Formula 1

[dodge]

F1 is an interesting political beast.  I hear they are reverting to the previous format for the next race ate some complaints...

[Gointocarlton]

It was a disaster yesterday, they had to scrap it.

[kruddler]

It was a disaster yesterday, they had to scrap it.

It WAS a disaster, but i think the teams are mostly to blame for that.

They simply did not send ther drivers out at the right time.

Its pretty simple. Every 90 seconds a guy gets eliminated. Thats how long it takes to do a lap. You need to do 2 (out lap + hot lap) which is 3 minutes.

If you are next to be eliminated and you are in the pits, too bad.
If you are the the one to be eliminated after the next one and you are in the pits. Too bad.
If there are 2 drivers between you and the 'elimination bubble' get your butt out on the track immediately, otherwise you will essentially be gone too in a minute or so.
If there are 3 drivers between you and the 'elimination bubble get your butt on the track immediately, otherwise as the guy above you doing a hit lap can put you out in a minute or so.
etc...

Teams need to think at least 3 minutes ahead. They weren't.

Why Ferrari decided to sit out the last 5 minutes or so was a weird decision. If it was simply to save tyres for the race, let them have more tyres for qualifying.

A lot of the issues can be fixed if the teams wise up to what is going on, and they are allowed extra sets of tyres.

[Gointocarlton]

It WAS a disaster, but i think the teams are mostly to blame for that.

They simply did not send ther drivers out at the right time.

Its pretty simple. Every 90 seconds a guy gets eliminated. Thats how long it takes to do a lap. You need to do 2 (out lap + hot lap) which is 3 minutes.

If you are next to be eliminated and you are in the pits, too bad.
If you are the the one to be eliminated after the next one and you are in the pits. Too bad.
If there are 2 drivers between you and the 'elimination bubble' get your butt out on the track immediately, otherwise you will essentially be gone too in a minute or so.
If there are 3 drivers between you and the 'elimination bubble get your butt on the track immediately, otherwise as the guy above you doing a hit lap can put you out in a minute or so.
etc...

Teams need to think at least 3 minutes ahead. They weren't.

Why Ferrari decided to sit out the last 5 minutes or so was a weird decision. If it was simply to save tyres for the race, let them have more tyres for qualifying.

A lot of the issues can be fixed if the teams wise up to what is going on, and they are allowed extra sets of tyres.

I agree Krudd, I think the number of tyres was the problem, they could afford to have another crack. Give em more tyres and let the elimination format sort the the men from the boys. Get it wrong? Tough titties.

[ItsOurTime]

I haven't been following this sport with any sort of regularity since the engine use rules came in (don't think I missed a race for 10 years).... Boy, it's a wacky sport now! Couldn't even hear the things...

[Juddkreuzer]

How Alonso walked away from that is a modern miracle.

It's a shame poor old Senna missed out on these technical advances.

[Gointocarlton]

How Alonso walked away from that is a modern miracle.

It's a shame poor old Senna missed out on these technical advances.

The modern formula one car monocoques are an incredible piece of engineering as was displayed in Sunday. Senna's death was a freak accident where a suspension component broke off as he struck the wall and pierced him fatally just above the eye through the visor. You may recall Massa had a peice of suspension break off a car in front of him a few years ago when he was at Ferrari. It struck him above eye through the visor and suffered an eerily similar injury to Senna yet made a full recovery. I see a few teams have tested a few different designs which offer protection to the drivers head in the wake of the Bianchi tragedy. Its probably only a matter of time where they are in a completely closed cell. Someone was definitely looking down on Alonso no doubt. He even said after the crash he used up one of his lives. Scary stuff that.

[LP]

I used to love F1 but it's dead to me now, it's no longer racing.

[Gointocarlton]

I used to love F1 but it's dead to me now, it's no longer racing.

I still love it, its just super technical these days compared to even 5-10 years ago. A mate of mine spoke to a Red Bull engineer at the GP the first year the new turbo/electric power units where used. The engineer told him these things are off the planet in terms of performance, might not sound the best but are insane.
I was watching qualifying on Sat and they showed in car of Lewis during a lap. Not only was he going flat knacker on a quali lap, he was constantly adjusting brake bias via steering wheel buttons between most corners. I must commend the FIA, they are always trying to limit team or technology input to the driver. Now they have limited what they can tell the driver over radio comms. I'm sure the teams will get around it the shifty buggers. But I under how many have dropped off F1, its not everyone's cup of tea any more.

[LP]

I still love it, its just super technical these days compared to even 5-10 years ago. A mate of mine spoke to a Red Bull engineer at the GP the first year the new turbo/electric power units where used. The engineer told him these things are off the planet in terms of performance, might not sound the best but are insane.
I was watching qualifying on Sat and they showed in car of Lewis during a lap. Not only was he going flat knacker on a quali lap, he was constantly adjusting brake bias via steering wheel buttons between most corners. I must commend the FIA, they are always trying to limit team or technology input to the driver. Now they have limited what they can tell the driver over radio comms. I'm sure the teams will get around it the shifty buggers. But I under how many have dropped off F1, its not everyone's cup of tea any more.

I don't mind the quiet cars and technology as long as there is racing. The "formula" part of F1 barely exists anymore, contrast racing in F1 with racing in other categories there is no comparison. Even Hamilton was recently quoted as stating F1 is boring.

Senna had the right idea years ago, remove most of the technology and leave it up to driver skills, then you get racing. Soon they will be able to replace the F1 drivers with robots and you will barely notice a difference!

In any case F1 is no longer the regime for the worlds best drivers, because you only get a drive if you can bring $50M~$100M to the team plus sponsors.

I recall at Bathhurst there was a drive off between Button and Lowndes, a modified F1 car and a touring car with drivers swapping. After a few laps Lowndes was within 0.3s of Button, after just as many laps in the touring car Button was still 7s adrift of Lowndes time. It was very diplomatically reported!

Reminds me of when some celebs on Top Gear almost match times with F1 drivers, hard to believe but it happens.