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Post by Carl on Mar 27, 2018 0:33:15 GMT
Gentlemen, Would anyone want to watch the Australian Grand Prix again? Maybe to induce sleep...  The race in Albert Park was won by luck and poor timing, but driving had nothing to do with either. Ferrari benefited and Mercedes miscalculated (nothing to with racing) by the timing of their respective pit-stops! Does anyone believe pit-stops are the essence of racing and should ever determine the winner? An increased reliance on pit strategy is a piss-poor substitute for passing, seldom honestly done any more because drivers can't follow closely without losing downforce. Idiotic, right? No, the result of genius! Adrian Newey should be presented a golden barge board of blunder and aerodynamics simplified. What happens during routine pit-stops shouldn't matter more than the racing. Why not mandate 15 second minimum pit stops? This could change race strategy by rewarding tyre management and lessen the need for so many compounds. A handful of fans opposite the pits might be disappointed, but it's certain wheels would stay on. Where has Ross Brawn's study group gone? Have they changed focus from good intentions to their catered food? Those are two proposals to improve the sport we love. I'm confident there are better ones around our table. Cheers, Carl |
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Post by chrisb on Mar 27, 2018 4:36:02 GMT
Carl, the opening sentence says it all for me, whereas I will gladly watch a re-run of the entire 1962 Monaco GP - watching the carve-up at the start of the Aussie, and I am sure there was some tampering going on there,
the thing about Pit-stops they have always been a feature of the race, the pre-war stuff, the Alfa's and then one of the greatest races of all times - the 1957 German GP, that makes sense, and overtaking was fantastic, because you saw a real master in action with not necessarily the best car, i do think it is again there is a simple solution, just restrict the number of people working on the cars to 5 - put the wheels in the rack, remove a wheel from the car, take it to the rack and bring the new one out, fit it and away you go
but again and again, we all say it - F1 won't change it, but simply get rid of all the artificial crap - reduce aero by 75% - return the engine recovery system [or whatever it was called] which i though was one of the best things ever introduced and be rid of a halo, they ain't saints nor angels and use the Indycar system
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Post by René on Mar 27, 2018 7:44:44 GMT
I have watched many Grand Prix again, even the same day or the day after just to watch it with a more neutral and less tense perspective. It makes you see other things that happened in the race. I did not feel the urge now, even with a 'dream start' of two Ferrari's on the podium.
I am still watching and trying to keep my spirits up but F1 is in a bad state right now and it is not looking any better for the near future. What drives me mad is the bureaucracy, that every tiny little change takes ages. Have a look at the Autosport homepage and you'll see the following headlines:"Brawn admits Melbourne lacked vital overtaking", Andretti: "F1 missed out on pure Indycar design", "Verstappen would have switched off worthless GP". What the hell is going on?
So Brawn has admitted in one week that cars should lose weight and are not able to overtake. Do something about it Ross!! But no, we'll have a special study group that needs to do all sorts of research and studies to come up with nothing while we all know what needs to be done.
The people in charge are focussing on the wrong things. They believe it is spectacular to have these insane high cornering speeds and super fast pit stops. And yes, as a stand-alone fact they are spectacular. But it destroyes the actual racing. Sorry for the rant, I feel a lot of frustration after seeing the first race.
We know what needs to be done Carl. Less aero, certainly generated by the wings. More aero focus on venturis. Less weight for sure and another solution for cockpit protection (if that is really necessary). For pit stops I like Chris's idea. Less people around the cars.
Less aero, less weight, less team members, less computers. Less is more.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2018 8:31:56 GMT
I haven't watched it, can't be bothered.
No, obviously the result should not be influenced by pit stop strategy in itself, it should be a race without stops, as it once was.
But it should be a race, with opportunity to fight for the position and overtake.
As it is, it's only a procession, who is ahead stays ahead, regardless of speed differential. It's not racing.
Clearly, it's not working and those in charge don't really care.
That is why I hope Marchionne will put the money where his mouth is. I don't care what his motivations are. Shock therapy. Come what may.
It can't be worse than this, not bothering to even watch it. |
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Post by charleselan on Mar 27, 2018 18:39:12 GMT
Carl,
What a great thread.
As I have mentioned elsewhere I have not watched one second of last weekends event and feel somewhat empowered by the fact as it is something akin to a great weight being lifted from my shoulders. In the past I have seldom wanted to miss a Grand Prix and latterly Formula One event (note the difference of description), only the sheer contrived tedium of the Schumacher/Ferrari years brought about a similar feeling.
There is so much wrong with current F1 that most cannot accept, some say that it just needs a tweak or two and all will be right. Do me a favour that is just the comment of the blind and severely blinkered individual, many of whom populate the various forums like MS. The media are as much to blame as they are spinning a story just to save their own careers, and promote their own publications.
From what I have seen and heard Ross Brawn is not the saviour, he is as guilty of this "spin" as anyone. In the past few days he has said that it isn't good enough cars not being able to overtake, however in his infinite wisdom he has also stated that it cannot be achieved until the new formula comes on stream in 2021; so three more years of this crap!
Those that think a breakaway series lead by the major manufacturers will sort matters out are in my option delusional, for it is these corporations that have ruined F1 through their own greedy agenda, they do not give one jot for the fans. Kick these blighters out and bring in the real racers who care about the sport.
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Post by Carl on Mar 27, 2018 23:36:45 GMT
Fellow race fans,
Ever since I was too young to drive and read the cover story about Jim Clark in Time Magazine, Formula One has been the absolute pinnacle of racing for me.
It's taken many years of unalloyed greed, and domination by unsound minds, but we all seem to have fallen out of love at the same time.
By habit, I will tune in to the inane Sky coverage now broadcast in America. I already miss David Hobbs and Steve Matchett's excellence on NBC, but it's the detestable racing that will drive me to embrace IndyCar.
IndyCar has what Formula One lacks: beautiful cars and passing.
Cheers, Carl
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Post by chrisb on Mar 28, 2018 5:23:56 GMT
Carl, JC, et al, this is summed up in one word, "greed" even Erich Von Strohiem would have been proud of these 'people'
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Post by robmarsh on Mar 28, 2018 7:13:50 GMT
Yep I agree with all of the above and feel the same anger, sadness and disappointment as the rest of you. Like René I am looking for and struggling to find positives. Indycar have the lead in terms of looks and the way pitstops worked. F1 started on the slippery slope in 1998 with grooved tyres and horrible narrow suspension. The slope gets steeper each year. I despair.
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Post by charleselan on Mar 28, 2018 11:47:19 GMT
I would also like to add to my previous post that the current occupants of these things that are called Formula One cars are also as much to blame. For it is these individuals that embraced the higher downforce cars that came on stream last year as they were deemed to be hard work to drive, and real mans cars. Shows how much these over paid pre-madonnas know about real racing cars doesn't it.
Real race drivers had to manage their cars during a race without being guided all the way by some boffins on a lap top; they had to work out for themselves how the race was panning out; driving flat out throughout the race leading to almost physical exhaustion was common; every gear change had to be spot on accurate as a missed change could either blow the engine, or loose a position under pressure; and this is just some of the challenges that faced a real driver.
Giving the cars more downforce was the act of an idiot, or idiots as it was more likely the consideration of a group. Everyone with a brain knew that the way forward was to reduce the aero on the cars, but not these beings who have control of our sport.
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Post by René on Mar 28, 2018 14:35:17 GMT
In all fairness to Lewis, he has been saying that the cars have become too heavy and have too much downforce (that makes overtaking more difficult) for a while now.
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Post by charleselan on Mar 28, 2018 16:14:49 GMT
In all fairness to Lewis, he has been saying that the cars have become too heavy and have too much downforce (that makes overtaking more difficult) for a while now. He is also saying that it pointless painting his helmet now as the "toilet seat" obscures anyone from seeing it. So he says that he might as well save weight and keep it plain white. |
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Post by chrisb on Mar 28, 2018 19:59:08 GMT
was it Stirling or Graham who estimated they changed gear at Monaco something like 2000 times per grand prix, until you experience that or the turbo or the great circuits sometimes one handed - kinda puts into perspective todays monsters
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Post by René on Mar 28, 2018 20:57:01 GMT
In all fairness to Lewis, he has been saying that the cars have become too heavy and have too much downforce (that makes overtaking more difficult) for a while now. He is also saying that it pointless painting his helmet now as the "toilet seat" obscures anyone from seeing it. So he says that he might as well save weight and keep it plain white. Not a bad idea. Or maybe he should take his helmet off and only wear sunglasses. Looks cool.  |
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Post by charleselan on Mar 28, 2018 21:42:38 GMT
He is also saying that it pointless painting his helmet now as the "toilet seat" obscures anyone from seeing it. So he says that he might as well save weight and keep it plain white. Not a bad idea. Or maybe he should take his helmet off and only wear sunglasses. Looks cool. Te! He!   . |
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Post by René on Mar 29, 2018 16:12:53 GMT
To reinforce my earlier words "Less is more". Look at these simple helmet designs. Also here (and I say this as a graphic designer) is "less is more" a given.  |
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