The Longest Race in Formula One History

The history of Formula One auto racing can be traced back to the European Grand Prix championships of the early to mid 20th century. The organization officially launched operations as Formula One in 1946, embracing Federation Internationale de l’Automobile regulations. The first World Championship of Drivers came four years later. As technology evolved and Formula One grew in popularity, the organization updated rules and spread races and national championships throughout Europe and Africa.

The exact nature of a Formula One race varies from one event to the next, but races typically last about 90 minutes. Rules state that a race cannot take more than two hours to complete, yet the average time per track at the 20-plus Formula One tracks around the world can differ notably. That said, several Formula One races have taken more than 120 minutes to complete.

The longest race in Formula One history was the seventh round of the 2011 F1 season, the Canadian Grand Prix. Held under heavy rain, the race set a Formula One record with a combined six safety cars and red flags. One suspension lasted two hours, easily putting the 2011 Canadian Grand Prix at the top of the list of longest Formula One races ever completed.

The race began after a rainstorm, leaving the track wet and slippery. Conditions were so questionable that the safety car completed five full laps before racers were allowed to pull ahead. Sebastian Vettel initially led the field with a near five second lead over Fernando Alonso. On the second lap, however, McLaren teammates Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton crashed, the latter being forced to drop out of the race. Button was later hit with a penalty for speeding on a safety lap, but the following 24 laps proceeded without incident.

The race was suspended when the rains returned, resulting in a two hour delay. Shortly after the resumption, Button crashed again, this time into Alonso. Once again, Button was able to repair his car and return to the race, albeit in last place, while Alonso was forced to retire. While the race was already several hours old at this point, the madness had only just begun.

Over the following few dozen laps, Button slowly drove his way back into the race, eventually moving into second position behind Vettel. He did so while navigating a string of additional crashes and race suspensions. Vettel, for his part, was driving the durable RB7 and appeared unbothered by conditions, set to claim his sixth victory of the 2011 season. Unbelievably, a minor error on the final lap allowed Button to pull ahead and squeeze out the victory. It was the British driver’s 10th career win. In addition to the penalty, multiple wrecks, and a tire puncture, Button won the race despite never leading a single full lap.

The exact race time was four hours and four minutes, beating the 1951 Indianapolis 500 record by seven minutes. Button won the race at an average speed of just 46 miles per hour, the slowest Grand Prix average speed of all time. The 1951 French Grand Prix, meanwhile, stands as the longest Formula One event by distance at just under 374 miles.

An Overview of Modern Architecture

Modern architecture is not a catch-all term to describe a collection of disciplines practiced by architects in the 21st century. Rather, it is a specific school of architecture adhering to the various social, artistic, and cultural attitudes that comprise the modernist movement. In terms of art and architecture, modernism is all about freedom of expression and experimentation, even if that means moving away from preconceived notions and the “rules” of architecture. While this core principle of modernism allows for a diversity of structures and styles, there are a few key elements often found in modern architecture.

Modern architecture begins with materials. Prior to 1900, brick, stone, wood, and other simple building materials made up the vast majority of architectural resources. As the 20th century progressed, scientific breakthroughs and new technologies allowed for greater diversity in building materials, from mass-produced glass to cast iron. New techniques also allowed architects to use old materials in new ways. For example, the Christo Obrero Church, designed by Eladio Dieste in 1960, is a large brick building, but through modern engineering techniques was styled with expressive curved walls and a high, vaulted roof.

Indeed, while numerous advances allowed architects to explore new avenues, developments in the field of engineering were particularly impactful. Prior to the 20th century, most structures depended on thick load-bearing walls, particularly taller buildings like skyscrapers. Not only could modern works of architecture embrace large glass surfaces thanks to the mass production of glass, they could also take on leaner, lighter designs due to the use of structural steel and reinforced concrete. Thinner walls also allowed for more expansive interiors, both in terms of total space and open concept design.

While modern architecture may sound like an artist’s paradise, modern architects in no way forgot the importance of function. In fact, the relationship between form and function is one of the defining traits of modern architecture. In older schools of design, such as Gothic revival and neoclassicism, the function of a building often had a minimal influence on its design.

Modern architects like Chandler McCoy believed that a building should serve its purpose so fully that its function is evident through the design choices and its overall aesthetic. As a basic example, Alvar Aalto designed a 1932 facility for tuberculosis patients using easy to clean construction materials. To further support hygiene at Paimio Sanatorium in Finland, he built the interiors with no sharp edges or unnecessary adornments that could collect dirt.

On a similar note, modern architecture operates with the understanding that human beings live and work inside buildings. This may sound obvious, but prior to modernism, comfort was not a consideration for architects or construction professionals. Doors leading to outdoor spaces, or open spaces within rooms, were not common in premodern structures. Health is also an important concern for modern architects, who typically introduce as much natural light into modern buildings as possible.

Finally, modern architecture has followed and responded to multiple social movements, including women’s rights and workers’ rights movements. As ideas of equality came to the forefront of the nation, modern architects began constructing buildings with the belief that public spaces and quality housing should be available to all. Concepts of equality in construction were made possible, in part, through the proliferation of mass production techniques.

Communication as a Vehicle of Bank Customer Loyalty

A seasoned professional with a BA in history from Duke University and an MBA from Vanderbilt University, Griffin McGahey serves as president of HC3 in Birmingham, AL. Griffin McGahey also emphasizes the importance of a multi-channel approach, including communication, to enhance customer experience and loyalty in the banking sector.

Since the emergence of COVID-19, banks have collectively worked toward one objective- providing personalized and frictionless customer experience to reinforce customer loyalty. Overhauling both internal and external communications is germane to materializing this goal.

Bankers must recognize the importance of updating communication methods to improve internal vendor management and enhance customer interactions. For example, some banks have ensured that digital and printed statements align visually and have redesigned notifications to communicate important messages effectively to customers.

While digital statements offer an interactive and user-friendly customer experience, some customers are stuck with the traditional modality of hard-copy statements. Therefore, banks must carefully introduce digital statements and enforce their adoption. There are multiple ways to do this, such as integrating digital statement enrollment links in mobile apps and website pages.

USPS Announces Increase in First Class Mail Delivery Time

Griffin McGahey leads Birmingham, Alabama-based HC3 and data management solutions. Responsible for ensuring the prompt distribution of client mailpieces, Griffin McGahey maintains a close watch on US Postal Service rates and delivery times.

In late 2021, a major shift occurred, as the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced that expected delivery times had increased from the traditional one to three days, one to one-to-five days for First-Class Mail (FCM). This change was part of a broader Delivering for America initiative introduced by the incoming Postmaster General to return the organization to fiscal health and generate $160 billion in savings over 10 years.

The impact of this was not across-the-board, with more than 60 percent of FCM expected to adhere to existing service standards. In addition, just as before, the new expected delivery time was not guaranteed but instead described as “aspirational.”

One major reason for the change involves the high cost of jet fuel and airplane transportation. As the USPS does not own any of its aircraft, a premium must be paid for letters to be delivered via air. First-Class Mail is now exclusively handled through the USPS’ extensive truck fleet, while Priority Mail is still distributed by airplane through partners.