1991 v 2017

[Evangelion]

In the run-up to this year's Spanish GP last week, we were treated several times to that incredible footage of Mansell and Senna running inches apart the first time the race was held at Catalunya, in 1991.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSD-VllWlYg

I used to think the cars of that era were plug-ugly and indeed still do, but just look how clean they look up against the current crop. Putting them side by side would be like parking Scarlett Johansson next to Ann Widdecombe.

[Evangelion]

At least now the numbers are reasonably legible, which they haven't been for at least 30 years, but they couldn't even get that right. Instead of letting the teams all do their own thing, they should have specified black on a white background.

What's wrong with having all the 'sharkfins' white, and reading (for example) "HAMILTON 44" on the left side, and ""44 HAMILTON" on the right, in black?

[Evangelion]

Lotus 49. No wings and the only advertising was the team name. Definitely how a real racing car should be.

[Evangelion]

But at least it had a nice big white disc, ready to take an easily-readable black number.

[Evangelion]

Well I can't pretend to like it as it still has wings, on the other hand look how clean it is compared with today's monstrosities.

Also being a Ferrari it doesn't carry that many adverts, so on balance it gets a tentative thumbs up from me.

Still wish they'd abolish wings though, they've ruined the racing as well as the looks.

[Evangelion]

Nice picture. Perhaps some kind person can Photoshop the wings out, then it will be perfect.

[Evangelion]

Vaud said:

Evangelion said:

Nice picture. Perhaps some kind person can Photoshop the wings out, then it will be perfect.

Have to photoshop the sparks out as well then as the downforce would be gone

Good!

[Evangelion]

Eric Mc said:

I've often suggested that an overpowered Formula Ford type car would be awesome to watch. I'd love to see F1 with no downforce.

The problem is that what would happen with all those formulae that also use significant downforce? They would end up being a lot quicker than F1 and F1 doesn't like other formulae to outpace it.

Not if you followed my F1 rules, because they have absolutely no engine restrictions.

[Evangelion]

Vaud said:

Evangelion said:

Not if you followed my F1 rules, because they have absolutely no engine restrictions.

How about ground effect?

No ground effect either, because the cars would be completely flat bottomed. Ground clearance to be a minimum of 5cm at 200kph.

[Evangelion]

No wings, flat bottoms, how much body aero would there be? Infinitely less than there is now, I'd have thought.

[Evangelion]

"Bodies should be devoid of aerodynamic devices" oughta cover it.

[Evangelion]

thegreenhell said:

Evangelion said:

"Bodies should be devoid of aerodynamic devices" oughta cover it.

Followed by fifty pages of small print defining precise meanings of 'body', 'devoid', 'aerodynamic' and 'device'.

Aren't the regulations like that already anyway?

[Evangelion]

Eric Mc said:

It could look something like this -

[Nice photo pf Lotus 56]

Nothing wrong with that surely?

(And think how closely you could follow it in another car.)

[Evangelion]

Funny, I seem to remember thinking that the Lotus color scheme was one of the less grotesque of that era.