What happened to F1?
Discussion
Crafty_ said:
Interesting blog post from Will Buxton : http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/ne...
(Stands well back)
Superb article. Some very good points. (Stands well back)
JonRB said:
Crafty_ said:
Interesting blog post from Will Buxton : http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/ne...
(Stands well back)
Superb article. Some very good points. (Stands well back)
Chrisgr31 said:
Yup indeed. Incidentially I wonder if the issues with a lack of customers for the Paddock Club is linked to the anti-bribery laws in the UK. Certainly we are very restricted on what corporate entertainment we can offer these days.
I'm sure Bernie wouldn't see it as bribery. 
BritishRacinGrin said:
The Pits said:
I wonder what configurations they'd use if they could use as many cylinders as they like?
Four cylinders, I suspect- probably vee or flat configuration. Indeed, the main cause of complaint was that an inline engine cannot be carried as a stressed member in the chassis as it is that much narrower than a 'vee' engine, this would've caused a major chassis re-think. I think the 4-cylinder proposal was unpopular with fans as well who were concerned that the engines would sound uninspiring. As you say, V6 was arrived at by way of compromise but I suspect that if you loosened the brief to 1600cc forced induction engines you'd expect to see a lot of four pots on the grid.
ETA: I should say before somebody jumps on me that flat configuration would probably be unlikely due to wideness, difficulty in packaging exhaust plumbing and therefore CoG also. So yeah I reckon they'd go I4 or V4
ETA: I should say before somebody jumps on me that flat configuration would probably be unlikely due to wideness, difficulty in packaging exhaust plumbing and therefore CoG also. So yeah I reckon they'd go I4 or V4
Edited by BritishRacinGrin on Tuesday 29th July 07:28
BritishRacinGrin said:
Indeed, the main cause of complaint was that an inline engine cannot be carried as a stressed member in the chassis . . .
So how did they manage in the turbo era? From memory, the more or less stock block BMW 4-pot M-10 was bolted to the bulkhead and all the other stuff bolted to it. What's so different nowadays?Edited by BritishRacinGrin on Tuesday 29th July 07:28
Crafty_ said:
Interesting blog post from Will Buxton : http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/ne...
(Stands well back)
He must read PH, he nicked what I did in regards to the German GP last week!(Stands well back)
And he is right of course. If the powers that be didnt have a vested interest in a) running down the sport so they can try to buy it back cheaper and b) want to also maximise every dollar they can squeeze out of it, then theyd be all over the media telling people what they are missing.
Instead the media are telling people how fantastic it is, while those who run it keep putting it down!
BritishRacinGrin said:
ETA: I should say before somebody jumps on me that flat configuration would probably be unlikely due to wideness, difficulty in packaging exhaust plumbing and therefore CoG also. So yeah I reckon they'd go I4 or V4
Subaru (Motori Moderni) tried it once with a flat 12 in a Coloni, didn't really work out. It might have been possible but the implementation was terrible, obviously the allowed aero dimensions and even the wheelbase/track have an effect on what configurations work best.Obviously Porsche have a V4 in LMP1. Maybe if V4s were allowed Honda on their comeback would do one.
Crafty_ said:
Interesting blog post from Will Buxton : http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/ne...
(Stands well back)
Well done that man. (Stands well back)
Regarding engine configurations, I just read that Formula 3 use an inline 4 engine as a stressed member by fitting ginormous sump pans and rocker covers which sandwich the block, lending it extra torsional rigidity and beam strength and acting as attachment points for suspension, downforce elements etc... So it could be done but it'd be a much more radical change than V6 was.
Crafty_ said:
Interesting blog post from Will Buxton : http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/ne...
(Stands well back)
*standing ovation*(Stands well back)
Put Bernie in prison and give this man his job.
Crafty_ said:
Interesting blog post from Will Buxton : http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/2014/07/28/ne...
(Stands well back)
Thanks for posting that. It's excellent, and I agree with almost every word.(Stands well back)
The rose-tinted specs brigade are just plain wrong. The spectacle of F1 is currently as good as it has ever been in my time (ie since the mid '80s). The sport had to embrace turbo / hybrid technology to remain relevant and keep the manufacturers on board, and sadly the noise had to change. Apart from that, however, F1 has got it right on the track. Even Pirelli have finally got their act together.
The sport's business model has to change so that fans can afford to go to races, the teams can stay in business and employ drivers on merit, not for financial reasons.
Eric Mc said:
There are FAR worse things wrong with F1 than that.
I'll quote myself (bad form I know) but the article chimes more or less with what I was referring to. The actual F1 we are seeing on the track has really come good this year.It's the underlying business model and direction of travel of the sport and its ethos that is really, really worrying.
And it has been worrying me for a long time.
Bradgate said:
Even Pirelli have finally got their act together.
In fairness, they've been pretty much spot on from the word go as well. They were told to deliver a tyre that life expired more quickly, and they did.The real low point I guess were the complete failures at Silverstone.
I think the current tyres are pretty much spot on in terms of wear rate and life though. 2-3 sets of tyres per race is acceptable, and means the teams are able to strategise around pit stops.
Stopped going years ago (and I have seen more than 50 GP's all around the world)and I was the last to cling on from my group of Petrolheads. Too expensive and not worth the value and effort. Endurance racing is the thing... not exclusive but inclusive - you should go
The BBC TV debacle was the final straw - just showed that is only about money... lost the final connection with F1 after over 40 years. Live in Milton Keynes less than one mile from Red Bull and am not really upset/bothered that they are not doing too well.
The BBC TV debacle was the final straw - just showed that is only about money... lost the final connection with F1 after over 40 years. Live in Milton Keynes less than one mile from Red Bull and am not really upset/bothered that they are not doing too well.
Edited by Great Dane on Tuesday 29th July 21:42
scarble said:
I admit I only caught the highlights, I guess there were slow parts to it, but there were tense moments all over, seems there was a lot of potential for cars to fall off at any moment, looked like the drivers were all properly on edge for the whole race.
Great Dane said:
Stopped going years ago (and I have seen more than 50 GP's all around the world)and I was the last to cling on from my group of Petrolheads. Too expensive and not worth the value and effort. Endurance racing is the thing... not exclusive but inclusive - you should go
The BBC TV debacle was the final straw - just showed that is only about money... lost the final connection with F1 after over 40 years. Live in Milton Keynes less than one mile from Red Bull and am not really upset/bothered that they are not doing too well.
Well the BBC TV debacle was not really of F1s making, it was a stupid decision by the BBC.The BBC TV debacle was the final straw - just showed that is only about money... lost the final connection with F1 after over 40 years. Live in Milton Keynes less than one mile from Red Bull and am not really upset/bothered that they are not doing too well.
Edited by Great Dane on Tuesday 29th July 21:42
However I do think the value for money point is a good one, used to have touring cars and other races on the bill at the British GP but what is it just one support race now? Its just not worth going.
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