Discussion
A prominent subject, of which it's obvious many people hold very specific views.
For me, I am almost embarrased at the British Grand Prix. The apparent snobbery of the BRDC (i.e....this is our offer, take it or leave it) means Bernie Ecclestone has appeared the bad guy when, in fact, he is simply a businessman - a very good business man (as much as I hate to say it).
Look at it this way:
Country 1: I will give you $20m to host the grand prix in my country, the facilities are crap but they've always been like that.
Country 2: I will give you $40m to host the grand prix in my country, the stadium's brand new, and it will introduce more of the world (and the world's corporations) to the sport.
And you're surprised Bernie's (currently) gone for country 2 ?
I, like most of you, dislike BE, but I can't help but admire what he has done. It may not have been by being nice, but true succesful businessmen never are (not even Richard Branson).
As for the sport, well I beleive it's a difficult thing the FIA are faced with. On one hand, F1 should be the pinnacle of motorsport. Where do you think traction control, active suspension, flappy-paddle gearboxes in today's modern cars are derived from? If we went forward with many of the above suggestions of limiting car "speed" (i use that not just in the mph sense, but in overall speed round corner, braking etc), then you'd find F3000 cars being QUICKER than F1 cars!! Well limit F3000 cars you'd say.....it would go downhill from there very quickly.
My opinion is that the rules should not be so strict in terms of design flexibility. Slightly less power should be the limiting aspect. That way it's design, and driver skill, that is key - not as is current which is "how you can best interpret the rules".
An emotive subject for many.....I do apologise if I have just rambled a good'un!
Thanks for reading
Tony
For me, I am almost embarrased at the British Grand Prix. The apparent snobbery of the BRDC (i.e....this is our offer, take it or leave it) means Bernie Ecclestone has appeared the bad guy when, in fact, he is simply a businessman - a very good business man (as much as I hate to say it).
Look at it this way:
Country 1: I will give you $20m to host the grand prix in my country, the facilities are crap but they've always been like that.
Country 2: I will give you $40m to host the grand prix in my country, the stadium's brand new, and it will introduce more of the world (and the world's corporations) to the sport.
And you're surprised Bernie's (currently) gone for country 2 ?
I, like most of you, dislike BE, but I can't help but admire what he has done. It may not have been by being nice, but true succesful businessmen never are (not even Richard Branson).
As for the sport, well I beleive it's a difficult thing the FIA are faced with. On one hand, F1 should be the pinnacle of motorsport. Where do you think traction control, active suspension, flappy-paddle gearboxes in today's modern cars are derived from? If we went forward with many of the above suggestions of limiting car "speed" (i use that not just in the mph sense, but in overall speed round corner, braking etc), then you'd find F3000 cars being QUICKER than F1 cars!! Well limit F3000 cars you'd say.....it would go downhill from there very quickly.
My opinion is that the rules should not be so strict in terms of design flexibility. Slightly less power should be the limiting aspect. That way it's design, and driver skill, that is key - not as is current which is "how you can best interpret the rules".
An emotive subject for many.....I do apologise if I have just rambled a good'un!
Thanks for reading
Tony
tonyhetherington said:Possibly not the place for this, but limiting power will have pretty much no effect on lap times at all - unless you set a ridiculous limit of 300 bhp.
My opinion is that the rules should not be so strict in terms of design flexibility. Slightly less power should be the limiting aspect. That way it's design, and driver skill, that is key - not as is current which is "how you can best interpret the rules".
Last years engines are the same power as this years, lap times are 3s quicker which is astronomical. Looking at things the other way, the late 80's turbo cars were 1200bhp - far more than today, and pedestrian by comparison round a lap.
The FIA have probably not played the most political game through all of this, but the majority of the regulation changes that they are proposing have been done for good reason - i.e. the lap time is in tyres and aero, so that is where they have focussed.
Rich
A very good point - as more and more rules are introduced to "limit" times, the times still continue to tumble year-on-year.
I remember reading a few years ago that even with "legal" F1 cars, if they wanted to they could make a car with appropriate downforce and mechanical grip that the G's would make a driver black out.
Are we looking at a future of F1 where the drivers wear G-Suits?
(merely discussing here I stress........not proposing!)
I remember reading a few years ago that even with "legal" F1 cars, if they wanted to they could make a car with appropriate downforce and mechanical grip that the G's would make a driver black out.
Are we looking at a future of F1 where the drivers wear G-Suits?
(merely discussing here I stress........not proposing!)
daydreamer said:
Possibly not the place for this, but limiting power will have pretty much no effect on lap times at all - unless you set a ridiculous limit of 300 bhp.
Last years engines are the same power as this years, lap times are 3s quicker which is astronomical. Looking at things the other way, the late 80's turbo cars were 1200bhp - far more than today, and pedestrian by comparison round a lap.
The FIA have probably not played the most political game through all of this, but the majority of the regulation changes that they are proposing have been done for good reason - i.e. the lap time is in tyres and aero, so that is where they have focussed.
Rich
then limit fuel. if you only have say 200 litres to do the race you cant run as fast. another advantage being the manufacturers have to make the engines more fuel effcient and this technology can be used in road cars leaving everyone much happier.
Are we not getting Bernie confused with the FIA?
The state of F1 in terms of racing has come about as a result of (IMO) technical developments that have remained largely unchallenged for too long.
Is it not the FIA that has the call on this?
One could argue that Bernie has increased costs but this isn't strictly true. If anything, in relative terms, he has reduced the cost to teams by making more of the money available to them.
Bernie is a salesman - and a blo@dy good one at that. His duty of care is to all the stakeholders in F1 - this includes the fans. But it's a world sport and UK fans make up a small percentage of global fans.
the Silverstone thing is a bit like being faced with the opportunity to employ one of two people - the first you really like but the second will be far better at his job and contribute more to the company.
Which would you employ?
The state of F1 in terms of racing has come about as a result of (IMO) technical developments that have remained largely unchallenged for too long.
Is it not the FIA that has the call on this?
One could argue that Bernie has increased costs but this isn't strictly true. If anything, in relative terms, he has reduced the cost to teams by making more of the money available to them.
Bernie is a salesman - and a blo@dy good one at that. His duty of care is to all the stakeholders in F1 - this includes the fans. But it's a world sport and UK fans make up a small percentage of global fans.
the Silverstone thing is a bit like being faced with the opportunity to employ one of two people - the first you really like but the second will be far better at his job and contribute more to the company.
Which would you employ?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/3730712.stm
I don't really care about Silverstone. It's a rubbish circuit as a spectator. Both Brands and Donnington are much better.
I've also been to Monaco which is amazing as you can drive and walk the circuit and the place drips atmosphere. And to Indy where the facilities and viewing are great.
But I do like the idea of more races in a season. Roll on Russia, let's see a return to Kyalami
I don't really care about Silverstone. It's a rubbish circuit as a spectator. Both Brands and Donnington are much better.
I've also been to Monaco which is amazing as you can drive and walk the circuit and the place drips atmosphere. And to Indy where the facilities and viewing are great.
But I do like the idea of more races in a season. Roll on Russia, let's see a return to Kyalami
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