What happened to F1?
Discussion
It is failing due to the fact it's controlled by an feckless governing body and corrupt little man. The 'sport' more about marketing and commerce than racing.
I thought I'd be bothered about it not being broadcast on regular TV but truth be told I haven't noticed. Only the qualifying is of much interest to me. The rest is all ego and which watch can be clamped onto the drivers overalls...and don't get me started on the 'personalities'
Moto2 and Moto3
/end
I thought I'd be bothered about it not being broadcast on regular TV but truth be told I haven't noticed. Only the qualifying is of much interest to me. The rest is all ego and which watch can be clamped onto the drivers overalls...and don't get me started on the 'personalities'
Moto2 and Moto3
/end
I'm not sure what people actually expect from Formula one. It must have been really something before my time.
Last race we had, from memory;
Massa skidding on his head for a couple hundred feet.
A car catching fire, quite violently.
Kimi bouncing off 2 cars at the better part of 215mph.
Lewis passing 14 cars in 14 laps from the back. Anyone who dismisses that as "fake overtaking" wasn't watching in my opinion.
Alonso and richardo passing and re-passing each other over 3 or 4 laps.
Etc.
Ok, they don't sound like they used to, Which is a shame, but to say they didnt have to look after tyre's, or manage fuel (even when they were able to re-fuel) before is a bit nuts to be honest. Because they did.
F1 has changed alot this year, but this is probably the best year I have watched for ages.
Last race we had, from memory;
Massa skidding on his head for a couple hundred feet.
A car catching fire, quite violently.
Kimi bouncing off 2 cars at the better part of 215mph.
Lewis passing 14 cars in 14 laps from the back. Anyone who dismisses that as "fake overtaking" wasn't watching in my opinion.
Alonso and richardo passing and re-passing each other over 3 or 4 laps.
Etc.
Ok, they don't sound like they used to, Which is a shame, but to say they didnt have to look after tyre's, or manage fuel (even when they were able to re-fuel) before is a bit nuts to be honest. Because they did.
F1 has changed alot this year, but this is probably the best year I have watched for ages.
and they are really getting the TV coverage right this year (and quite a lot last year too), focussing on the battles down the pack while showing the timing of battles that are off-picture.
Gone are the days when TV would focus on the top 2 following each other in single file for 60 laps.
Gone are the days when TV would focus on the top 2 following each other in single file for 60 laps.
One thing that has sprung to mind just now is that, back in the day, a driver could only count his best 9 results towards his point total for the year.
At the time I thought this was an anacronism and unfair - Mansell effectively lost the title in 1986 because of this rule. They got rid of the rule shortly after this.
Is there a case that there is now slightly more emphasis on reliability than there is on speed?
(Only slightly!)
At the time I thought this was an anacronism and unfair - Mansell effectively lost the title in 1986 because of this rule. They got rid of the rule shortly after this.
Is there a case that there is now slightly more emphasis on reliability than there is on speed?
(Only slightly!)
Qwert1e said:
The empty grandstands at Hockenheim were an embarrassment. F1 in Germany, German driver on pole, German team leading the championship - yett the spectators still weren't interested in turning up. Nice one Bernie.
If you want racing - watch NASCAR. (BT Sport shows the 1 hour ESPN highlights program each week.)
Attendance figures have been falling for half a decade or so. If you have been watching NASCAR you would have noticed a lot of empty seats. It's so bad and damn humiliating on national TV that NASCAR doen't even bother to record attendance figures anymore - and they own most of the tracks via its company ISC.If you want racing - watch NASCAR. (BT Sport shows the 1 hour ESPN highlights program each week.)
Toltec said:
Being realistic what exactly do you think pays for the racing?
I agree, but we are in a situation now where if a very affluent middle eastern state opens their bank accounts the circus immediately rolls into town. No matter if the environment is unsuitable and the spectators are made up of from the top 2% of the population whilst the rest live in squalor?scarble said:
You timed this thread well, considering yesterday's race 
I think the problem for a lot of people, people who yearn for the danger of yesteryear, is that F1 is safe now and without blood and guts and flaming death the only excitement left is the actual racing and clearly some people think this is a bad thing
Over the weekend we still saw two spectacular crashes, both of which resulted in no injury worth mentioning. Proves the driving is still on edge, the cars are still on edge, but no one dies, it's a good thing.. right?
DRS is a bit of an issue sure, but it only really helps a faster car pass a slower car, the Riciardo/Alonso battle carried on for about 5 laps despite DRS and the battle for 2nd showed us that superior driving can fend off a faster car, again despite DRS. I think with the skinnier rear wings it makes less of a difference.
Evidently Hock is good for some actual non-DRS passes too.
Yer man here said what I was going to.I think the problem for a lot of people, people who yearn for the danger of yesteryear, is that F1 is safe now and without blood and guts and flaming death the only excitement left is the actual racing and clearly some people think this is a bad thing
Over the weekend we still saw two spectacular crashes, both of which resulted in no injury worth mentioning. Proves the driving is still on edge, the cars are still on edge, but no one dies, it's a good thing.. right?
DRS is a bit of an issue sure, but it only really helps a faster car pass a slower car, the Riciardo/Alonso battle carried on for about 5 laps despite DRS and the battle for 2nd showed us that superior driving can fend off a faster car, again despite DRS. I think with the skinnier rear wings it makes less of a difference.
Evidently Hock is good for some actual non-DRS passes too.
Edited by scarble on Monday 21st July 11:48
In the 70's you could throw half a dozen kids in the back of yer cortina and they'd fly everywhere when you cornered as there were no seatbelts and everyone would laugh about it, now you get physically sick at the idea of having less than a 17 euro NCAP star hatchback with 493 airbags. F1 didn't change the world did.
I've been watching F1 over 20 years and this is one of the best seasons ever, been saying for a while they should shake the rules up more often (cost savings are relevant- if you tell the teams from the start it's a "8 year engine" they can spend accordingly. One thing that never changes though is people with their rose tinted nostalgia whining how it's not as good as it used to be, that's always been a continuous drone.
And on the subject of whines, I've seen across a few threads, as happens every time a brit is strong for the titles, people whining incessantly about TV coverage worshipping them. It happens. It always has and always will. Deal with it. You think italian TV doesn't go spaz when the fezzas are leading, or spanish TV doesn't proclaim righteous man-love for alonso when he's leading, and so on and so forth? I find British F1 commentary fairly calm and unbiased but part of their job is to cater to those who care little for the non-partisan nature of F1, and I like most people enjoy seeing a fellow countryman cheered on to winning so kindly stick your right-on/oh so politically correct/white guilt/*whatever* hang-ups.
I think the short answer to the OP's question is BE & CVC
With 50% of the income going to the race promoter it is inevitable that tickets become unaffordable and terrestrial TV viewing numbers significantly reduced. The FIA now only have a reduced role at the margins and the top teams only want the other 50% to go to them. Taking the show to Azerbaijan type venues only serves to prolong the agony.
I think we could see the whole thing implode in the not too distant future, business model is not sustainable.
The great irony is that the quality of the drivers throughout the field is possibly better than it ever was. I would still prefer to see them racing Formula £50 million rather than teams blowing millions on something to replace FRICS that the fans never get to see.
With 50% of the income going to the race promoter it is inevitable that tickets become unaffordable and terrestrial TV viewing numbers significantly reduced. The FIA now only have a reduced role at the margins and the top teams only want the other 50% to go to them. Taking the show to Azerbaijan type venues only serves to prolong the agony.
I think we could see the whole thing implode in the not too distant future, business model is not sustainable.
The great irony is that the quality of the drivers throughout the field is possibly better than it ever was. I would still prefer to see them racing Formula £50 million rather than teams blowing millions on something to replace FRICS that the fans never get to see.
rdjohn said:
With 50% of the income going to the race promoter it is inevitable that tickets become unaffordable and terrestrial TV viewing numbers significantly reduced.
To be fair though, viewing figures for terrestrial TV have been going down across the board. People have only so much time (internet etc.), and it seems that the love affair with the car in general is cooling down a bit when it comes to younger folk.Fully agree regarding ticket costs. F1 is (IMO) not good value for money anymore. Decent tickets for Hockenheim (not the best, only decent) start from € 330. Plan a trip for 2 and you are quickly looking at € 1.500. And that is cheap compared to say Spa. Would really tempt me to go there again, but € 425 per seat in the non covered grand stand @ Eau-Rouge? Really?
DoubleSix said:
Wills2 said:
DoubleSix said:
Ricciardo was a joy to watch yesterday. Add in Bottas, sublime work from Hamilton and it was a cracking watch. Enjoyed every minute.
Pistonheads: Moaning Matters
Yep it was a brilliant GP, overtakes everywhere...Pistonheads: Moaning Matters
I forgot to mention how much pleasure I get from the modern camera work and technology. Me and my old man used to watch together when he was still around and I know he would marvel at the overhead pit views, sweeping corner shots, on screen telemetry, driver radio, epic HD detail, slow mo etc etc
All of which either didn't exist or were pitifully naive in their application in times gone by.
Edited by DoubleSix on Monday 21st July 11:10
Good to see Williams back up there fighting as well.
Watching F1 is like watching Scalextric , it's just a load of things whizzing around a track with not very much happening.
Videos of things that I do like to watch..
V8 Supercars
All of the Irish road racing stuff
And any supercar rallycross that makes it onto TV
Videos of things that I do like to watch..
V8 Supercars
All of the Irish road racing stuff
And any supercar rallycross that makes it onto TV
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