconds to go.”
0s left The red lights go out and the parade lap starts.
The cars return to the grid. The first pair of red lights illuminates. The race to get to the grid is over - the race to the finish line is just about to start...
 |
| Parade lap, before the start (Photo: McLaren) |