Anyone else disillusioned with F1?

[10 Pence Short]

Due to sudden work commitments last weekend, I found myself on the Isle Of Skye with no chance of watching the Monaco GP. In previous years, this would have really p*ssed me off and left me feeling I'd missed something special.

This year, I wasn't bothered at all.

It seems as if the manipulation of the sport has taken away the interest and excitement of the recent past. Maybe it's the way the sport is no longer the seemingly limitless pursuit of cutting edge, maybe it's the plain old mediocrity of the competition and the lack of improvement the new rules have provided?

Sadly I now find myself not really caring if I see another GP this season and I suppose I'm upset at losing something I really used to savour.

[Ian Davidson]

I'm not sharing your thoughts, sorry.

F1 has never been this magic place...it's just another racing series.

[FourWheelDrift]

Monaco GP is always a procession, if there was one I wouldn't mind missing it would be that one. Wouldn't want to miss qualifying though. I wouldn't want to miss the other races though, where racing can happen.


Now WTCC......now there's a series I am happy to forget watching, I forgot it today as well.

[Fire99]

I'm gripped to the races this year more so than since the days of Prost,Mansell and Senna.

However, all the crap with Mosley, Ecclestone etc for some reason is putting a bit of a dampener on things and that really pisses me off!!

[Piglet]

It's been a business rather than a sport for a good few years so I don't think that's changed this year.

As said, it is just another race series and we watch all sorts of motorsport, boht bikes and cars.

I'm slightly more enthusiastic this year, it's great to see Jenson doing well and the idea of Brawn GP who didn't exist a year ago doing some dragon slaying is fantastic!

[Northern Munkee]

Fire99 said:

I'm gripped to the races this year more so than since the days of Prost,Mansell and Senna.

However, all the crap with Mosley, Ecclestone etc for some reason is putting a bit of a dampener on things and that really pisses me off!!

So what do you think it is, that's made it so gripping?

Personally I'd agree, but I put this down to BBC's more extensive coverage, me spending more time at home, rather than karting on weekends, and being able to interact and complement it with the threads on PHers, etc.

[Fire99]

Northern Munkee said:

So what do you think it is, that's made it so gripping?

Tricky one. I think firstly the surprise of Brawn being up there and the better mix of results behind them.
Cause of the major rule changes it's taking different times for different teams on different tracks to get up to pace.

And back to Brawn, i'm genuinely surprised how Button has managed to throw in some last-gasp quali laps to take pole so I guess it's the unpredictability that's appealing.

Gotta admit that the additional features from the BBC helps. Being able to watch the practices and the forum after the race is pretty groovy.

If only the powers at the top could grasp some sense of reality but perhaps i'm asking too much.

[Northern Munkee]

Fire99 said:

Northern Munkee said:

So what do you think it is, that's made it so gripping?

Tricky one. I think firstly the surprise of Brawn being up there and the better mix of results behind them.
Cause of the major rule changes it's taking different times for different teams on different tracks to get up to pace.

And back to Brawn, i'm genuinely surprised how Button has managed to throw in some last-gasp quali laps to take pole so I guess it's the unpredictability that's appealing.

Gotta admit that the additional features from the BBC helps. Being able to watch the practices and the forum after the race is pretty groovy.

If only the powers at the top could grasp some sense of reality but perhaps i'm asking too much.

Yes, thinking again the Brawn, Button thing for me, a shake up in the pecking order, no matter what the purists say, and as much as I'm loathed to admit it, the off track I suppose, not sure spygate generated as much interest for me, although I've had enough of that aspect.

Edited by Northern Munkee on Sunday 31st May 22:52

[eccles]

10 Pence Short said:

It seems as if the manipulation of the sport has taken away the interest and excitement of the recent past. Maybe it's the way the sport is no longer the seemingly limitless pursuit of cutting edge,

I think I, and many others feel the same as you. I'm not a die hard F1 fan, but like many other motorsport fan I feel F1 has really lost it's way in the last couple of seasons.
All the off track/after race crap over the last few seasons have really put me off, the blatant pro Ferrari stance of the FIA, the bizarre stewards decisions, etc, etc.

Tie all this in with the threat of standard engines and chassis, and the further restriction on technological developments makes you think in a few years time will it be even worth calling it F1. F1 used to be pretty much the pinnacle of technology and development in motorsport, start making standard components and it just ends up being another race series.

Don't get me wrong, I understand the need to curb the spending (especially in these times), and some measures like making engines and gearboxes last longer are a good thing, but by standardising major components it will restrict what F1 is all about.

This season the racing has been better with more mixed results and a change around in the old order, plus it's nice to see a driver winning races that doesn't use the phrase 'for sure' every other word in the post race interviews!

[911mot]

I love F1, I'm just fed up with explaining the penalties, result changes and politics to friends & family

[MGJohn]

eccles said:

........ Much snipped.

the blatant pro Ferrari stance of the FIA, the bizarre stewards decisions, etc, etc.

..............

Yes, that particularly during most of the Ferrari/Herr Schumacher M. era was the biggest turn off for me.

This season has been a refreshing change for this observer for a numbet of reasons, not least a perfect demonstration to so many know all know nowts having to revise their judgement about some drivers being too old, over the hill demotivated or well past their sell by date.

At the centre of that, the efforts of all involved with the BrawnGP outfit has revitalised my interest in F1 this season. That for me is the real refreshing change.

... Roll on the next GP.
..

[Eric Mc]

I've followed F2 since the mid 1960s and my interest levels have waxed and waned over the years. However, I've never ever completely lost interest.

The dullest era was the period of Michael Schumacher's dominance.
The last few seasons have been a lot better and this year is turning out to be VERY different.

Obviously, if Button goes on to win every race he starts, it could get dull - but I'm glad to see someone else and a new team doing so well.

The politics has always been a pain and I agree that some of the rules these days are totally incomprehensible.

[4sure]

911mot said:

I love F1, I'm just fed up with explaining the penalties, result changes and politics to friends & family

+1 same here,if i only could explain kers properly (or spell it )

[Fire99]

Northern Munkee said:

not sure spygate generated as much interest for me, although I've had enough of that aspect.

I do tend to switch off on the inter-team ramblings as i'm pretty sure there is a whole bunch of stuff that we hear nothing about.

Issues with Stewards and overall rule changes from the FIA tend to get my back up as it directly affects the racing, normally for the worse.

[JM16v]

I blame Eddie Jordan for your lack of interest!!

But i think it must be you, i lost interest a long time a go and this season i've stayed in to watch a race. I think that says a lot for me. I wish i had missed Monaco, it is always st. Waste of time.

Mix up in the field, teams getting better provides a lot of interest.
I dont mind Button walking away, we all have a favourite driver and I want him to do well and that means winning. I still dont see how hime walking away with it will ruin the season, if you get over the WDC and just enjoy the racing then this season is much better!

[The Black Flash]

Haven't watched it for about a decade until one race last season, and I've watched them all so far this year. Dunno why but it seems more interesting than when I last watched it.
That'll soon change if if standard engines etc come in.

[Derek Smith]

I have to confess that a lot of the shime has gone off the sport for me. And for some of my mates. We tend not to discuss the racing so much as the politics. Fair enough, this season has started with the overwhelming dominance of one team, and probably one driver, so that the feeling is that unless there are a few penalties in the wings, Button has the WDC in his grasp. Given Brawn's previous, he's not going to let the only likely challenger, RB, to mess things up.

Ron Dennis going hit me surprisingly hard. I'm not sure I see myself as a McLaren fan anymore and I really can't be arsed to look for another team. This despite BBC coverage being a step up from ITV - even EJ is exciting. I mean, how long before someone lumps him? - and the initial excitement of not knowing which car would be in the ascendant.

I found Monaco a bit of a trail and I can't say I hold out much more hope for Turkey.

I've gone off F1 before but that was because of, firstly, Clark's death and then Rindt and then, after such a long gap, Ratzenberger and Senna. But even then I knew I'd go back to watching it again. Now I'm not so sure. Indeed, the feeling is that I won't be back at all.

The shine has gone to my mind. It always seemed to have the atmosphere of the ultimate game before.

There's little doubt in my mind that the cause is Mosley. It's been building for some time but now I feel overwhelmed by the feeling that the whole charade is dirty, rotten not so much underneath as at the top. But it does seem to be crumbling away.

For the last few seasons, and especially this year, I've been watching LMS and GT racing. I've been entranced by the rise of Ginetta - having had a G32 for 10 years. It's not the ultimate of course, but then the feeling is that neither is F1 anymore. 40+ years a fan and if it's sunny on Sunday, I'm taking my wife out for a meal. Ever since 1966, if a GP has been televised live, I've either seen it on TV or at the circuit. All except when Senna died as Ratzenberger's death put me off and I went out that day with the kids.

I feel as if it is the end of F1 as a great sport.

[Tyre_Tread]

I think, in terms of racing, its not as good as the Mansell/Senna era but better than the Schumacher/Hill times.

I really started to enjoy F1 again and then they announced the move to the BBC and I was delighted. Then they announced Brundle was staying with the commentary team and I thought it just couldnt be better than this. Then I learned there was no Blundell.

I turned on the first GP of 2009 and thought that warm up team made it even better and then Legard, whom I had never heard of opened his gob and from minute 1 of race 1 it just destroyed it for me. If that git says 'from' one more time I'll shove his teeth so far down his throat that he'll need an anally insterted toothbrush.

I'd love to watch the race with R5 or other commentary but generally I record the races as I'm not about when they're on live.

Quite how one man can be allowed to completely ruin what is supposed to be the most spectacular racing series in the world is beyond me.

If I bother at all I now watch the race on fast forward with the sound turned off looking for interesting bits where Brundle is saying somethong of interest. I've yet to hear the new cock say anything at all of merit.

[Fire99]

Derek Smith said:

I have to confess that a lot of the shime has gone off the sport for me. And for some of my mates. We tend not to discuss the racing so much as the politics. Fair enough, this season has started with the overwhelming dominance of one team, and probably one driver, so that the feeling is that unless there are a few penalties in the wings, Button has the WDC in his grasp. Given Brawn's previous, he's not going to let the only likely challenger, RB, to mess things up.

Ron Dennis going hit me surprisingly hard. I'm not sure I see myself as a McLaren fan anymore and I really can't be arsed to look for another team. This despite BBC coverage being a step up from ITV - even EJ is exciting. I mean, how long before someone lumps him? - and the initial excitement of not knowing which car would be in the ascendant.

I found Monaco a bit of a trail and I can't say I hold out much more hope for Turkey.

I've gone off F1 before but that was because of, firstly, Clark's death and then Rindt and then, after such a long gap, Ratzenberger and Senna. But even then I knew I'd go back to watching it again. Now I'm not so sure. Indeed, the feeling is that I won't be back at all.

The shine has gone to my mind. It always seemed to have the atmosphere of the ultimate game before.

There's little doubt in my mind that the cause is Mosley. It's been building for some time but now I feel overwhelmed by the feeling that the whole charade is dirty, rotten not so much underneath as at the top. But it does seem to be crumbling away.

For the last few seasons, and especially this year, I've been watching LMS and GT racing. I've been entranced by the rise of Ginetta - having had a G32 for 10 years. It's not the ultimate of course, but then the feeling is that neither is F1 anymore. 40+ years a fan and if it's sunny on Sunday, I'm taking my wife out for a meal. Ever since 1966, if a GP has been televised live, I've either seen it on TV or at the circuit. All except when Senna died as Ratzenberger's death put me off and I went out that day with the kids.

I feel as if it is the end of F1 as a great sport.

Clearly Derek you have a huge wealth of F1 years under your bonnet (obviously not saying you're old. ) and if i'm totally honest I enjoy coverage of the 'classic' races over the modern over sanitised races. In many ways I wish we had the older Tracks / cars but with some of the modern safety knowledge / technology.

I stand true on the belief that 'Power Corrupts' and the pendulum has swung further and further away from Sport towards Politics & Business.
If i'm honest, F1 being a great sport erroded away some time ago. (Much the same can be directed at Football)

If i'm honest F1 reminds me of Chrysler, GM etc. It's grown out of all proportion and lost itself along the way. In order for F1 to return to being a great sport first and business second, it needs to effectively go bankrupt and a great sport emerge from the ashes.
You could argue that Mosley and Ecclestone have the right idea by reducing the costs significantly. However, these are the same people who have allowed F1 to become a corporate circus in the first place.

I also hear the voices of those who argue that F1 should be the pinnacle of Motorsport so vast budgets and huge technology are paramount.
I certainly agree F1 should be the fastest single seater formula but the core value should stand at Racing first and technology second. Otherwise we may as well play the races on an Xbox. In balance I disagree with constantly trying to slow the cars down.

This year is certainly worth watching, if only to see if Brawn can live-out the fairytale and Button achieve the near impossible.
But beyond that, as a sport, it needs the 'usual suspects' to hang up their caps and a new vision to restore the core values. (And we're back to Politics again. )

[Get Karter]

I am as interested in F1 as I've ever been. I think this season is very tight, with the tiniest margins between the teams' lap times.

Has qualifying ever been closer, and so consistently so?
Has there been a season in the last 10 years with fewer cars being lapped in races?

As a neutral, I am seeing very close racing this season.

I suspect that fans of particular teams lose interest if their team doesn't look to be in with a shout.

I just enjoy watching the little battles up and down the field. And I have seen more this season already than in any of the previous 10 or so I have followed.

Edited by Get Karter on Monday 1st June 13:11