| Author | Message | ||
| Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Member Username: Benjet Post Number: 970 Registered: 1-2001 |
From: http://www.planet-f1.com/Features/Fun/story_10545.shtml and just for fun (I hope): OFF ON F1 Max Announces Extra 1970's Package 22/01/03 Max Mosley's bid to have a totally 'retro' look for Formula 1 has been taken a stage further with the introduction of new draught legislation to cover other aspects of 'the show'. It's not just rules governing the cars that will change, all aspects of a grand prix weekend have been looked at. In addition to the rules banning all technology from the cars from 2004 onwards, Mosley, backed by the World Motorsport Council, has decided on some extra rules that will bring fans flooding back to the sport. * All Michelin and Bridgestone caps will be banned from Melbourne onwards. Even though the design dates back to the 1980's they are to be phased out. In addition, drivers will not be allowed to wear baseball caps with their numbers on or insignia pertaining to commercial involvement. Instead, they will be replaced by flat, tweed caps. Or (in exceptional citcumstances, and in agreement with the stewards, the Jackie Stwart Breton cap, circa 1971) * In future, all mechanics are to wear proper workshop overalls or brown coats. These garments must be produced on a one-size-fits-all basis. * Modern circuit safety protection has gone too far. Fans can no longer see the cars properly. Features such as three-tier Armco barrier are to be replaced, where possible, by a line of straw bales and oil drums * Team principals must wear blazers at all times * No team will be allowed sponsorship from a non-automotive product. Petrol companies, tyre makers, lubricants and motor vehicle manufacturers are acceptable. Makers of cigarettes or pipe tobacco are not. * Computer-controlled starting lights will be removed from races. All future grands prix will be started by the clerk of the course waving a green flag energetically. * All lap times will be recorded by stopwatch to the nearest tenth of a second (or in the case of the new Renault R23 - using a sun dial) * Digital TV, on-board cameras and pitlane cameras will be banned. Instead a newsreel of each grand prix will be filmed and then released in cinemas two months later. * All drivers will be known by the title Mr. - i.e. The Grand Prix of Australia was won by Mr.Juan Montoya of Colombia, in second place was Mr.Michael Schumacher of Germany, in third place Mr. Rubens Barrichello of Brazil. At least 25% of the drivers must wear beards. | ||
| DES (Sickspeed)
Intermediate Member Username: Sickspeed Post Number: 1421 Registered: 8-2002 |
Wanna increase competition...? Just add DES...  | ||
| JRV (Jrvall)
Member Username: Jrvall Post Number: 633 Registered: 11-2002 |
>>Imagine seeing Schumacher and Montoya battling each other and powersliding through corners!<< Ohhhh Yeeeaaaa !!! Let's hope the rules changes will keep/add to the safety and increase the competition. | ||
| Anthony_Ferrari (Anthony_ferrari)
Junior Member Username: Anthony_ferrari Post Number: 102 Registered: 11-2002 |
F1 has always been a spec series. If the rules were unlimited all the cars would have 6 wheels and have 4.0 litre turbo engines in them. The rules have been constantly changed to peg back the speed of F1. The rules on wing size etc have always been pretty strict. I have no objection to them getting stricter. The teams spend so much time and money in the wind tunnels that the cars are incredibly efficient. This mitigates against good racing because when one car gets close to another it loses front-end grip due to the 'dirty air' from the car in front. The emphasis needs to be shifted from aerodynamic grip back to mechanical grip. If the way to do this is for everyone to have the same wings which are more use as billboards than aerodynamic aids than I'm all for it. Imagine seeing Schumacher and Montoya battling each other and powersliding through corners! | ||
| Rikky Alessi (Ralessi)
New member Username: Ralessi Post Number: 43 Registered: 5-2002 |
I think that some of the changes will be good for the sport (eliminate traction control, auto gearboxes, etc.) but I totally disagree with the spec parts. F1 is not meant to be a spec series. I am also not sure about the 1 engine per 6 races idea either, doesn't seem like that great of an idea, but I am not sure about that one. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 283 Registered: 10-2002 |
Hubert, although I don't agree with all you said (Ecclestone did some good to F1 by taking it to the high level it is today), you might get your wish: Latest story is that the big automakers (incl. Ferrari) oppose the timing of all these fundamental changes and are even considering a boycot of the Melbourne GP. It sounds like a revamp of the timeframe is in order. I still think the proposed changes will make things more entertaining (and it is all about entertainment, remember!), but the timing of the announcement is awkward: They discussed this back in October and at that time the teams would have still had a little bit more time to implement the changes (although realistically a F1 car is being designed around mid year). It'll be interesting to see how they'll come to terms. And make no mistake about it: They will find a way, too much $$$ involved not to. | ||
| Hubert Otlik (Hugh)
Member Username: Hugh Post Number: 432 Registered: 1-2002 |
This is dumb. Back when TC was banned McLaren developed a mechanism that allowed Mika to apply the brake to the slipping wheel; now teams will be more incliuned to cheat. F1 is cut-throat, always has been, and always will be. The rule changes are a direct product coming from all the whining surrounding costs and lack of spectator involvement, but whos to blame for the skyrocketing costs? My Eccelstone himself, he's the one making the most off the sport, and is simply trying to cut his losses by impeding the develpment of the sport. It's all political banter. And, I cannot believe that people are STILL whining about MS/Scuderia wining as often as they did, thats the point! Remember McLaren/Senna? 15/16 wins in a single season? The problem here, as with many issues is a lack of perspective, and a teething out of innane complaints; you want exciting racing? Pan the cameras on the MIDPACK teams for longer than a fraction; IMO, the balacne of the coverage is skewed, there is a great race being fought in the middle of the pack and no one sees it b/c it doesn't see the air time; and why? Money, the bigger teams bring in more money, b/c the sponsor pay more, and Eccelstone gets a fatter check. End of story. Rule changes are fine, but total restrcturing of the sport is silly; F1 is THE most advance motorsport today (tied closelt w/ prototype LeMans cars), and has always prided itself on pushing the envelope and making whims of imagination reality, with a greater expanse of rules, that development has been open, and beneficial; as other teams have gotten the ideas as well, but saw them implemented, openly, by the big three. Now, it'll all be behind closed doors, and there will be a lot more streching of the rules; how does that benefit the sportsman like nature of competition, when you undermine an open enviroment of development? | ||
| Drew Altemara (Drewa)
Junior Member Username: Drewa Post Number: 96 Registered: 2-2002 |
I think this is a good compromise. The objective really is to see who can get around the track the fastest. The problem is that only a few teams have the money to compete at these levels. I think F1 will continue to lead motorcar racing in the engine and aero technology areas. Since there are two championships, a drivers and constructors, I like the new rules from a practical standpoint. However I must admit there is a part of me who argues that the objective is to use all the technology you can to get around the track faster. There is also a part of me who, to be honest, enjoyed watching the two red cars from Maranello dominate the season. Boring? Yes, well a little. But I always smiled a little more every other Sunday when we had a Ferrari one/two. Let's not forget what we drive. Drew | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 276 Registered: 10-2002 |
Anthony, all true. The ban on electronics will bring back a lot of nice footwork. I got once a tape about the turbo era and it shows some of the footwork involved in a Renault and a Lotus (both Renault powered at the time) around Monaco. Freaking unbelievable! They took off the front cover and mounted the car in a way to show the dancing feet, double clutch, heel n'toe you name it. Compare that to the arrangement in e.g. Ruben's Ferrari: Left foot rests on a pedal. Driving a F1 at the limit was/is always difficult, but it does seem, that the electronics made several things easier. When I took a racing school everybody had great difficulties with the downshift gear changes. And those were whimpy cars with forgiving engines and relatively soft clutches under non competitive situations. Flipping a paddle on the steering wheel does seem simpler. In that regard it was interesting watching Lauda doing his 'comeback' last year in a F1 Jaguar. He too commented, that shifting etc got really simple. However he did struggle mightily with the overall handling as the narrow grooved tires made the balance of the car very nervous. So what's the bottom line? Driver skills will probably become more important again, but don't be fooled by the 2002 cars, they're still beasts to drive. | ||
| Anthony_Ferrari (Anthony_ferrari)
Junior Member Username: Anthony_ferrari Post Number: 95 Registered: 11-2002 |
I totally agree Andreas. This is not a space race. It looks like the authorities have now realised that instead of having the most advanced cars in the world F1 should be about the greatest drivers in the world competing in cars that Joe Public would struggle to drive. Whether it's a true perception or not I feel that I would stand a better chance of doing a competitive lap in a 2002 F1 car than I would in a 1982 car. The audience should be watching the races thinking "Wow, how do they do that?", rather than "Wow, those computer programmers have really made those cars easy to drive." | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 274 Registered: 10-2002 |
It is an eternal question: How much technology do you allow? This is nothing new. I remember back when another 'back to the roots movement' banned traction control the first time around people in Europe complained, that e.g. a Golf GTI has more electronic than a F1. It is a double edged sword: Yes F1 should be about high tech, but it also should be about who is the best driver and if you take the technology argument to its extreme, you could put a monkey in the seat of the AI controlled car. Schumi once said he likes the electronics as they allow him to go even faster. OTOH I think he doesn't mind if his personal abilities will show through more clearly with less technology. As far as Ferrari and technology in general is concerned: There are still many fields where competitive advantages can be gained. In that regard any regulation won't change a darn thing: The good teams will always be good and the struggler always struggle. It's more the price of entry that gets lower, which I think is important as I prefer to see a field of 24 cars rather than one of 20 or less. | ||
| Anthony_Ferrari (Anthony_ferrari)
Junior Member Username: Anthony_ferrari Post Number: 93 Registered: 11-2002 |
I think it's nearly all good news. Team Orders were banned at the last FIA meeting a couple of months ago. The banning of team radio now means that it will be more difficult to break the 'no team orders' rule. It would still obviously be possible to hold out a sign that gives team orders in code! I am dissapointed that the gizmos won't be banned until 2004 and there is no mention of slick tyres making a return. I agree with you Drew that a return to stick shifts would be great as it gives the drivers another way of making errors which could lead to more overtaking. I am sure it'll never happen though. The most encouraging aspect about the new rules is that Ron Dennis doesn't like them. I don't know of a better seal of approval! http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=4455 | ||
| izel k. (Ferrarist)
Junior Member Username: Ferrarist Post Number: 55 Registered: 3-2001 |
Standard electronic control units, standard FIA rear wing and sideplates, standard brakes..... what are they trying to do? they don't want to lose other non-factory teams because of money problem but with this kind of rules all the cars will be more and more similar and that kills the competition. | ||
| Jon P. Kofod (95f355c)
Member Username: 95f355c Post Number: 360 Registered: 8-2001 |
Yeah......there is only one reason they stopped radio transmissions. To screw Ferrari and make sure no team orders are issued. Total b*llsh*t! I guess now Ross Brawn will have to hang over the pitwall and wave at Ruebens or maybe they will hold up a pit sign "Ruebens...please let Michael pass" I can see it now, five laps to go and Ruebens in front: -with five laps to go the board reads "Ruebens please let Michael pass" -with four laps to go it reads "Ruebens PLEASE, PLEASE let Michael pass" -with three laps to go "Ruebens Pretty Please let Michael pass" -with two laps to go "Ruebens let him pass or you have your flying coach to the next race" -with one lap to go "We are reviewing your employment status please move over" Regards, Jon P. Kofod 1995 F355 Challenge #23 | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 3217 Registered: 12-2000 |
These are extremly radical, think about it, F1 will no longer be the highest tech racing. I think that was its' greatest value. SCCA racing will have higher technology than F1! At least I can talk to the pits. The FIA press release... http://www.fia.com/PRESSE/F1-A/2003/15-01-2003-Measures.pdf | ||
| Drew Altemara (Drewa)
Junior Member Username: Drewa Post Number: 95 Registered: 2-2002 |
Yea, I'm pretty much with you. I sometimes wonder if they should mandate manual gear selection (shifting) to really test the dricer's skill? But i think this year will be better and that Ferrari will be on top. | ||
| Andreas Forrer (Tifosi12)
Member Username: Tifosi12 Post Number: 270 Registered: 10-2002 |
Good! Any change for the boring procession races is a step forward. This might be a bit of a drawback for Ferrari, but probably not that much. They still have the best driver, probably the best chassis and aerodynamics and one of the most powerful engines. So it might bring competition closer together and that would only be good for the spectators. At the end of 2003 I still believe that the Scuderia will be on top. | ||
| Drew Altemara (Drewa)
Junior Member Username: Drewa Post Number: 94 Registered: 2-2002 |
Has anyone seen this yet? This is what the FIA is proposing for next season. http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns07603.html This is no telemetry, no radio driver communication, no traction control and As I read it no automatic shifting. What do you guys think? |