What is the best Decade of Formula 1 for you?
Discussion
Being a major fan of F1, I thought I would ask this question, not only because you cannot rip me a new one, but also its one question that never gets asked as much as it should do. The cars changed, did they change for the better? The drivers, did they change? Well now we have drivers paying to get into F1. However is that not how the sport started? The rich and thrill seekers looking for other ways to live life on the edge and spend their money. I have a very good friend who used to live the dream, was part of the Brands Hatch era of F1 in the early 50's/60's. Used to enjoy a drink or two with none such other as The great Mr E himself. Apart from this he tells me that back then this is what made F1 great, he also feels that most of that is lost now and all we see is just a circus act compared to the real racing of yesteryear. Would you agree with this statement that modern F1 has lost this edge forever? I must admit it was brilliant to watch the Cine film he has, seeing the monocoque design for the first time on F1 cars. the flexing as it moved along the race track, to hug to the track and make it feel like it was apart of it.
Should we go back to cars like these? Yes they may be slower, apart from this the racing was real, closer and more of a challenge. If we could bring the safety of today with the cars of yesteryear, would this be the answer to F1's overtaking problem?
Just thought I would show you some of my old pictures of Brand Hatch, before Safety barriers were even thought of!!!!
Should we go back to cars like these? Yes they may be slower, apart from this the racing was real, closer and more of a challenge. If we could bring the safety of today with the cars of yesteryear, would this be the answer to F1's overtaking problem?
Just thought I would show you some of my old pictures of Brand Hatch, before Safety barriers were even thought of!!!!
Early 80s to early 90s for me, but I guess anyone would say that about their first decade of watching it...
To be honest, last season's racing wasn't far behind in terms of enthralment, if it weren't for there being a little less overtaking, and things being too polished (better reliability, less mayhem and drivers with less charisma/ character!)
To be honest, last season's racing wasn't far behind in terms of enthralment, if it weren't for there being a little less overtaking, and things being too polished (better reliability, less mayhem and drivers with less charisma/ character!)
I would say the modern age- say 2007-2010. Maybe 2011.
F1 races in the past often had a dominant team who would win be 30+ seconds, possibly more. Through much of F1 this was always the case. OPne team would find an advantage, exploit it and run away with the championship.
The last few years have been consistently exciting and unpredictable. I think when this time passes, we will look back and wonder why we ever changed a thing.
F1 races in the past often had a dominant team who would win be 30+ seconds, possibly more. Through much of F1 this was always the case. OPne team would find an advantage, exploit it and run away with the championship.
The last few years have been consistently exciting and unpredictable. I think when this time passes, we will look back and wonder why we ever changed a thing.
For the progress achieved during the time, can I nominate 1982 - 1992?
We saw a proper understanding of aero, 1,500cc engines churning out 1,200bhp, active ride, traction control, not to mention Prost / Senna / Mansell / Piquet / Rosberg, inline 4's / V6's / V8's / V12's, and gorgeous looking cars like Piquet's Parmalat Brabham / Lauda's MP4-2C / Alboreto's Ferrari.
And circuits were more Osterreichring than A1-Ring (160mph laps of Silverstone, anyone?)
We saw a proper understanding of aero, 1,500cc engines churning out 1,200bhp, active ride, traction control, not to mention Prost / Senna / Mansell / Piquet / Rosberg, inline 4's / V6's / V8's / V12's, and gorgeous looking cars like Piquet's Parmalat Brabham / Lauda's MP4-2C / Alboreto's Ferrari.
And circuits were more Osterreichring than A1-Ring (160mph laps of Silverstone, anyone?)
kiteless said:
For the progress achieved during the time, can I nominate 1982 - 1992?
We saw a proper understanding of aero, 1,500cc engines churning out 1,200bhp, active ride, traction control, not to mention Prost / Senna / Mansell / Piquet / Rosberg, inline 4's / V6's / V8's / V12's, and gorgeous looking cars like Piquet's Parmalat Brabham / Lauda's MP4-2C / Alboreto's Ferrari.
And circuits were more Osterreichring than A1-Ring (160mph laps of Silverstone, anyone?)
Have to agree with this too... I loved the madness of the turbo era. I would also extend it to 1993 when the cars were at their peak with all the gadgets (active ride, semi auto gearboxes, abs? traction) but thats from a geeky perspective!We saw a proper understanding of aero, 1,500cc engines churning out 1,200bhp, active ride, traction control, not to mention Prost / Senna / Mansell / Piquet / Rosberg, inline 4's / V6's / V8's / V12's, and gorgeous looking cars like Piquet's Parmalat Brabham / Lauda's MP4-2C / Alboreto's Ferrari.
And circuits were more Osterreichring than A1-Ring (160mph laps of Silverstone, anyone?)
I'd be happy with 82-92. I was born in 1980, and grew up with F1 from the off (the old man is a fan). It was always so exciting, from when the chain plaid, until Murray walker yelled his last "fact" of the day.
I really miss the cutting edge of it all - tyres letting go, people losing an engine, the fact that 100% for the whole race was simply not possible. Not only would drivers sometimes miss a gear (100% concentration for an hour in mega heat, can't be done), but the gear couldn't withstand qualifying pace.
To me, this made it so much more tactical, and exciting to boot. Some great personalities from that era too, as well as rivalries and battles (prost - senna, mansell - the world, that sort of thing).
It might just be rose tinted specs (I even miss the pikey Olvetti / Omega timing graphics in a way), but I do think that watching reruns of old races is very exciting, even without the context of the championship of the time - which takes some doing, considering 1/2 or more of the current (and entertaining) BBC footage is about the characters, politics, and long running championship struggles of the teams and drivers.
I really miss the cutting edge of it all - tyres letting go, people losing an engine, the fact that 100% for the whole race was simply not possible. Not only would drivers sometimes miss a gear (100% concentration for an hour in mega heat, can't be done), but the gear couldn't withstand qualifying pace.
To me, this made it so much more tactical, and exciting to boot. Some great personalities from that era too, as well as rivalries and battles (prost - senna, mansell - the world, that sort of thing).
It might just be rose tinted specs (I even miss the pikey Olvetti / Omega timing graphics in a way), but I do think that watching reruns of old races is very exciting, even without the context of the championship of the time - which takes some doing, considering 1/2 or more of the current (and entertaining) BBC footage is about the characters, politics, and long running championship struggles of the teams and drivers.
For me Ive enjoyed the mid 90's to now tbh! the current regs i quite like appart from the limited engine development, but then i just enjoy the tech that goes into f1. just wish i was better advised about the options when i was younger so i would of realised the number of routes into motorsport engineering.
TheArchitect said:
For me Ive enjoyed the mid 90's to now tbh! the current regs i quite like appart from the limited engine development, but then i just enjoy the tech that goes into f1. just wish i was better advised about the options when i was younger so i would of realised the number of routes into motorsport engineering.
I missed out to To be honest, once went for a job at McLaren, got down to the last 10 or so, but missed out on the position. I know why it was I did not have enough qualifications. It was still good to be honest, went to the HQ, the old one, not the new plush company building they now have. However if I knew what I know now, I would have got all my grades and gone to university not college.Best single year is 1992. But after that it was downhill very fast, into the Schumacher yawn fest.
Best decade would therfore be 1980 to 1990, personally. Nothing will match the Senna v Mansell battles. I adored the spectacle as a kid back then. Only recently has F1 started to approach it again. But it is still a long way off.
ps
To add, I am too young to say whether anything before 1980 was better or not as a spectator. However I did love reading about the development of the cars in the 1970's. I owned all the model cars from that era.
Best decade would therfore be 1980 to 1990, personally. Nothing will match the Senna v Mansell battles. I adored the spectacle as a kid back then. Only recently has F1 started to approach it again. But it is still a long way off.
ps
To add, I am too young to say whether anything before 1980 was better or not as a spectator. However I did love reading about the development of the cars in the 1970's. I owned all the model cars from that era.
Edited by k-ink on Wednesday 5th January 13:38
I think the answer to this depends on how old you are and when you first became interested in the sport. I'd have to say that for me at the advanced (for PH) age of 56 it would be the period 1955-1968.
Although I still love the sport I don't like the circus and lack of acessibility for the fans in the present set up. It irritates the life out of me when we see "personalities" on the grid before a race.
The worse time for F1 was the Schmacher/Ferrari era. Despite his record, I don't regard him in the same light as Clark, Moss,or Fangio. I do rate Lewis Hamilton however- a racers racer
Although I still love the sport I don't like the circus and lack of acessibility for the fans in the present set up. It irritates the life out of me when we see "personalities" on the grid before a race.
The worse time for F1 was the Schmacher/Ferrari era. Despite his record, I don't regard him in the same light as Clark, Moss,or Fangio. I do rate Lewis Hamilton however- a racers racer
freedman said:
1970-1994
Ronnie to Ayrton, not been the same since
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british...Ronnie to Ayrton, not been the same since
Another vote for '83 - '92 era for me.
Pints said:
freedman said:
1970-1994
Ronnie to Ayrton, not been the same since
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british...Ronnie to Ayrton, not been the same since
Another vote for '83 - '92 era for me.
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