Should Formula 1 Races be Lenghthened to 400 or 500 miles?

One thing I noticed while watching Formula 1 is that Formula One races often last shorter than other race series, like the IRL, NASCAR, or CART, which run races ranging from 300 to 500 miles, or in some cases even as long as 600 miles as in the case of the Coca Cola 600 for NASCAR, with the shortest rasting for 225 miles, in contrast Formula 1 races last for only 190 miles, given this, should Formula 1 races be lengthened to around 400 or 500 miles? Although in this configuration it should be noted that races can last for 4.5 hours for a 500 mile race, and 5.5 hours for a 600 mile race, which turns a Formula One race into a miniature endurance series.

 

No

 

No. Ferrari, MB etc already compete in series where the races are longer and the technology already suited for such races.

 

The race distance is fine, if they add anything it should only be 10-20 miles not 200-300.

 

It would get pretty damn boring after about 300 miles, and the Spykers would have been lapped 10 times already.

 

I guess I am in the minority, but I so enjoy F1 races, that I do wish most of them were a little longer. Not 5 hours, but a little over 2 hours would be great and more of the post race analysis and interviews.

 

well no. an F1 engine is designed to only last 2 hours per race? so 400 miles is outta the question.

 

The races are about 1.5 hours in length. That's just about the time where I would start to lose interest if it got any longer. I don't see how people can sit and watch these NASCAR and IRL races go for 3+ hours sometimes.

 

very true. already in normal length, F1 races cab be more like a damn 50-60 lap parade, i can't imagine if it's over 3 hours of parade.

 

No, two hours max.

 

The cars would have to revamped to a whole new level.

Right now even with revs cut waayyy down. I doubt an F1 car could run a 400mile race. A 500 mile race would be impossible. Some cars can't even do the regular stint. Even the top teams would fail an enduro.

 

How many people, on the Indy 500 weekend thread, mentioned that they'd watch the beginning and the end only?

Is it that F1 is "too short", or that other races are too long?


Besides: F1 isn't as long as NAScrud, but you only get 10 points for a win, instead of 2000.

 

It won't happen; TV companies are the ones that run F1, and they have told Ecclestone that the 2-hour format is what they want to buy.

Anything else won't fit with their schedules, and they don't want it.

Nothing to do with technical constrain, engine longevity, drivers' request or anything: TV RULES F1 !!! GET it??

 

No.

2 hours of racing is about all I can take.

I fast forward through the longer races to find the exciting bits - Le Mans involves loooooooooootts of fast forwarding

 

Fine as is.

Less a focus on time, and more a focus on passing would be nice.

 

Without TV money, F1 would be about as advanced as Formula Ford. Besides which, the races have been substantially the same distance since the 1950s. The only major change has been shortening Monaco, which used to run the same 200 miles and hence took 3 hours. Anyone who wants a 3 hour monaco today is mad.

 

Formula 1 races already had the same duration before TV. Maybe that´s the reason of the sucess of this series: its format fits on TV schedules.

 

Then design them to last longer.

I think there should be two heats (races) of 150 miles each, exactly one hour in between each heat, invert the finish from the prior race.

Like the Questor GP in 1971.

 

You are half-right.

ADVERTISING RULES.

If someone is willing to pay for it, TV will air ANYTHING.
Why on earth do you think we see so damned many poker tournaments ?

 

lenthen the races? hell no! part of the reason I hate american racing is because after 100 laps it does get boring. Plus to have a longer race they'd have to make the tracks easy to drive, say, like an oval? no thanks.

 

I'd get bored if it were any longer. It's all I can do to sit in front of the tube for that long now.

 

NO don't lengthen the races to Nascar or IRL lengths. For what? MANY times the race is over before the end for the front runners, and I am just not into watching a 3-4 hour race.

 

I can give you a one-word explanation for why longer races would not be entertaining: "MARBLES". No chance to pass = no reason to be out there.

 

a) harder tires. why wasn't this problem present 30 years ago ??

b) you are into big boy racing now, deal with it ! that's one of the good things with nascar racing - they can constantly make chassis adjustments to go better as the race goes on. I realize the races are a lot longer, but F1 is just downright boring, for the most part. Contrast it with a 500 mile IRL/Champ Car or nascar race, and then contrast it with the 24 hrs of anything..
By the same token, it's kinda funny to go to an NHRA drag race to see maybe 5 minutes of competition, when you add it all up for the day.

 

It's not a matter of "chassis adjustment", or a matter of being a "big boy" to deal with the problem of marbles off the racing line. How many hundreds of times have we seen really good, skilled drivers in totally competitive cars make an attempt to pass and pay the price because they got 6" off line into the marbles - it's stupid!! It's the same in F1, IRL, NASCAR, Champ Car, etc.