F1 gone stale

[GTI-6]

Am I the only person in this forum area that thinks F1 is dull? I don't mind Schumacher winning all the time, it's just that the racing has become so predictable and tired. I know its one of the fastest, most demanding, skillful motorsports there is but to be honest isnt rallying or the BTCC far more exiting? The racing in the BTCC is close, tight and brash - for the majority of the time - unlike F1.

For every F1 race there is there are about 2 minutes of truly classy racing - but is it really worth spending like 5 hours every other weekend to wait for the good stuff - im not so sure anymore, and thats a shame as it used to be really enjoyable to watch (94' was a classy season).

If anyone can offer any decent arguments as to why F1 still rocks i'd be pleased to know about them.

P.s Mikka Hakkinen - was/is the best

 

[GilesGuthrie]

F1 definitely still rocks. Have you been to a race? The thing is that you pretty much have to ignore what the red cars are doing, and see the battles further down the field. Pay attention to the practice and qualifying times, and see who's on the ball with setup, and who's been caught out by changing conditions. Work out the pit strategies from the lap times. Compare driving styles, and see how these map to long-length performance, and also single-lap speeds. Listen to the interviews, and gain a feeling for what's going on inside the teams, where the conflicts are, whether teams are catering for one driver over another, that sort of thing.

Oh yeah, F1 still rocks alright, it's just that nobody cares about who wins the races any more.

Oh, and by the way, welcome to

 

[made in holland]

I still like F1 very much. And i don't think the races are predictable at all. Maybe up front, but there is always a fight for the last point, or for tenth place. That's very exciting to watch too.

 

[Matrixhasu77]

I think F1 is awesome, but I kinda like CART more. There is more racing there, because of the fact that the car are a little more close because there isnt so much of a difference in horsepower. I went to the USGP this year and it was a blast.

 

[Matrixhasu77]

Welcome to GTPlanet also. Enjoy your stay.

 

[KC]

The problem arises from the fact that the racing has become merely a technical exercise. Who can make the fastest widget with the biggest budget. Sure the drivers are all good, but there is no outbraking, no chance to really challenge the leader.

The only real intrigue in F1 these days occurs in the paddock.

 

[barryf1fan]

Originally posted by KC
.....
The only real intrigue in F1 these days occurs in the paddock.

Ahhh! KC, I'm with 'ya.
Grid Girls/Pit Babes
I like your style Campini

 

[alex_gt]

Correct but the problem is we never seem to see much of them? Well my channel :tv: doesn't anyway Except the odd glimpse during the grid walk..

I say remove all the electronic gizmos and we'll see some real racing again? :smilewink

 

[liquidyellow]

People always seem to look back to the past with rose tinted glasses, one or more teams dominating has been the form for f-1 for yonks its silly when people say ''Superbikes, Touring cars, club races etc.. have loads of overtaking, why cant f-1?'' I really think there missing the point of the sport. I for 1 think yeh it is very bland at the moment but there are factors involved like poor T.V. coverage, boring circuits , boring drivers ( drivers rarely speak their mind for fear of upseting the sponsers ) amongst many other factors.
I'll keep on watching tho bland or not.

 

[Wastegate]

Originally posted by alex_gt
I say remove all the electronic gizmos and we'll see some real racing again? :smilewink

I agree with the main point of this thread - Formula 1 has gone stale and its been getting worse for some time. IMHO this is the fault of the current breed of F1 cars. What we want to see is cars racing each other, running close and dicing for position.

1) Massively reduce the downforce on the cars. Aerodynamic downforce is the reason the cars cannot follow each other closely, because when the airflow is disrupted the downforce reduces and the car goes slower. Take the wings off, and other aerodynamic only pieces. The cars will always generate some downforce because the designers will use the other parts of the car to generate it. Then, to keep speeds up add mechanical grip with big fat slick tires.

2) Return to an H pattern gearbox. This will re-introduce the prospect of drivers missing gears, a mistake which can result in a following driver passing. In the old days drivers made thousands of changes in a race, and each one, if done wrongly could have buzzed the engine. So care had to be taken, but with a minimum loss of time. These modern sequential boxes have removed that skill.

3) Supply each car with a standard electronic package which will not have driver aids such as traction control, launch control etc. Lets see some old fashioned 'right foot control'.

4) Stop all this re-fuelling nonsense. I want to see drivers doing the racing not gas station attendants. Car setup will then be more of a compromise.

You will still get the situation where one team dominates - it has always happened, But please FIA and the constructors, lets get back to a situation where the cars can follow and pass each other.

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by Wastegate
I agree with the main point of this thread - Formula 1 has gone stale and its been getting worse for some time. IMHO this is the fault of the current breed of F1 cars. What we want to see is cars racing each other, running close and dicing for position.

1) Massively reduce the downforce on the cars. Aerodynamic downforce is the reason the cars cannot follow each other closely, because when the airflow is disrupted the downforce reduces and the car goes slower. Take the wings off, and other aerodynamic only pieces.

2) Return to an H pattern gearbox.

3) Supply each car with a standard electronic package which will not have driver aids such as traction control, launch control etc. Lets see some old fashioned 'right foot control'.

4) Stop all this re-fuelling nonsense.

Okay:
1) Won't happen - there's too much good advertising space on those wings. I would actually like to see slightly smaller wings - if there could be someway of producing aerodynamic grip without disruption by turbulence - don't the Champcars run small venturi under the car for a bit of a 'ground effect'?

I would be more inclined to set-up a standard set of wings - one element only on the rear wing, same at the front. I'd keep the raised noses - I quite like them. Get rid of all other aerodynamic devices (like those little wings in front of the rear wheels, and the 'barge boards'.

2) Absolutely and totally agree. The cars should have three pedals, and a H pattern gearbox. Nothing like missed gearchanges! They should also eliminate electronic throttles - there should be an old fashioned cable running between the accelerator and the engine.

3) This is a tough one, as a standard electronics package would limit potential automotive sponsors, and the last thing BMW or Mercedes would want is someone else's ECU on their engine.

There is a lot of scope for the FIA to get tough on this stuff - things like preventing multiple engine fuel mapping. Removing the electronic accelerator would help - and it might help if they actually enforced the rules on this - remember Benetton in '94?

4) Again, totally agree. If I want to see cars filling up with fuel, I'll wander up to the local service station.

 

[bigwhlkid]

ok lets get this strait, i did not come into this forum to bag on you f1 adicts. in fact i like F1, but only the cars, nothing else just tech of cars.

first off if no one cares who wins the races, especially the heads at F1, or about the "racing" itself then couldnt you call F1 a high speed parade of very expensive cars. and that alone.

and it has become so politicall that drivers only say what will make thier sponsors and owners happy.

and the drivers certainly cannot handle being in close prximity with other cars.

if i wanted to go see a race i would wander over to my local short track where the racing is more demanding and you have to be more skillfull to compete. you try and manage flying around a 1/4 mile dirt track with 20 some odd cars going more than 120mph doing wheelies out of the turn and still being calm enough to get 850hp to the ground without as much wheelspin as possible. and being brave enough to through the car sideways in order to slow down for the turn since the brakes almost do nothing knowing well that you could catch a rut and go end over end. the people in the FIA think were out of our minds but truth is we know racing and how to put on a good show.