How was the 2015 Season for you?

[chonok]

mollytherocker said:

So, how was it for you?

I have to be brutally honest and say that its been the least exciting and enjoyable ever for me. And, yes I know there have been sparks of greatness, but overall I have been disappointed. For many many reasons.

At the root of it all is, I am convinced, the power unit technology and yes, the sound. Even though, I am interested in it technically. However, its far more complicated and multifaceted than that and difficult to put my finger on. Theres a 'falseness'.

I am seriously considering dropping it next year. My time is precious, and I am just not sure it figures that highly in my life now. I just dont know what its for anymore. Entertainment, money, saving the planet?

What about you?

Edited by mollytherocker on Sunday 29th November 22:54

This pretty much sums up how I feel about it as well.

The lack of noise does make a difference, even on TV

2 seasons ago, I wouldn't have missed a moment of a race weekend. Now, I pretty much missed the second half of the season.

2010 was the pinnacle for me. After that it has gradually gone downhill.

[stew-S160]

Had its highs and lows. More lows than highs for sure. Very much 'meh'. First time I've ever fallen asleep during multiple races or found myself doing other stuff while races were on in the background.

[RYH64E]

troc said:

I think the issue is that most people no longer watch it every race week whereas we used to. I used to organise my weekends around F1 - either watching in the pub with friends or at home - often also with friends or at least with my wife who is also an F1 fan. The races were often processions, one team or driver often dominated for a whole season or more and things were often predictable. But there was something about the races, the experience, the atmosphere that made it fun despite the predictability.

That's gone.

I miss a race, I just check the news and move on. I used to video the races to watch later - or use watch again. Now, meh. Who cares.

The cars, the drivers, the racing, it all seems to play vastly second-fiddle to the global politics and money-making of the "sport".

As I've said before, I'm sure there was always politics and money making and, quite possibly, the racing always came second - but it didn't feel like that. Now it does. Now it feels like the experience would be exactly the same if they just tossed a coin and declared a winner with some nice fireworks and a visit to a Ferrari theme park.

I used to watch practice, qualifying, race build up, race, post race analysis, etc, and make complex arrangements to make sure I didn't miss any coverage if I happened to be overseas, I even paid for Bernie Vision back in the day. Now I'll catch the race if I'm around, usually whilst cooking the dinner or doing something equally mundane. I fell asleep 10 laps into yesterday's race, hadn't recorded it, and didn't bother trying to watch the (laughably termed) highlights. People at work are much the same, the conversations are usually along the lines of 'Did you watch the race yesterday', 'Yes, wasn't it crap'.

The really sad thing is that F1 hasn't ended up this way by accident, they've collectively spent billions of dollars to completely fk it up.

[mollytherocker]

fesuvious said:

If all the BTCC races were closer together, perhaps with a total of 3 hours instead of across a full day, I can honestly say I'd likely never bother with F1 again.

BTCC is great racing isn't it? You can really feel the drivers extracting every last bit of performance from the cars, its proper wheel to wheel stuff.

[Scuffers]

fesuvious said:

If all the BTCC races were closer together, perhaps with a total of 3 hours instead of across a full day, I can honestly say I'd likely never bother with F1 again.

BTCC is another problem all-together.

I used to go to BTCC meetings in year gone by, when it was real racing with top line drivers etc etc.

I am, of-course, talking about super touring (1991-2000).

these days is laughable, reverse grids, grids pulled from a hat, driving standards worse than club-racing, with tap-to-pass practised as a profession, etc etc.

[MitchT]

Pretty dull. Glad to see Lewis win, being British, but otherwise it was mostly dross. I know there have been processional races through F1's history but at least in the past they'd happen on narrower circuits with less run off and more undulation, thus giving a far greater impression of speed. Today's F1 cars sound crap too. If the BBC dropped it I certainly wouldn't pay to watch it and I wouldn't miss it after a while either.

[Daston]

Snore fest I think sums it up.

This has been backed up by the general low post count on here regarding the racing and not what item of clothing Leiws is wearing today or who threw what at who.

I have been thinking of changing my sky package around as it could be a lot cheaper (on the old HD channel) but have been worried about loosing the F1, now I am not too bothered.

[S0 What]

Not the best season i've ever followed but i'll be back next year no matter what cos unlike the (apparently) fair weather watchers on here i AM a huge fan and will watch it no matter what, on the other side of the coin even though i don't wear rose tinted specs it certainly wasn't the worst season i've followed in the last 25 years.
I'll see you all next year to see who has the biggest willy on here and who can turn a great thread to st as usuall

[angrymoby]

Scuffers said:

angrymoby said:

Eric Mc said:

26 car grids is about the maximum there ever has been in Formula 1. In 1991 there were 34 cars trying to qualify - but 26 were only ever allowed start. Monaco used to have an upper limit of 20.

exactly & 34 cars, would = 17 teams ...that's an extra 14 (7x2) garages to what we have now, that's a huge ask of the tracks to add them & re-design the pit layout, even if they have the space & footprint to do so (which Monaco doesn't)

really?

Name me an F1 track (bar Monaco) that does not have enough garages? Hell, even the old pits at Silverstone have 40+ doors (they are numbered 1A to 12E and that ignores the 0's).

and if it's so hard, how does WEC manage (with a shed load more cars over longer races)

Red Bull Ring for a start ...as it only has 34 physical garages (with no wriggle room at the pit exit)

Each F1 team currently has 3 garages, 1 for each car & the 3rd for equipment (hence F1 track garages are in blocks of 6 usually) ...the other 4 are used by the FIA iirc

& WEC only uses 6 F1 tracks doesn't it? ...all the ones with 40+ garages i'd imagine & i'd also imagine they forgo the 3rd team garage

It's not that it's impossible, but it's far from easy either ...& as mentioned, the current Monaco format would have to go

[vinnie01]

Didnt really watch any of it this year, I was watching the BES, WEC and BTCC instead

[leglessAlex]

S0 What said:

...cos unlike the (apparently) fair weather watchers on here i AM a huge fan and will watch it no matter what...

What's wrong with being a 'fair weather watcher'? Why would you continue to watch something if you didn't enjoy it anymore?

That's the issue I have, and by the sound of it it's the issue a lot of people have. The fans like me that you have such distain for make up a very large percentage of the people that watch the sport I'm guessing, so it's important F1 keeps our interest.

I don't know what the solution is, but it would be nice if cars could follow another car very closely without losing all downforce and ruining their tyres. Even if a pass never actually happens, it looks exciting.

[London424]

What many people's comments say to me is that they've changed as people and we all have much more choice in what we do with our time nowadays.

This wasn't a great season by any stretch but people suggesting this was worse than some of the 2000s seasons are clearly deluded.

I'm sure back in the day you planned your life around it, but that's when you had 4 channels and the Internet barely existed.

I think Gaz mentioned the classic races they show on Sky...I really think some of you need to watch them and see how awful the "classics" really were without the rose tinted specs on.

[Scuffers]

angrymoby said:

Red Bull Ring for a start ...as it only has 34 physical garages (with no wriggle room at the pit exit)

poor example..

Yes, they are only 34 numbered doors, but there are 6 others either side not numbered.

And of all the ccts out there, be easy to add a few more (no physical constraints).

Yes, they currently all use 3+ doors, but as already said, cut down on the amount of people and stuff they cart round, make them fit in 1 door/car (hell, if they went to 3 car teams they can keep their 3 door/team).

in the context of the problems within F1, this really is a trivial one.

[mollytherocker]

London424 said:

What many people's comments say to me is that they've changed as people and we all have much more choice in what we do with our time nowadays.

This wasn't a great season by any stretch but people suggesting this was worse than some of the 2000s seasons are clearly deluded.

I'm sure back in the day you planned your life around it, but that's when you had 4 channels and the Internet barely existed.

I think Gaz mentioned the classic races they show on Sky...I really think some of you need to watch them and see how awful the "classics" really were without the rose tinted specs on.

I can't deny that may be part of it. However, its much more than that. Its just not the spectacle it was for me. And I find it hard to put that into a logical set of reasons as its mainly emotional.

WEC still gives me what I want from Motorsport, so the answer is in there somewhere!

My wife used to love watching it with me, but now she would rather do the ironing. I think that sums it up!

[RichB]

London424 said:

What many people's comments say to me is that they've changed as people and we all have much more choice in what we do with our time nowadays..

Plus there are quite simply too many races. It used to be that there'd sometimes be a gap of 3 weeks which meant in the summer you could actually plan to do something other weekends, now they seem to come thick and fast week after week. For me this has taken away some of the anticipation.

[RYH64E]

London424 said:

What many people's comments say to me is that they've changed as people and we all have much more choice in what we do with our time nowadays.

A lot of people appear to have changed around the same time, many after decades of following the sport, coincidence?

I've not enjoyed the last few seasons, and have made my feelings known on here, but it would appear that what started as a minority of disgruntled 'fans' is now becoming a very significant proportion.

[angrymoby]

Scuffers said:

angrymoby said:

Red Bull Ring for a start ...as it only has 34 physical garages (with no wriggle room at the pit exit)

poor example..

Yes, they are only 34 numbered doors, but there are 6 others either side not numbered.

And of all the ccts out there, be easy to add a few more (no physical constraints).

Yes, they currently all use 3+ doors, but as already said, cut down on the amount of people and stuff they cart round, make them fit in 1 door/car (hell, if they went to 3 car teams they can keep their 3 door/team).

in the context of the problems within F1, this really is a trivial one.

really?

let me know how many garages you *think* there are ...& ill compare it to the actual CAD & ref i have here (ill give you a clue: there are 36)

there are also actual physical limiting factors at the RBR ...the start straight isn't that long & the 1st corner incline dictates where the last possible garage can be (ill you give you a clue where that is: it's where the last garage has just been built)

as for triviality ...bigger grids are on your wish list, not mine

[RichB]

And... there're off!

Two pages in and the customary Pistonheads argumentative pissing match has started.

[paulyv]

Been watching since the mid-1980's and I think that the problem with this year can be summed up as being down to several factors.

It could be the sound, but I think that is just part of it. There is certainly less spectacle with these new engines, even on TV. A shame as I find the tech very interesting and the cars are genuinely powerful. It just doesn't appear that way.

However, I seem to have been more fatigued of F1 by the latter-half of the year. Perhaps a few less races would help with that - something I would not have expected to say. I don't think that is linked to Mercedes being so far ahead as I did not feel the same in the 2000's. Apparently getting 'more' of something I like is not the best solution.

I also seem to be suffering with the presentation of the whole circus on both Sky and BBC. The over-dramatisation before each race, the constant gossip and ill-informed 'insight' into what each driver is supposedly thinking...the need to somehow turn the year into a soap opera is tiresome to me as it's merely fluff compared to the race itself but TV producers try to attach far more weight to it than is due. TV doesn't need to get distracted by too much of that - surely social media is far better for such discourse? (which is of course exactly what the TV producers fear)

The newer tracks don't help...I only really recall the races from the classic locations this year, Austin aside.

The races have been a little processional, but not much more than previous years which means that there must be some jeopardy missing for me. If I had time I would go back and revisit some 90's races to see how the presentation style has differed.

Perhaps I am just getting old, but I would be surprised if anyone 20 years younger than me was that too bothered about any of this year.

[Scuffers]

angrymoby said:

really?

let me know how many garages you *think* there are ...& ill compare it to the actual CAD & ref i have here (ill give you a clue: there are 36)

ideal, 36 doors, 36 cars!