New F1 Regulatiions

[bulldogs1]

A good move by the movers and shakers. Fans were beginning to lose interest, I feel, due to the technology overkill and downright cheating by teams.

However, I don't think they've gone far enough. For one, I'd like to see the return of fully-manual gearboxes. These monkeys driving the cars at the moment should get a taste of what it feels to drive a real car, like my 5-speed Mitsubishi Magna. In fact, I'll even do a demo lap of the circuit in March if approached.

I'm old enough to remember the heyday of F1, in the 1960s and 1970s, when skill was the determining factor (and a bit of luck). Those machines were manhandled around a circuit by supermen like Villeneuve (not Junior), Rindt, Petersen, Jack Clark, Stewart. In the off-season, crowds would flock to see the Tasman series, raced here and NZ.

There was a unique Colin Chapman (Lotus) design of the 1980s which was a streamlined bullet shape, with no wings, which never went beyond experimental stage. I would lke to see a complete change of the ruling of aerodynamic aids. Ban wings, for a start. Ban venturi-effect and the like to suck the cars down onto the ground. A minimum clearance of say, 75mm, for a start.

Radical, yes, but the crowds would love it.

 

[mongrelpunt]

Agree with the gears idea - its virtually an automatic gearbox at the moment.

They need to lose the traction control, it doesn't show how skillful a driver really is. If a driver has a dive under brakes, it should take all the drivers skill to make the pass - not just because one cars traction control is better.

The F1 aerodynamics are over the top, yes, but I think Mark Webber can testify to what happens when there's not enough downforce at high speed.

Also, losing the two-way telemetry is a great idea - if a guy has an oil leak, he's out of the race. You shouldn't be able to fix it mid race.

What they need to do is to bring back the Spa circuit, and lose the Hungary race - that's the most boring race of the season.

I'll vote for you to have that hot lap around Albert Park - maybe as part of that test with the Road Car, the V8 Supercar and the F1 car - seeing a used Magna up against the Williams would be a laugh!

 

[bulldogs1]

The problem with loss of a wing at speed with these cars is that they rely TOO much on downforce to keep them on the road.

Think to the 1960s (I can remember when the first wings were placed on HUGE poles, both front and rear!). The cars would slide around so much, the drivers were always on the edge, and this made for some excellent racing with wonderful powerslides and some pretty spectacular crashes.

The speed issue is just way out of hand. To take it further, just look at the Indy 500. What a boring race, yet they're doing 340 km/h almost.

Have you seen the movie "Grand Prix" with James Garner? Its a classic, with footage of the drivers actually racing. Apparently Garner did drive a little in the film.

Give me a week or two to get the Magna ready. It needs it's 500,000km service. Actually I never bother to even change the oil these days, LOL!

Cheers

Originally posted by mongrelpunt
The F1 aerodynamics are over the top, yes, but I think Mark Webber can testify to what happens when there's not enough downforce at high speed.I'll vote for you to have that hot lap around Albert Park - maybe as part of that test with the Road Car, the V8 Supercar and the F1 car - seeing a used Magna up against the Williams would be a laugh!

 

[Holycrap]

Originally posted by mongrelpunt
Also, losing the two-way telemetry is a great idea - if a guy has an oil leak, he's out of the race. You shouldn't be able to fix it mid race.

It wasn't just monitoring for faults, these engineers were purposely slowing the motor in order to maximize reliability. Therefore, you can say that the driver could never over rev the motor and detonate it because the engineers wouldn't allow thats.

Present day F1, as Valentino Rossi put it "its seems that a monkey can drive those cars"

 

[bulldogs1]

Which is precisely why a growing number of people are appreciating the type of racing in the MotoGP class. Fully-manual gearboxes, no telemetry, communucations, traction control, aerodynamic trickery, just plain old-fashioned skill.

Sure, some teams are more equal than others in MotoGP, but compared to F1 ......

Its interesting that the bikes have gone to four-strokes now, away from the 2-strokes that very few could relate to. Perhaps not exactly the same to the bike I may ride, but I can certainly relate better to the sound of a four going down the straight at Phillip Island than the old buzzy 2-strokes.

God rides an 1100cc Katana.

Originally posted by Holycrap
It wasn't just monitoring for faults, these engineers were purposely slowing the motor in order to maximize reliability. Therefore, you can say that the driver could never over rev the motor and detonate it because the engineers wouldn't allow thats.

Present day F1, as Valentino Rossi put it "its seems that a monkey can drive those cars"

 

[roostersgal4eva]

Its a very good idea but as mark webber said its gonna be hard to police and the fia need to be on their gaurd

i am all for changes to make F1 exciting as long as driver safety is NOT compremised

 

[Holycrap]

Originally posted by roostersgal4eva
Its a very good idea but as mark webber said its gonna be hard to police and the fia need to be on their gaurd

i am all for changes to make F1 exciting as long as driver safety is NOT compremised

The drivers are at the safest in the history of the sport yet it's still dangerous no matter what but the recent technologic improvements make it laughable as most F1 cars have pre-programmed gearboxes that down shift automatically according to the corner of the circuits they race in - this isn't racing but should be in the every day car!

As far as policing, if the FIM is fair dinkum, if a team gets caught, fine them but strip them of points; both drivers and manufacturers. Then we'll see if the major F1 teams flaunt with the rules?

 

[bulldogs1]

This would be similar to the Canterbury Bulldogs being relegated to the bottom of the ladder!

Originally posted by Holycrap
As far as policing, if the FIM is fair dinkum, if a team gets caught, fine them but strip them of points; both drivers and manufacturers. Then we'll see if the major F1 teams flaunt with the rules?

 

[Holycrap]

Originally posted by bulldogs1
This would be similar to the Canterbury Bulldogs being relegated to the bottom of the ladder!

And doesn't it hurt?