Fantasy F1 regulations....
Discussion
I keep thinking about this, as I'm aware that F1 cars are nowhere near what their full potential could be, what would grand prix racing be like if they legislated them back to the early '60's?
Still carbon construction for safety,a bit longer wheelbase for mid mounted fuel cells, front mounted radiator, no wings & a classic cigar shaped front body (no engine cover allowed).
Essentially a template around this sort of thing:
Oh I know bernie wouldn't like the lack of advertising hoardings-I mean spoilers but maybe they could have some negative lift/downforce ones to keep Santander happy?
Maybe a higher cockpit side to protect the drivers, I'd be happy anyway
What do you think?
Still carbon construction for safety,a bit longer wheelbase for mid mounted fuel cells, front mounted radiator, no wings & a classic cigar shaped front body (no engine cover allowed).
Essentially a template around this sort of thing:
Oh I know bernie wouldn't like the lack of advertising hoardings-I mean spoilers but maybe they could have some negative lift/downforce ones to keep Santander happy?
Maybe a higher cockpit side to protect the drivers, I'd be happy anyway
What do you think?
KaraK said:
Turning F1 into formula ford doesn't sound that good an idea to me - who would want a "top formula" where GP2 cars would run rings around them?
Good point, but if F1 kept all the top drivers, top teams, top tracks (sic) & the top tv rights, would it not still be the "top" formula & the lesser series adjust to follow suit?There's no point in spending your millions on a gp2 drive if it ain't going to teach you anything once you get to the "big" league.
- Maybe
LaurasOtherHalf said:
KaraK said:
Turning F1 into formula ford doesn't sound that good an idea to me - who would want a "top formula" where GP2 cars would run rings around them?
Good point, but if F1 kept all the top drivers, top teams, top tracks (sic) & the top tv rights, would it not still be the "top" formula & the lesser series adjust to follow suit?There's no point in spending your millions on a gp2 drive if it ain't going to teach you anything once you get to the "big" league.
- Maybe
Take Ferrari as the obvious example - I know Enzo originally started his road car business to fund going racing but things are very different these days and a heavily neutered F1 series wouldn't really sit with their image, ditto for McLaren who currently have their whole ethos built around high-tech cars. Honestly I'd expect most of the top teams would just start a breakaway series instead and where the big teams go the big name drivers will follow.
It'd be an interesting academic exercise to see what sort of laptimes a 1960s design, with 2012 materials and technology could do. But I don't see it being a racing series rivalling the current F1 setup.
If the body suspension etc was carbon, and the engine a modern race engine of the same CC, with a manual box, and modern tyre technology (although to the original size). How much faster would it be over the original.
If the body suspension etc was carbon, and the engine a modern race engine of the same CC, with a manual box, and modern tyre technology (although to the original size). How much faster would it be over the original.
Whilst we cant uninvent progress we should acknowledge that for the purist (me - and possibly you, if not the TV millions ) GP racing is in a blind alley.The cars look alike and sound identical,stop in an instant, don't slide much and only overtake through the artifice of DRS, KERS and self destructing rubber. One of the reasons I love watching historic racing- from FF1600 up- is the amount of overtaking , the need to change gear properly and the lack of grip compared to today's 4g+ monsters . I think big league motorsport needs a massive shake up- we have a surfeit of Formulae- GP2 GP3 , F3 , F2, the Renault engined jobs and God knows what else. We need a proper and logical progression to F1-what about F3 and F2- it worked in the day...And F1 cars need to have less aero grip, stick shift gearboxes and engines in a diversity of configurations. The early 90s were about right- 3.5 litre V8 , 10 and 12s and terrific racing. But there is so much else wrong, most of it due to the fact that bloody Ecclestone stole the sport and turned it into a cynical cash cow.At least this weekend we have a proper circuit and proper fans rather than the ghastly charade of Bejing , Dubai and the rest of the joke races on joke circuits in places with zero interest in the sport (and/or where they lock people up who disagree with the oppressive regimes) which shovel dollars in Ecclestone's direction to get some credibility. Doesn't work for me...
V10's or V12's only.
3.5 litre engines.
Manual gearboxes.
Clutch.
Big fat sticky slick tyres.
No tyre changes unless tyre flat or wheels damaged.
No refuelling.
Slick, smooth looking race cars without stupid aerodynamic add ons. Actually I'd insist that all F1 cars were designed using the Williams FW07 & Lotus 79 as a template.
No electronic gizmo's at all. No KERS, no flappy paddle gear changes, no steering wheels with dozens of buttons to mess around with.
Marlboro, JPS, Camel, Gitanes livery would be allowed - indeed positively insisted upon!
Go back to proper race cars.
I know it will never happen however it's good to dream isn't it?
3.5 litre engines.
Manual gearboxes.
Clutch.
Big fat sticky slick tyres.
No tyre changes unless tyre flat or wheels damaged.
No refuelling.
Slick, smooth looking race cars without stupid aerodynamic add ons. Actually I'd insist that all F1 cars were designed using the Williams FW07 & Lotus 79 as a template.
No electronic gizmo's at all. No KERS, no flappy paddle gear changes, no steering wheels with dozens of buttons to mess around with.
Marlboro, JPS, Camel, Gitanes livery would be allowed - indeed positively insisted upon!
Go back to proper race cars.
I know it will never happen however it's good to dream isn't it?
MrKipling43 said:
Aero only allowed to neutralise lift.
Set amount of fuel.
Four wheels.
Driver must be in the car.
Maximum length, width, height and safety regs.
Control tyre size.
$80m maximum budget excluding driver salaries which are uncapped.
Off you go chaps.
The bit in bold.Set amount of fuel.
Four wheels.
Driver must be in the car.
Maximum length, width, height and safety regs.
Control tyre size.
$80m maximum budget excluding driver salaries which are uncapped.
Off you go chaps.
BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
I'd rather have it so each team got a big packing crate given to them and said as long as your car fits in that box and your annual team budget, including driver salary, doesn't exceed £60,000,000, it's fine.
The only other rules i'd insist on is no real time tracking of the car or any data from the car and the driver makes all adjustments to the car.
The thought of going back to the 1960's rules, with modern material's, just seems daft.
The only other rules i'd insist on is no real time tracking of the car or any data from the car and the driver makes all adjustments to the car.
The thought of going back to the 1960's rules, with modern material's, just seems daft.
I quite like the Le Mans technology race going on at the moment (Which unfortunately at the moment only seems to have Audi in it).
I love diesel coming along and completely rocking the boat and making some stick-in-the-muds whine as it turns preconceptions on their head, and also how hybrid has won over pure fossil fuel. Both of these will also impact quick road cars in the next decade and (hopefully!) change some preconceptions. e.g. A diesel hybrid may not necessarily be boring on the sound front, just different to old fashioned V8s. More jet fighter than speeded up steam engine.
I think turbos, superchargers KERS, battery technology would all benefit enormously.
So I would say, barring some basics on dimensions, tyres, driver aids (e.g. No TC, ALB) I would say make it a fuel formula with a limit on the amount of energy you can put in the car (assuming there is a single way of measuring petrol vs diesel vs eletricity vs steam turbine or whatever - maybe calories?) and see who wins. Budget cap needed, obviously, but make it interesting enough that manufacturers come back.
I would also get rid of tyre warmers, the need to preheat the engine for startup and would allow the drivers to restart their own engines if stalled.
Getting rid of any adjustment during the lap (except maybe a push-to-pass button) would make them drivers rather than operators.
The penalty system also should be adjusted so it doesn't penalise "having a go" at an overtake. Maybe just some car strengthening in the rules to allow them to bounce off each other a little better.
I love diesel coming along and completely rocking the boat and making some stick-in-the-muds whine as it turns preconceptions on their head, and also how hybrid has won over pure fossil fuel. Both of these will also impact quick road cars in the next decade and (hopefully!) change some preconceptions. e.g. A diesel hybrid may not necessarily be boring on the sound front, just different to old fashioned V8s. More jet fighter than speeded up steam engine.
I think turbos, superchargers KERS, battery technology would all benefit enormously.
So I would say, barring some basics on dimensions, tyres, driver aids (e.g. No TC, ALB) I would say make it a fuel formula with a limit on the amount of energy you can put in the car (assuming there is a single way of measuring petrol vs diesel vs eletricity vs steam turbine or whatever - maybe calories?) and see who wins. Budget cap needed, obviously, but make it interesting enough that manufacturers come back.
I would also get rid of tyre warmers, the need to preheat the engine for startup and would allow the drivers to restart their own engines if stalled.
Getting rid of any adjustment during the lap (except maybe a push-to-pass button) would make them drivers rather than operators.
The penalty system also should be adjusted so it doesn't penalise "having a go" at an overtake. Maybe just some car strengthening in the rules to allow them to bounce off each other a little better.
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