How was the 2015 Season for you?
Discussion
One aspect dawned on me when watching the race yesterday - something that had never occurred to me before.
The cars were completely and utterly overwhelmed by the venue.
Now, I'm not saying that the venue was fantastic, stunning or exciting. It wasn't. However, it was BIG and BRASH and it dominated your visual senses. The cars looked like little ants charging around a massive set with huge stands, huge walls, huge spaces around the track itself, acres of bright paint all around the track, massive TV screens and lights and bling everywhere. And of course the lack of noise from the cars made sure that the aural aspect was unimpressive too.
Even the moment of victory for Rosberg was usurped by a tawdry eruption of fireworks.
The race, the cars and the drivers should be what matters - not the ego of the hosts.
The cars were completely and utterly overwhelmed by the venue.
Now, I'm not saying that the venue was fantastic, stunning or exciting. It wasn't. However, it was BIG and BRASH and it dominated your visual senses. The cars looked like little ants charging around a massive set with huge stands, huge walls, huge spaces around the track itself, acres of bright paint all around the track, massive TV screens and lights and bling everywhere. And of course the lack of noise from the cars made sure that the aural aspect was unimpressive too.
Even the moment of victory for Rosberg was usurped by a tawdry eruption of fireworks.
The race, the cars and the drivers should be what matters - not the ego of the hosts.
It's been an enjoyable season for me. There's been some exciting racing both at the front - the battle between LH and NR has been interesting - and some of the overtakes further down the field have been exciting.
Wolff has been a revelation.
But for some reason, despite running my weekends around F1 for decades - my first GP was 1966 - I missed I missed three races that I could have watched live this season. More oddly for me, it didn't really bother me.
Some of it certainly has been the inept management of F1. The fiddling with the regulations seems to have been a disaster.
I'm pleased for Hamilton. He's one of the most exciting drivers out there, and deserves his third championship. But I can't really get excited about it.
At the end of a 'normal' season I used to be excited and at the same time be a bit down as there would be months without races. This year I'm a bit 'meh'.
Wolff has been a revelation.
But for some reason, despite running my weekends around F1 for decades - my first GP was 1966 - I missed I missed three races that I could have watched live this season. More oddly for me, it didn't really bother me.
Some of it certainly has been the inept management of F1. The fiddling with the regulations seems to have been a disaster.
I'm pleased for Hamilton. He's one of the most exciting drivers out there, and deserves his third championship. But I can't really get excited about it.
At the end of a 'normal' season I used to be excited and at the same time be a bit down as there would be months without races. This year I'm a bit 'meh'.
I agree with a lot that's been said, 2015 has hardly been a year to remember, Yes, we have had a couple of good races, but in the 19 races, two decent ones does not make a season of exciting racing.
the emphasis is just wrong, too much on gimmicks and patty rules, not enough about racing.
Lewis was interviews this weekend about changes needed, and he put it very clearly, GET RID OF THE AERO AND GIVE US DECENT TYRES.
Why is it so hard for the morons at the tiller to understand this?
the test bans are stupid too, yes, we don't want to go back to the days of separate test teams, but adding a days testing after every GP would be a good start, or having 4/5 set tests during the year (with rules in place to equalise the amount of running between the teams, say a mileage limit per year of testing).
we also need more cars on the grid, 26 is not a full grid, 36+ is, if that means 3 car teams, so be it.
Engine regs need to be looked at, let the current ones run till 2017 then have a re-think, by then the manufactures will have a better view on the ongoing costs of making them or simply starting again with a cheaper engine (LS7's around?).
Tyres, we need at least 2 and preferably more manufactures in a tyre war, also loose the rules on 13" rims, let the teams/tyre companies pick what they want to run, (with rules to cover contact patch etc).
Races - we need to stop going to the s
t ccts (Mostly Mr Tilke's work), most of the new ccts are crap, (Austin aside), and do nothing to promote racing. Somw of this is down to Aero, meaning that the only overtakes possible now are in big braking zones so they fill the ccts up with chicanes.
I don't mind the idea of limiting fuel, BUT, it needs to be sensible, nobody wants to see cars driving in eco mode to save either fuel or tyres, we want to see race-long battles where the tyres can withstand more than 1 hard lap at a time, and the cars having enough fuel to keep up the pace.
I have most of the years gone by on video, watching stuff from 10 years ago is an eye opener, yes some called it boring then, and I hated the stupid grooved tyres too, BUT they still managed to race for the duration, not cruise about.
the emphasis is just wrong, too much on gimmicks and patty rules, not enough about racing.
Lewis was interviews this weekend about changes needed, and he put it very clearly, GET RID OF THE AERO AND GIVE US DECENT TYRES.
Why is it so hard for the morons at the tiller to understand this?
the test bans are stupid too, yes, we don't want to go back to the days of separate test teams, but adding a days testing after every GP would be a good start, or having 4/5 set tests during the year (with rules in place to equalise the amount of running between the teams, say a mileage limit per year of testing).
we also need more cars on the grid, 26 is not a full grid, 36+ is, if that means 3 car teams, so be it.
Engine regs need to be looked at, let the current ones run till 2017 then have a re-think, by then the manufactures will have a better view on the ongoing costs of making them or simply starting again with a cheaper engine (LS7's around?).
Tyres, we need at least 2 and preferably more manufactures in a tyre war, also loose the rules on 13" rims, let the teams/tyre companies pick what they want to run, (with rules to cover contact patch etc).
Races - we need to stop going to the s
t ccts (Mostly Mr Tilke's work), most of the new ccts are crap, (Austin aside), and do nothing to promote racing. Somw of this is down to Aero, meaning that the only overtakes possible now are in big braking zones so they fill the ccts up with chicanes.I don't mind the idea of limiting fuel, BUT, it needs to be sensible, nobody wants to see cars driving in eco mode to save either fuel or tyres, we want to see race-long battles where the tyres can withstand more than 1 hard lap at a time, and the cars having enough fuel to keep up the pace.
I have most of the years gone by on video, watching stuff from 10 years ago is an eye opener, yes some called it boring then, and I hated the stupid grooved tyres too, BUT they still managed to race for the duration, not cruise about.
Very meh season and since I first got into F1 probably the first season I've just not been at all bothered about, with the amount of races I've actually watched fully I could count on one hand.
I find the whole "show" pretty boring now as its all so contrived and manufactured. I want to watch the best drivers in the world try and tame the fastest cars in the world at the pinacle of engineering excellence. Not a car management exercise in a jumped up hybrid, with everything trying to be done to create a show. Allow the cars to be exciting and the show will take care of itself.
Too bad its not really going to change anytime soon.
I find the whole "show" pretty boring now as its all so contrived and manufactured. I want to watch the best drivers in the world try and tame the fastest cars in the world at the pinacle of engineering excellence. Not a car management exercise in a jumped up hybrid, with everything trying to be done to create a show. Allow the cars to be exciting and the show will take care of itself.
Too bad its not really going to change anytime soon.
Biggest problem seems to be the aero. It shouldn't be physically impossible to pass the leading car, but apparently it is. The tyres have been a problem for years. Webber goes on about them in his autobiography. He also describes the feeling of relief and liberation he felt when he made to switch to sports car racing, which (as Wurz told him when he joined the Porsche team) was still about the joy of racing and old-fashioned team spirit.
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.
go back further, pre-qualifying was to get the grid down to 36 cars, 1983 there were 40 cars entered, 41 in 1989, etc.it was only from 1996 that the grids were typically the low 20's once we lost:
Ligier
Forti
Pacific Grand Prix
Simtek
Footwork Arrows
Larrousse
etc etc...
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)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)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)
I've been an avid F1 fan for 35+ years, always making real effort to watch the races live. I don't believe I'm overly influenced by the rose tinted specs, F1 has always gone through peaks and troughs regarding excitement.
What has always kept me glued to the screen (even during boring races) is the sheer energy of an F1 car. By that I mean the noise, the mind bending cornering speeds, the commitment of the driver and the skill displayed in making these machines go faster than any other cars on the planet whilst providing pure spectacle. To me that has been lost. The cars are obviously going fast but they don't give the impression they are very often going as fast as they can. This is purely an emotional response, I make no pretence of backing that up with fact.
Several times this year family members have asked why I'm not watching the race and been genuinely surprised to hear me say, "Not bothered to be honest". That pretty much sums up my view on 2015, a year in which a Brit won his 3rd WDC!
I'm not a prolific poster and I don't bleat and moan about F1, it is what it is.
All I would say is if people like me are giving up on it, there must be something seriously amiss. I'm sure the organisers of F1 couldn't care less but I would imagine the sponsors will.
I'm also finding myself being drawn to WEC. I don't try to justify that with logic as I don't have to. The LMP1 cars appear to have that "energy", the speed they are carrying is immense. The GT cars provide a great soundtrack too!
I actually feel quite sad typing this...
What has always kept me glued to the screen (even during boring races) is the sheer energy of an F1 car. By that I mean the noise, the mind bending cornering speeds, the commitment of the driver and the skill displayed in making these machines go faster than any other cars on the planet whilst providing pure spectacle. To me that has been lost. The cars are obviously going fast but they don't give the impression they are very often going as fast as they can. This is purely an emotional response, I make no pretence of backing that up with fact.
Several times this year family members have asked why I'm not watching the race and been genuinely surprised to hear me say, "Not bothered to be honest". That pretty much sums up my view on 2015, a year in which a Brit won his 3rd WDC!
I'm not a prolific poster and I don't bleat and moan about F1, it is what it is.
All I would say is if people like me are giving up on it, there must be something seriously amiss. I'm sure the organisers of F1 couldn't care less but I would imagine the sponsors will.
I'm also finding myself being drawn to WEC. I don't try to justify that with logic as I don't have to. The LMP1 cars appear to have that "energy", the speed they are carrying is immense. The GT cars provide a great soundtrack too!
I actually feel quite sad typing this...
Mach said:
All I would say is if people like me are giving up on it, there must be something seriously amiss. I'm sure the organisers of F1 couldn't care less
That's perhaps the central problem. For years they haven't cared about those who have followed the sport all their lives. They have been happy to lose these "old fogies" in the assumption for every old fogie lost, they would simply move to a new territory and pick up 10 new fogies to replace them. Not sure this strategy is really paying off.Agree with most on here a very dull year. First year for many that I have been back to Spa the parties were as good as ever that never changes but the racing was dull GP2 was better cars popping on the overrun that's turbos not what F1 has.
That last race and the message to Lewis summed it up for me both run the same engine map bring it home 1,2 do not race... Nobody wants to see that. It was the last race WDC won constructors won engines don't have to last race, balls out until it goes bang.
They need to change this quickly. Or Ferrari need to improve to take the fight to Merc.
That last race and the message to Lewis summed it up for me both run the same engine map bring it home 1,2 do not race... Nobody wants to see that. It was the last race WDC won constructors won engines don't have to last race, balls out until it goes bang.
They need to change this quickly. Or Ferrari need to improve to take the fight to Merc.
First time since the early eighties I have missed races, I missed most of them, even the once unmissable Spa, it's just gone over the edge now, bad racing, bad cars, bad tracks, the whole concept of Motorsport is just ridiculous now anyway, and the more disconnected one gets, the less likely to bother returning to it.
Eric Mc said:
One aspect dawned on me when watching the race yesterday - something that had never occurred to me before.
The cars were completely and utterly overwhelmed by the venue.
Now, I'm not saying that the venue was fantastic, stunning or exciting. It wasn't. However, it was BIG and BRASH and it dominated your visual senses. The cars looked like little ants charging around a massive set with huge stands, huge walls, huge spaces around the track itself, acres of bright paint all around the track, massive TV screens and lights and bling everywhere. And of course the lack of noise from the cars made sure that the aural aspect was unimpressive too.
Even the moment of victory for Rosberg was usurped by a tawdry eruption of fireworks.
The race, the cars and the drivers should be what matters - not the ego of the hosts.
Prior to 2014, the echo of the v8s around those stadium sections dominated Yas Island and not just the circuit. Now they sound like tuned-down lawnmowers you are right - the fireworks are louder.The cars were completely and utterly overwhelmed by the venue.
Now, I'm not saying that the venue was fantastic, stunning or exciting. It wasn't. However, it was BIG and BRASH and it dominated your visual senses. The cars looked like little ants charging around a massive set with huge stands, huge walls, huge spaces around the track itself, acres of bright paint all around the track, massive TV screens and lights and bling everywhere. And of course the lack of noise from the cars made sure that the aural aspect was unimpressive too.
Even the moment of victory for Rosberg was usurped by a tawdry eruption of fireworks.
The race, the cars and the drivers should be what matters - not the ego of the hosts.
PW said:
If you watch it every week, surely you must enjoy some aspect of it, so why not act like it? No one is going to come and beat you up if you admit to enjoying it, or god forbid find something positive to say.
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.
BoRED S2upid said:
Agree with most on here a very dull year. First year for many that I have been back to Spa the parties were as good as ever that never changes but the racing was dull GP2 was better cars popping on the overrun that's turbos not what F1 has.
That last race and the message to Lewis summed it up for me both run the same engine map bring it home 1,2 do not race... Nobody wants to see that. It was the last race WDC won constructors won engines don't have to last race, balls out until it goes bang.
They need to change this quickly. Or Ferrari need to improve to take the fight to Merc.
The GP2 engine isn't turbocharged.That last race and the message to Lewis summed it up for me both run the same engine map bring it home 1,2 do not race... Nobody wants to see that. It was the last race WDC won constructors won engines don't have to last race, balls out until it goes bang.
They need to change this quickly. Or Ferrari need to improve to take the fight to Merc.
Mercedes still had records to go for and Nico's engine was tired, you can't blame them.
I agree with your last line but it's not just Ferrari who need to improve; some teams have done a pretty poor job this year. McLaren goes without explanation, Williams have made little, if any progress; Lotus have been a shambles in many ways, getting nothing from the Merc engine; RBR have just looked for a scapegoat; it goes on.
Only Ferrari knuckled down and tried to catch up, instead of shrugging their shoulders and whining like the rest of them.
Someone said that the teams are focussed on 2017 so nothing will change next year. I hope that's not true because Mercedes have been putting a lot of effort into 2016's car, so, if it is true, then next year will be worse than this, in terms of competition.
I have limited time to give to motorsport, sadly. The thrills that this seasons Moto GP has given me sets a standard of competition. F1 does not come close. I’ve been an avid F1 fan since ’88 when, as a 7 year old, I started watching (and remembering!) but I’ve watched 2/3s of the races this year, and enjoyed a handful – and those races are more the track and an historic romance with (Spa) than the actual race.
Lewis is right; better tyres, less aero. I, like many, love the sound of the old V12s. Nothing comes close, but they won’t come back. (and I’ve got Sportscars for that…) I couldn’t care what it’s powered by or how loud it is: give me racing and overtaking. Procedural first-corner-then-its-over is not appealing.
Lewis is right; better tyres, less aero. I, like many, love the sound of the old V12s. Nothing comes close, but they won’t come back. (and I’ve got Sportscars for that…) I couldn’t care what it’s powered by or how loud it is: give me racing and overtaking. Procedural first-corner-then-its-over is not appealing.
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