F1 Is Dead
07-12-2010, 09:22 AM
#41
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I've been trying to think of a way to make the F1 races more fun to watch - more passing - without too much restriction on innovation. As I understand it the primary reasons that passing is tough are that it is tough to follow closely through a turn because of dirty air and that limits one's ability to pass on the next straight and the high level of down force allows something like 4 to 5 gs of braking which means the brake zones are incredibly short and violent.
What if you could run any size/configuration of wings, etc., that you wanted, but were limited to say 300 total lbs of downforce at 150 mph? Use bigger tires to help get more mechanical grip to help offset the loss of aero grip. The aero specialist would still have down force/drag problems to work on that a team could use to create an advantage, but it should be much easier to follow closely with the more limited aero contribution to traction. The same would apply with longer/less violent braking zones in which to make a move. By not mandating the size/type of devices used, other than mechanically driven sucker systems, etc.) my guess is that we'd see a lot more innovation. It might be more fun to watch.
What if you could run any size/configuration of wings, etc., that you wanted, but were limited to say 300 total lbs of downforce at 150 mph? Use bigger tires to help get more mechanical grip to help offset the loss of aero grip. The aero specialist would still have down force/drag problems to work on that a team could use to create an advantage, but it should be much easier to follow closely with the more limited aero contribution to traction. The same would apply with longer/less violent braking zones in which to make a move. By not mandating the size/type of devices used, other than mechanically driven sucker systems, etc.) my guess is that we'd see a lot more innovation. It might be more fun to watch.
07-12-2010, 01:53 PM
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Your local dirt track does a better job of running an exciting race series than F1. F1's been stagnant for almost 20 years now because they've been moving towards "Spec One" and forgetting that there is a fundamental difference between formula racing and spec racing. People lost interest in watching the Ferrari parade laps for obvious reasons - the racing had become bean-counting.
They don't need a complex solution, but the opposite - simple rules with room for different types of engines on the same track. That step alone will bring F1 back into relevance and return it to the "glory days" it enjoyed in the past, with small teams able to compete with giants.
And there needs to be significant rule changes every several years governing aero, displacement, configuration, decibel level, etc. But specific engine choice should be up to the teams, not F1 management. There was a day when that was the hallmark of F1. And it made for exciting racing.
They don't need a complex solution, but the opposite - simple rules with room for different types of engines on the same track. That step alone will bring F1 back into relevance and return it to the "glory days" it enjoyed in the past, with small teams able to compete with giants.
And there needs to be significant rule changes every several years governing aero, displacement, configuration, decibel level, etc. But specific engine choice should be up to the teams, not F1 management. There was a day when that was the hallmark of F1. And it made for exciting racing.
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