What do we think of the new rules?
Discussion
Sorry if this has been discussed in the big threads, I get lost in those!
So, this year we have:
new aerodynamics to encourage overtaking
slicks
bigger difference in the two tyre compounds
KERS
Published fuel loads
anything else...?
I think -
New aerodynamics - didn't seem to make much difference in how close the cars could follow, but not sure if Melbourne has the fast corners that this is designed to change.
Slicks - can't say I noticed.
Tyre compounds - seemed completely ridiculous that the teams had to use a tyre compound for as little time as possible as it was so bad. Didn't seem to add anything positive to the racing at all.
KERS - seemed to work as expected with the cars with KERS seemingly able to overtake the others at will, which was what the rules intended.
Published fuel loads seemed to take away some of the tension of how heavy/light the cars would be at the start, I like the tactical race almost as much as the wheel to wheel stuff and I think knowing how heavy a car is has taking away from that.
Probably forgotten the rest...
What do you think of these new rules?
Did you notice I didn't mention team names? Let's keep it civil please?
So, this year we have:
new aerodynamics to encourage overtaking
slicks
bigger difference in the two tyre compounds
KERS
Published fuel loads
anything else...?
I think -
New aerodynamics - didn't seem to make much difference in how close the cars could follow, but not sure if Melbourne has the fast corners that this is designed to change.
Slicks - can't say I noticed.
Tyre compounds - seemed completely ridiculous that the teams had to use a tyre compound for as little time as possible as it was so bad. Didn't seem to add anything positive to the racing at all.
KERS - seemed to work as expected with the cars with KERS seemingly able to overtake the others at will, which was what the rules intended.
Published fuel loads seemed to take away some of the tension of how heavy/light the cars would be at the start, I like the tactical race almost as much as the wheel to wheel stuff and I think knowing how heavy a car is has taking away from that.
Probably forgotten the rest...
What do you think of these new rules?
Did you notice I didn't mention team names? Let's keep it civil please?
FunkyNige said:
New aerodynamics - didn't seem to make much difference in how close the cars could follow, but not sure if Melbourne has the fast corners that this is designed to change.
Slicks - can't say I noticed.
Tyre compounds - seemed completely ridiculous that the teams had to use a tyre compound for as little time as possible as it was so bad. Didn't seem to add anything positive to the racing at all.
Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh??????? Were you watching a different race to the rest of us?Slicks - can't say I noticed.
Tyre compounds - seemed completely ridiculous that the teams had to use a tyre compound for as little time as possible as it was so bad. Didn't seem to add anything positive to the racing at all.
FunkyNige said:
KERS - seemed to work as expected with the cars with KERS seemingly able to overtake the others at will, which was what the rules intended.
Worked well I thought, adds something different to the mix. FunkyNige said:
Published fuel loads seemed to take away some of the tension of how heavy/light the cars would be at the start, I like the tactical race almost as much as the wheel to wheel stuff and I think knowing how heavy a car is has taking away from that.
I see where you're coming from on that. However it is very interesting to compare the performance of the cars directly immediately after qualifying, rather than speculation. I do like that element of it.Slicks - Good. Cars look 10 times better with proper tyres on. Will also be interested to see how this changes things when we get a drying track or sudden rain as the grooves were a bit easier to drive in such circumstances
Aero - Cars look a bit cleaner, but nothing special. They do look skinny though, I wish they'd make them wider again. As for their effect on overtaking, I am not convinced aero is the biggest impediment to overtaking. Few enough cars were stuck behind the car in front for significant time, and this has been the case for a while.
KERS - Hard to say. Looks silly and I don't think it will last, but I could be wrong.
Tyres - The rule about having to use different tyres seems convoluted but it did throw up an interesting race.
Aero - Cars look a bit cleaner, but nothing special. They do look skinny though, I wish they'd make them wider again. As for their effect on overtaking, I am not convinced aero is the biggest impediment to overtaking. Few enough cars were stuck behind the car in front for significant time, and this has been the case for a while.
KERS - Hard to say. Looks silly and I don't think it will last, but I could be wrong.
Tyres - The rule about having to use different tyres seems convoluted but it did throw up an interesting race.
Things I don't like:
The having to use both compounds tyre rule is stupid. The option tyre in Australia was not suitable as a race tyre.
The cars look like CRAP. They should switch the aero rules back a bit so the rear wing is bigger and the front wing is smaller (no winglets allowed)
Fuel should not come into qualifying (I know this has not changed from last year). Keep the 3 sessions but just do it on time with no fuel carried over to the race.
The having to use both compounds tyre rule is stupid. The option tyre in Australia was not suitable as a race tyre.
The cars look like CRAP. They should switch the aero rules back a bit so the rear wing is bigger and the front wing is smaller (no winglets allowed)
Fuel should not come into qualifying (I know this has not changed from last year). Keep the 3 sessions but just do it on time with no fuel carried over to the race.
king lawnmovers ! 
Flipatron said:
I think the FIA have got it spot on TBH, the racing was great.
One new change that you haven't mentioned is the driver to pit radio, we now get to hear the Ferrari drivers!
EFAOne new change that you haven't mentioned is the driver to pit radio, we now get to hear the Ferrari drivers!
For the previous seasons where the radio was heard, Ferrari point-blank refused for anything to be broadcast during the race, and you only ever heard the congratulations when the driver crossed the finish line.
At least this time we heard Massa say that he thought he had a puncture during the race.
Edited by Teppic on Monday 30th March 23:16
sstw said:
I think the difference between the 2 tyre compounds is a good thing. Im sure there will be more than a few races this year where the leader is finishing the GP on one compound and is being rapidly caught by others on a different compound. It adds to the racing
So would throwing live animals on the track but that doesn't mean it is a good idea. F1 is not supposed to be a farce, the best car and driver should win.Here are my thoughts;
The front wing looks completely daft. They should have 'balanced' it with the rear wing, i.e; made it narrower, not wider.
The jury is out on KERS but the biggest problem is that we cant appreciate it as it isnt explained or shown clearly during the racing. My feeling is that it is a waste of time and is tree hugger pandering at its most cynical.
I LOVE the slicks! The cars just somehow move around more naturally, I wish I could explain this more clearly but I can see it! Reminds me of the good old days (Sorry).
I havent seen any evidence of the reduction in downforce having a major effect but it would seem that those pesky engineers have retained most of it!!
MTR
The front wing looks completely daft. They should have 'balanced' it with the rear wing, i.e; made it narrower, not wider.
The jury is out on KERS but the biggest problem is that we cant appreciate it as it isnt explained or shown clearly during the racing. My feeling is that it is a waste of time and is tree hugger pandering at its most cynical.
I LOVE the slicks! The cars just somehow move around more naturally, I wish I could explain this more clearly but I can see it! Reminds me of the good old days (Sorry).
I havent seen any evidence of the reduction in downforce having a major effect but it would seem that those pesky engineers have retained most of it!!
MTR
AJS- said:
Slicks - Good. Cars look 10 times better with proper tyres on. Will also be interested to see how this changes things when we get a drying track or sudden rain as the grooves were a bit easier to drive in such circumstances
You have that back to front, the grooves are far worse than slicks when you get a wet track condition. It's only when you get standing water that slicks are a nightmare, but by that stage a car on grooves would have been well off the track into the boonies.The increase in mechanical grip to aero ratio definitely worked, we've only been saying it was needed for the last decade or so.
I'm not keen on the way they have done the tyre compound spread this year, it's got a good chance of giving us a proper farce of a race.
Kers, I was against it at first but I'm more of the opinion it should be compulsory, but the cars minimum weight should be increased so the larger drivers are not penalied.Also if compulsory it will be properly developed
If it's compulsory then all drivers will have extra power available over others around them at some point giving more overtaking places.
Pit lane rules seem more sensible than before
If it's compulsory then all drivers will have extra power available over others around them at some point giving more overtaking places.
Pit lane rules seem more sensible than before
I'm loving the new rules at the moment, even if they aer 12-14 years too late.
There appears to be a variety of strategies available, both over the course of a lap, for overtaking, for defending and over the course of a race with those flakey soft tyres.
I also reckon (read: hope!) that Melbourne was actually a processional race, which as far as the top 3 were concerned, it was.
All they need to do now is to lengthen the braking distances (an opportunity to lower the speeds in future perhaps? mayeb remove carbon brakes and swtich to Ceremic or back to Steel) and do something to mix up the grid - maybe something like award points for the first 4 qualifying places but only have the option of KERS exclusively in the race or in quali but not both.
Oh and they can reduce the size of the front wings. But if they do they will need to increase under-car downforce and the front and rear contact patches to compensate.
The FIA should leave areo and mechanical grip well alone for a few years to see how things pan out. Under-car downforce can always be increased. It seems larger diffuser rules will be all they need.
There appears to be a variety of strategies available, both over the course of a lap, for overtaking, for defending and over the course of a race with those flakey soft tyres.
I also reckon (read: hope!) that Melbourne was actually a processional race, which as far as the top 3 were concerned, it was.
All they need to do now is to lengthen the braking distances (an opportunity to lower the speeds in future perhaps? mayeb remove carbon brakes and swtich to Ceremic or back to Steel) and do something to mix up the grid - maybe something like award points for the first 4 qualifying places but only have the option of KERS exclusively in the race or in quali but not both.
Oh and they can reduce the size of the front wings. But if they do they will need to increase under-car downforce and the front and rear contact patches to compensate.
The FIA should leave areo and mechanical grip well alone for a few years to see how things pan out. Under-car downforce can always be increased. It seems larger diffuser rules will be all they need.
Edited by mattikake on Tuesday 31st March 02:29
The new rules are working, with closer following in corners, nice slicks, and even KERS appears to enable a bit of excitement (although it is rather contrived).
mattikake said:
All they need to do now is to lengthen the braking distances (an opportunity to lower the speeds in future perhaps? mayeb remove carbon brakes and swtich to Ceremic or back to Steel)
Braking ability is not limited by the material of the pads/discs, but by the grip from the tyres. E.G. reducing downforce will increase stopping distances. Carbon discs simply enable you to have less unsprung weight for better handling, traction and car weight distribution.new aerodynamics to encourage overtaking - was ok up to the point that 3 teams seem to have loads of extra downforce & thus extra aero distruption.
slicks - Laptimes faster than last years & in the rain the cars will slide loads more so nothing to do with safety. Thus it was loads of money for little effect, especially as the aero is getting clawed back fast.
bigger difference in the two tyre compounds - hasn't worked yet has it?
KERS - cars without were faster in Oz.
Published fuel loads - good plan - until you realise that with some races not knowing was the only exciting thing that there was. After the 1st stops you knew & the race was over. Now it's over before it's even started.
slicks - Laptimes faster than last years & in the rain the cars will slide loads more so nothing to do with safety. Thus it was loads of money for little effect, especially as the aero is getting clawed back fast.
bigger difference in the two tyre compounds - hasn't worked yet has it?
KERS - cars without were faster in Oz.
Published fuel loads - good plan - until you realise that with some races not knowing was the only exciting thing that there was. After the 1st stops you knew & the race was over. Now it's over before it's even started.
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