F1 is boring me to death!!!!

[ChrisL]

Although I can appreciate the need to get it right before committing to it, I'm disappointed that the decision on the "Centreline Downwash" rear wing idea has been deferred. Introducing a rule that concedes the effects of aerodynamics on competitor’s cars is a totally new concept and has the potential to cause change in car design.

F1 used to be a formula of innovation, but recently we have only seen slow evolution. The cars of today are basically the same as those of 20 years ago except with some refinements. It would be nice to see a new era emerge some time soon, and this new rule (and all its implications) has the potential to do just that I think.

[DC]

Dave, have you been holding out on us??
I hear today Alonso has signed for MacLaren in 2007.
Seems Kimi has one more year to deliver (or his car's reliability more like).
Imagine the two of them head to head, or is Kmi going to Ferarri?

[David Morton]

I think it might have been subject to what was tantamount to a "D Notice" until 1200 today but Autosport and then FOSA leaked it first thing this morning. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beat.gif[/img]
The drunken penguin on helium will replace MS in Fiat.
Scenarios?
How about Alonso and MS at "Vodmac" in 07 and Raikonnen and Rossi at Fiat? Renault may pull the plug from 08?

[David Morton]

And..... who will take over from Renault at Enstone if they do pull the plug. I think I know.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/1poke.gif[/img]Clue - he was there a few years ago while Briatore had a holiday.

[Fred/Belgium]

David,

where is the 'drunken pinguin on helium' name coming from?

Rgds
Fred

[Tony Hunt]

[ QUOTE ]
where is the 'drunken pinguin on helium' name coming from?

[/ QUOTE ]

Fred,
Have you heard Raikonnen being interviewed?! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/fyi.gif[/img]

[ChrisL]

Looking at it purely from a one-eyed Australian's point of view, it seems that Mark Webber may well have done the right thing to stick with Williams for 2006. His contract expires at the end of next year at the same time that a seat becomes available at Renault. Given Webber's link with Briatore (his contract is owned by him and on loan to Williams) he would be the perfect choice to replace Alonso if (a) he finally performs to his potential (b) Williams fails to attract a competitive engine and (c) Renault continue to have their days in the sun.

[David Morton]

From 2008:
1. Bodywork changes to reduce downforce.
2.Slick tyres + increase in the maximum wheel diameter/
width
3. Engines 19,000rpm rev limit
4. Standard electronic control units (ECUs)
5. Centreline Downwash Generating (CDG) wing
6. New technologies giving one team advantages but are
then subsequently adopted in other teams - banned after
one season
7. Cars' weight reduced from 605kg to 550kg
8. Drivers can adjust tyre pressures.
9. 5.75% of fuel must be from biological sources
10.Only two changes of bodywork from 2009 after the season
starts of the season.
11. systems for energy storage and recovery
(hybrids)
Also from 2009
12. Proposed: Arrangements for a single tyre supplier
13. Prposed: Three-event engines
14. Prposed: Four-event transmissions
15. Proposed: Weight penalties for early replacement
engines or transmission.
16. Proposed :Restrictions on Testing.
17. Proposed :No spare cars
18. Proposed: Sale of chassis and components between
teams.

[David Morton]

The Guardian newspaper ran a story this week that Roger Penske has been in discussion with Ecclestone (he of the diminutive stature with the incredibly tall wife) about
an entry into F1, if...the costs could me restricted to about $100m. Penske was a former F1 Gp winner and 13 times Indy 500 winner.

[ChrisL]

[ QUOTE ]
6. New technologies giving one team advantages but are then subsequently adopted in other teams - banned after one season

[/ QUOTE ]

David,
Are you able to elaborate on this rule please? I'm not sure I like the sound of it.

[David Morton]

(Article 2.5). - New technologies which will give a team an advantage for one season but which are then adopted by all teams for subsequent seasons at significant expense will be banned after the end of the first season [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif[/img] [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]



The thinking behind this seems to be primarily to reduce costs. If a team discovers something new in the technology
and then benefits from it in that season thats fine but it
won't be allowed in subsequent years and it prevents Formula One as a whole then spending money on the same technology only to leave all the teams in exactly the same (relative) positions as before.
Sort of "dumming down" in my book.

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

Sounds like F1 ought to just be renamed - FUBAR!

Abandon it altogether and support more GT / Historic racing. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[David Morton]

Explain FUBAR.
New one on me.

[Chris_K]

acronym: F'd Up Beyond All Recognition

[ChrisL]

[ QUOTE ]
(Article 2.5). - New technologies which will give a team an advantage for one season but which are then adopted by all teams for subsequent seasons at significant expense will be banned after the end of the first season

[/ QUOTE ]

I can't see how that can possibly work though. My opinion is that it has the potential to actually increase costs. Imagine the scenario where team A invents widget X that makes them 1% faster than everyone else, so all teams subsequently adopt it. The following year widget X is banned but all teams now know that X can make them go 1% faster. So they will begin spending money developing Xa so that it falls within the (probably ambiguous) definition of "new technology" and Xa will probably still only give them a 1% advantage because it is essetially the same idea presented differently. And so it will go on and on with widget Xb, Xc etc etc... and in the meantime, $$$ will be spent arguing whether it is in fact a new technology or a rehashed old technology. So F1 teams will then have a new department for creating parallel technologies as well as new technologies.

Just my view [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Paul Thompson 'Hooligan']

[ QUOTE ]
Explain FUBAR.
New one on me.

[/ QUOTE ]
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] yeah right!!

F1 is just plain boring. I used to love watching it, the turbo era was just awesome, true masters, wrestling with ludicrous amounts of power. Overtaking, (remember what that was...) blowup's, cars that don't all look the same - a true spectacle.

Todays stage of clinical precision, closed doors, rules, rules and more bloody rules and as for Bernie flippin' Ecclestone, don't even get me started on him... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Nope, F1 in my opinion has had it's day. Without MAJOR rework and re-direction, it'll never catch my undivided attention again, shame really as I really did enjoy it once.... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[David Morton]

Personally I don't give a jot. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
It's a job and for my part, 2005 it was extremely satisfying and often enjoyable as well.
And yes, I'd never heard of fubar.
Merry Christmas. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banana.gif[/img]

[David Morton]

Toyota offering 5yr contract from 2007 for the Penguin.
Reported to be worth $70m ......

[David Morton]

Ferrari will announce the 2007 driver line up in the New Year. My money is on Raikonnen and Rossi.