F1’s permanent starter Christian Bryll explains the tools of his trade in the start gantry
INTERVIEW OLEG KARPOV PICTURES ANDREW FERRARO
1 “What you see here is the start gantry with the equipment where we operate the start procedure for F1, F2, F3 and all the other support races during grand prix weekends. And on the left-hand side you can see a little box, which is a replica of all the lights we’re controlling: the main one above the starting grid as well as pit exit and pit entry lights.”
2 “With the intercom we stay in touch with race control, Safety and Medical cars. If we need to speak to them we can, but mostly we listen. In changeable conditions it’s good to know what Bernd [Maylander, the Safety Car driver] says. If it’s ‘still puddles and aquaplaning’, then we know it will take at least 10 more minutes before the start. We have a channel with our LED panels supplier, in case there’s an issue, and our own channel where I can talk with my assistant Rebecca [pictured with Bryll].” “The big monitor is mostly used to follow GPS, which is helpful during the formation lap to see if anyone has an issue. We have another window, which you can’t see, for the grid formation: the system sends signals from our LED panels, located next to grid boxes. We want to see what we call a ‘green wave’. When a driver arrives at his grid box, the marshal responsible presses the green button – and we’ll have his position marked as green. As soon as all panels are green, the race can start.”
4 “This is the main control panel where we’re setting up the session. In this case you see the ‘Waiting For Controller Connection’ message, which means everything is being operated from the race control room – they have the same panel there as well. I have a key which gives me control, so when I’m here, I have to turn it – you can see the keyhole in the middle – and as soon as that’s happened I’m in charge.
It’s always just one party in control, so we don’t interfere with one another. I normally keep control from the moment we begin our preparations for a race start and until at least after the first lap, because for race control these moments after the start are quite intense. As we’re listening to what happens there, we wait until everything is a bit calmer – then I’ll turn the key again and say, ‘OK, you’re in control now.’
“The system is quite old now, so we’ll be replacing it soon. It was built for all kinds of eventualities, but we’ve never touched some of those buttons. It’s good to have them there, but the new system will
