Formula E 2018/19
Discussion
Teddy Lop said:
So what did vergne get a drive through penalty for then?
Not sure about Verne but several drivers got drive through penalties for using too much power. Which is something I found rather annoying actually. If they can have Fan Boost and Attack Mode then clearly they can limit / raise the power, so why is it not limited in normal use? 
Clockwork Cupcake said:
Teddy Lop said:
So what did vergne get a drive through penalty for then?
Not sure about Verne but several drivers got drive through penalties for using too much power. Which is something I found rather annoying actually. If they can have Fan Boost and Attack Mode then clearly they can limit / raise the power, so why is it not limited in normal use? ajprice said:
Sam Bird said it was something to do with the software when the car goes over a bump, and because of the limited practice and shakedown time, and its a new car, they couldn't sort out a software fix in time for quali or the race. It is one rule that is especially annoying. It's not a massive advantage, its a fraction of a second power spike because the wheel is off the ground and the driver has his foot down. But because it shows up on the graph, they get done for it.
That makes sense. Seems like a very pernickety and harsh rule though, and not conducive to good racing.I recorded the race and played it this afternoon. The first 23 minutes of the recording (Eurosport) was show jumping so I wasn't off to a good start. When the race came on, it was pure comedy after that with some bloke having to run on to the track to get people out of the way followed by the guy on pole not even being able to put his car in the correct grid position. Some of the racing was decent but I think I won't be bothering again. It's still pretty s
te to be honest. Every track looks the same as it's just fences and ad hoardings.
te to be honest. Every track looks the same as it's just fences and ad hoardings.Edited by Blink982 on Sunday 16th December 15:11
They have yet to give a reason except "technical irregularity" could be anything, those with the Audi style bump spike power problem of not following the "Formula E season five battery software implementation guide version 5.1", were all mentioned immediately. Massa collected penalties for everything including using two for his fan boost, one for having more power than allowed on his fan boost and the other was for using it before the 22nd minute of the race (earliest they can use it) but all were announced. So it could have been anything for Vergne, the silence over what it was suggests to me something cheaty that the FIA hadn't covered in the rules and so gave him a penalty and not announced the reason in case others try it. While they rewrite the rules for the next race. 
Clockwork Cupcake said:
Well, whatever it was, it all felt a bit silly and amateur.
that we're all sat here speculating over why we think the race leader was given a penalty that cost him the win is. I wanted to give it a chance but this is really not something aimed at people who take a serious interest in racing.I mean even the journos don't know, one story I read linked it to fan boost which vergne didn't have .
The infringements were power over usage caused by the new brake by wire system. Due to the lack of practise with the rain the system was throwing spikes that teams hadn't seen in pre-season practise so it's something they need to adjust the software for. The previous generation car had normal rear brakes with the regen being done by a paddle.
Seen lots of people on other social media posting how stupid the penalties are and no other motorsport would have it. It's no different to overboosting the turbo in series like BTCC or exceeding the fuel flow rate in F1. Granted it was a lot of cars but how often does a series turn up at a brand new track with brand new cars and then lose the practise sessions?
Seen lots of people on other social media posting how stupid the penalties are and no other motorsport would have it. It's no different to overboosting the turbo in series like BTCC or exceeding the fuel flow rate in F1. Granted it was a lot of cars but how often does a series turn up at a brand new track with brand new cars and then lose the practise sessions?
Kraken said:
It's no different to overboosting the turbo in series like BTCC or exceeding the fuel flow rate in F1. Granted it was a lot of cars but how often does a series turn up at a brand new track with brand new cars and then lose the practise sessions?
I totally get that, but whacking teething problems with penalties felt rather draconian. It just felt a bit half-baked to me, that's all.Another thing that felt half-baked was the confusion over the Full Course Yellow. The silly graphics made a big thing about how it was one, there were a couple of yellow flags being waved half-heartedly, the drivers were driving like there wasn't one, and the commentators were scratching their heads asking if it was or wasn't. It felt like a bit of a shambles.
The track-side cameras had poor coverage too - overtakes would start in-shot and then go out of shot before completed. I know we moan a lot about the TV director in F1 races but the Formula E coverage made me realise just how slick the F1 coverage is.
I know that Formula E isn't in the same league budget-wise, and I know I have been spoilt by F1 to some extent, but the whole thing felt really... well.. budget.
I don't mean to sound negative, because I have no axe to grind here and I think Formula E has potential (puns not actually intended).
Clockwork Cupcake said:
I totally get that, but whacking teething problems with penalties felt rather draconian. It just felt a bit half-baked to me, that's all.
Another thing that felt half-baked was the confusion over the Full Course Yellow. The silly graphics made a big thing about how it was one, there were a couple of yellow flags being waved half-heartedly, the drivers were driving like there wasn't one, and the commentators were scratching their heads asking if it was or wasn't. It felt like a bit of a shambles.
The track-side cameras had poor coverage too - overtakes would start in-shot and then go out of shot before completed. I know we moan a lot about the TV director in F1 races but this Formula E made me realise just how slick the F1 coverage is.
I know that Formula E isn't in the same league budget-wise, and I know I have been spoilt by F1 to some extent, but the whole thing felt really... well.. budget.
I don't mean to sound negative, because I have no axe to grind here and I think Formula E has potential (puns not actually intended).
Yes, a bit amateurish, but not significantly worse than some of F1's teething problem with new graphics.Another thing that felt half-baked was the confusion over the Full Course Yellow. The silly graphics made a big thing about how it was one, there were a couple of yellow flags being waved half-heartedly, the drivers were driving like there wasn't one, and the commentators were scratching their heads asking if it was or wasn't. It felt like a bit of a shambles.
The track-side cameras had poor coverage too - overtakes would start in-shot and then go out of shot before completed. I know we moan a lot about the TV director in F1 races but this Formula E made me realise just how slick the F1 coverage is.
I know that Formula E isn't in the same league budget-wise, and I know I have been spoilt by F1 to some extent, but the whole thing felt really... well.. budget.
I don't mean to sound negative, because I have no axe to grind here and I think Formula E has potential (puns not actually intended).
The TV angles is a worse problem for the series - compared to F1 tracks, the high concrete walls and limited space mean limited opportunities to get those low-to-high tracking shots, pans and head-on views that make F1 look so good.
I think that this is going to be their biggest issue in terms on TV spectatorship going forwards.
At some point, they're going to have to bite the bullet and compete on a few tracks; the insistence to date on street circuits only will eventually limit audience growth, as those who see it as some form of third-rate, undeserving series just will not watch until it generates decent lap times on a circuit they "know".
JonChalk said:
At some point, they're going to have to bite the bullet and compete on a few tracks; the insistence to date on street circuits only will eventually limit audience growth, as those who see it as some form of third-rate, undeserving series just will not watch until it generates decent lap times on a circuit they "know".
True. But their USP is that the cars are so quiet that they are ideal for street circuits where normal motor racing would not be allowed due to noise restrictions. If they move to proper circuits then they lose that niche. Clockwork Cupcake said:
JonChalk said:
At some point, they're going to have to bite the bullet and compete on a few tracks; the insistence to date on street circuits only will eventually limit audience growth, as those who see it as some form of third-rate, undeserving series just will not watch until it generates decent lap times on a circuit they "know".
True. But their USP is that the cars are so quiet that they are ideal for street circuits where normal motor racing would not be allowed due to noise restrictions. If they move to proper circuits then they lose that niche. Monaco has some wonderful TV camera locations so it is possible.
I remember ITV used to get an immense amount of flak for its BTCC coverage but that's improved to the point where it's often as slick as F1 (and with an awful lot more action to try and cover in a shorter space of time).
I remember ITV used to get an immense amount of flak for its BTCC coverage but that's improved to the point where it's often as slick as F1 (and with an awful lot more action to try and cover in a shorter space of time).
FE loves the city based event stuff as they can play on the vanity of the city authorites and companies wishing to appear forward thinking.
F1 must dispair as it see's all those big corporate names splashed everywhere and a part of the municipal budget allocated.
This is what Liberty want for F1 , someone else to pay.
The only losers are the fans who see a crummy spectacle on the TV and the fish gutting district which gets shutdown for the weekend
as the cars run around the industrial estates.
F1 must dispair as it see's all those big corporate names splashed everywhere and a part of the municipal budget allocated.
This is what Liberty want for F1 , someone else to pay.
The only losers are the fans who see a crummy spectacle on the TV and the fish gutting district which gets shutdown for the weekend
as the cars run around the industrial estates.
Clockwork Cupcake said:
True. But their USP is that the cars are so quiet that they are ideal for street circuits where normal motor racing would not be allowed due to noise restrictions. If they move to proper circuits then they lose that niche.
It's not really that. From day one their aim has been to take the racing to the people rather than get people to trek out to tracks often in the middle of nowhere. They're aiming for a different group of fans who can get to races via public transport in their cities etc.ukaskew said:
Monaco has some wonderful TV camera locations so it is possible.
I remember ITV used to get an immense amount of flak for its BTCC coverage but that's improved to the point where it's often as slick as F1 (and with an awful lot more action to try and cover in a shorter space of time).
Monaco setups weeks in advance of the actual GP. There is far more time pressure on FE. Having said that this race was bad in terms of angles compared to the others I have watched over the previous four seasons.I remember ITV used to get an immense amount of flak for its BTCC coverage but that's improved to the point where it's often as slick as F1 (and with an awful lot more action to try and cover in a shorter space of time).
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