Fixing Eau Rouge/Raidillon safety issues

One of the things that make Formula 1 so special are the circuits. In this video, I put on the drawing board a new design of the famous Eau Rouge/Raidillon turns, in the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps, to improve safety. I had fun redesigning these turns and I hope you enjoy it too. If you did, leave a comment and subscribe for more Fun With Tracks!

[@gijsvandepol12]

THE GOAT IS BACK 🐐

[@funwithsometracks]

Where is Latifi? :D

[@kben24]

Everyone loves Eau rouge as a flat-out kink, but historically speaking… It’s supposed to be a medium/high speed S-bend. They straightened out that section of corners to create more runoff for F1’s return in 1983… but over 40 years the cars have gained so much downforce, that it ended up becoming a high speed kink.

[@TheOfficialMyk]

Todays aero makes cars go almost flat out through it. So reprofiling the curve is a good idea imo. Just a little use of the brakes to go from 300 to 230-240 and then back up to full throttle. It also remains a difficult turn, because of the elevation on the exit. So it can still maintain level of excitement.

[@johnedwards230]

If you look at the track in the 90s you can see basically the Radillion was straightened out to the inside and the old track became run off area basically. I think slowing Radillion a tad, i.e. so its a bit less than flat would be better for the track as I think drivers would take it more seriously.

[@05gaming41]

Similar to the 1994 layout when a chicane is added due to the untimely death of Senna. It's an idea that could work. I believe as move back to the original layout, where Radion was more of a corner, could make the complex more challenging and safer

[@RadityaPramanaPutra2001]

At least, your version is more better than the 1994 version. Keep up the good work! 👏 10/10/2023 21:59 At My Local Time.

[@that-plane-guy]

we need more of these!

[@GeorgeDaGamer_]

What you could do to make it safe was to return to the really old hairpin you am just about see to the left of the current circuit

[@Mnr_Martini]

looking nice I think it will improve safety a lot

[@meneeryarno22]

if the entry bit when going to the left is just slightly sharper, which will make the second part sharper too, the corner becomes slower and even safer and probably better. they could even fit in a third DRS zone before it then

[@orsomethingorno]

Does it need to go... that far? I would have thought you could be a bit more moderate about it. Keep the entry and exit at the current locations (or move them slightly closer to the right-hander to squish the corner up, but don't go too far and make it look like a fast chicane). For the right-hander, make the current outside of the track into the new inside. The idea is that we have a more technically challenging corner, but still a bit thrilling. It won't reduce the number of mistakes and crashes, but will reduce the severity of the worst of them.

[@adr1uno638]

Having 2 Raidillon is a cool idea

[@inhaxis9771]

Very interesting. I had a different approach, because one of the main reasons that cars go off is the top of the hill at the third apex, which makes the cars light at this point and in the rain they aquaplane. To tackle this issue i thought about a solution, similar to yours, but at the end of the complex so that you have the slow part at the top of the hill. Another benefit would be, that cars would be even slower, when they would go through the blind passage and any accident there would have a lower chance of getting serious.

[@W123KartSport]

As long as the original stays, I'm cool with it!

[@mistermolz]

I actually think this design would be better than it is now. by making the left-hander have a smaller radius, that probably will make it so drivers must lift going up the hill which means that it's more technical and might lead into some more action on the kemmel straight, just like in the 80's and 90's. the designs are amazing.

[@geoprancer]

Please do Miami

[@tdyerwestfield]

That's exactly what I did when re-designing Spa. It's common sense really.

[@danbuck84]

your videos are great, please keep them coming! your fixing ideas are really interesting and make total sense, not to mention the artistic attributes!!

[@funwithsometracks]

I'm glad you enjoy it, thanks! :D

[@8jof544]

1994 layout: first time?

[@funwithsometracks]

Too slow :)

[@martinschmiedt3075]

It would be the best of all worlds.Safety concerns are mostly adressed,the talk about Spa being dangerous will quiet down and even F1 drivers will find it more difficult to go flat-out there. One minor issue i have is that it is mainly the exit of Raidillon that is most responsible for these types of bounce-back to the track crashes (see the cases of Hubert and to a lesser degree the crash of Lando in the 2021 quali session shitshow.) My idea is quite simple-the part between the escape road that was the former pit exit and the track should be gravel as well as the wall should be pushed back as much as possible with the part between the wall and the escape road-again-being gravel.This way uncontrolled cars could slow down and/or if the driver may regain control then the escape road can guarantee a safe rejoining into the race.And even if the cars do crash into the wall they would do so in a more controlled,slower approach making the affair less likely to result in a bounce back.

[@funwithsometracks]

Good points :)

[@FlashoftheBlades]

There’s a fatal flaw in your logic, because then you have a scenario where a car trying to rejoin the track could end up in the path of a car coming through at racing speeds, thus risking a massive collision. Yeah, that’s not going to be popular with the teams and drivers.

[@martinschmiedt3075]

@@FlashoftheBlades I see where You’re coming from and i even agree to a point.However in my estimation;if all of the aforementioned revisions were to be done-i think they might cancel these out to a large degree simply because the entry is so much sharper and the cars are forced to go much slower.Nevertheless i am willing to concede that the escape road might need to be either dropped completely or migrated to the far edge of the runoff-like right next to the wall.Possibly with a tyre barrier chicane thing installed on it like Barcelona 94.

[@FlashoftheBlades]

@@martinschmiedt3075 A mandatory return route is definitely a worthy addition to this section of the track. But considering the speeds involved, I’m not 100% sure about a tire barrier chicane being the best idea.

[@martinschmiedt3075]

@@FlashoftheBlades Obviously it would have to be placed before the area that it is expected to have a driver crash with the wall-just as a precaution.If somebody feels like they can’t take the corner without crashing and want to ‘abort’ the attempt.That would ultimately have to result in playing a huge amount of trust into the drivers’ hands but that’s already the reason they get to drive those cars and us lot do not. OR-hear me out- Buried passway? Kind of like the Abu Dhabi pitlane exit,but tilting a lot more upward at the exit,merging into the start of Kemmel? With proper road markings to deleniate between passing cars and cars avoiding a crash and rejoining to the circuit. But then it would drive up the costs further.

[@FernandoLima-eo3gt]

Miami is a MUST to do a reshape. Horrendous 2nd sector. PLEASE

[@vetteltuna1716]

I wish you made even more videos! quality is top notch and I'd love to see even more re-designs

[@funwithsometracks]

So nice, thanks! I will make more videos :)

[@vetteltuna1716]

@@funwithsometracks mate honestly I love your videos, like if I won the lottery I'd pay you to fix these tracks irl

[@CarlileStanton]

Stumbled across your channel purely by chance, and have got to say I’ve really enjoyed your content. The Paul Ricard video was particularly great and should be actioned immediately! Potential future video ideas/requests? Making Road America (or other non-F1 circuits) grade 1, perhaps? Whatever you do I look forward to it!

[@funwithsometracks]

It's good to know that you enjoy it! Thanks for your suggestion, it's on the list :)

[@tangchakyan4453]

It's a good idea, but I don't think it's gonna help in the long run. It's still a priority to upgrade the run off area at the exit...

[@funwithsometracks]

I agree that the run-off area on the right-hand side of the Raidillon exit is a bit small. I think they didn't increase it more because of the huge embankment that would have to be done.

[@tangchakyan4453]

@@funwithsometracks Building on top of your idea, I think it might be a better idea to cut the slope on the left, and then make Eau Rouge more to the left and straighten out Raidillon, so they will have more run off at the exit.

[@santopappalardo4828]

Absolutely not to modify “THE CORNER”

[@funwithsometracks]

XD

[@dikypratama24]

Up next, the layout of Mandalika circuit if used for F1 please 🏁

[@juliangonzalez6552]

The final step in these videos should be you driving these changes in a simulator. I know there is a way to do so in asseto corsa.

[@funwithsometracks]

I would love to see this in a simulator to know if it would be fun to drive! Or not :D

[@radyachristoval8316]

Next try to redesign the Losail Circuit, with the aim to eliminate most of the high-speed corners that would result in extreme tyre wear.

[@eliasdavey]

vey good idea and is more true to older versions of au rouge anyway also with how fast cars are now, it needs making slightly more challenging because right now the corner itself really isn't a challenge for f1 cars also I think gravel traps should be used far more

[@Rad_Racing0203]

What Do You Use To Do All Of These Redisigns

[@funwithsometracks]

Sketchup :)

[@Rad_Racing0203]

Thanks

[@MaXuPro]

Hey there, I absolutely adore your videos and the way you design the ideas! I really hope you've got some more incoming, maybe with some full fictional venues too? I've noticed that you mentioned using Sketchup while doing these and it seems like a very flexible tool for making such projects. Could you tell me whenever it's a difficult task for such hobby projects using CAD software? I've been trying to make some track designs but I've always found Blender spline tools to be very limited. When porting it to Assetto Corsa for example, cambers are always very messy and not realistic and many times I've been wondering if there is a way to make these projects better in quality. Been looking for a more precise tool and the work you present on this channel really brought some inspiration back. I would love to know more about this, or at least know the right way to accomplish some of it. Cheers!

[@funwithsometracks]

Wow, I'm happy you enjoyed it! It's so cool to see that you like to draw racing tracks. Sketchup is a very simple and easy tool to draw. But I only do it in 2D! Drawing in 3D would be a pain. I've never used Blender, so I can't compare. It would be awesome to be able to export the modified tracks to Assetto Corsa, but I have no idea how to do it yet. I'm a noob :D Cheers!

[@markcranston8781]

The one I think you could have most fun with is Austria. Think that track is looking rather tired now

[@funwithsometracks]

The only thing that I don't like in the Red Bull Ring is the "lap deleted for exceeding track limits" festival :D

[@markcranston8781]

@@funwithsometracks I mentioned this on one of your other tracks....don't get me started on gravel traps 🤬

[@Petidani0330]

What if we skip most of this and jump straight to that "adding gravel trap" part (or, even better, sand trap)? Especially now that the run-off areas have been extended. Boom, no more cars bouncing back on track, ever. Not to mention TecPro barrier exists, and is considered a standard piece of every FIA Grade 1 track there is. So how about replacing that out-of-date, bouncy castle of a disaster called a tire barrier with it, further nullifying the chance of a car bouncing back on track. If for whatever reason the gravel traps wouldn't be an option, TecPro - or at the very least S.A.F.E.R. - would be a no-brainer in my opinion. I honestly don't understand. They've spent a crap ton of money upgrading the track, reshaping Eau Rouge-Raidillon, building an entire stands there, but there's still tire barriers and completely tarmac run-off? Hubert's crash would still happen today after all those changes as if they'd done absolutely nothing. Utterly ridiculous.

[@funwithsometracks]

Good points :)

[@qadirbuhlal5649]

why don't including the old hairpin and give it some changes instead?

[@Geomatikaktus]

Pls repair LasVegas circuit!!!🙏

[@monchoyt714]

Need u to be working on Austria my king

[@The.Drunk-Koala]

Eau Rouge has been revised many times... Its fine now, its the feeder series that its not safe because less downforce and less experienced drivers. Last fatal crash in F1 was back in 65ish

[@brickzone3640]

Nice video! Which program do you use?

[@funwithsometracks]

Thanks! Sketchup :)

[@jonasler1246]

What map is that? It’s so updated

[@funwithsometracks]

Bing maps :)

[@jonasler1246]

@@funwithsometracks "what did you use when you fixed Eau Rouge/Raidillon" if you undestand the question?

[@funwithsometracks]

Sketchup

[@Nick_J_]

I would leave these corners as-is. Frankly, a little danger is good

[@funwithsometracks]

:P

[@DailyWVideos]

I hope your all good bro we miss you

[@funwithsometracks]

Doing well, thanks :) A new video will be released today!

[@FlashoftheBlades]

Current Radillion for slower cars, redesigned Radillion for faster cars. Enough said.

[@TheOfficialMyk]

What do you use to edit these google earth images ?

[@funwithsometracks]

Sketchup

[@f1ref1]

what software do you use?

[@paulpenketh9435]

No no no no no no no no. Corners are supposed to be challenging and butchering corners is not the answer. Read the back of your ticket. Motorsports is dangerous. The drivers know what they are getting themselves into when driving. There's 1 thing to do. Bring in oval style safer barriers.

[@greasybassoon1949]

I think the whole point of the change is to make it so that the trajectory of the cars crashing into the barriers don’t make it so that the car will go back onto the circuit. The change to Raidillon is honestly more like the original pre-1983 design. It’s still going to be quite daunting going through as it’s not quite flat out, but still not a braking zone. Motorsport is dangerous yes but, F1 and other series don’t need to have a driver’s death broadcast on live television because people want gladiators. It would still be amazing seeing cars go through Eau Rouge and Raidillon, even just a bit slower.

[@jonnies]

Cmon mate it's bad enough that Greta Thunberg is already the chief executive of F1's 'environmental regulations'. Let's not neuter the best corners as well.

[@funwithsometracks]

:D

[@pmrangel]

no no no no.

[@KE29645]

Finger weg von Eau Rouge 😂😂😂😂

[@funwithsometracks]

It's like playing with fire!

[@sandordomonkos8351]

no thanks

[@ChecoPerez0]

where fun?

[@funwithsometracks]

That depends on what you like!