Which decade was 'easier' to compete consistently for a podium finish? | FerrariChat
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Which decade was 'easier' to compete consistently for a podium finish?

Discussion in 'F1' started by Whisky, Nov 23, 2009.

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What decade is the most competitive for F1? (Multiple answers ARE allowed)

  1. Pre-1950

  2. 1950-59

  3. 1960-69

  4. 1970-79

  5. 1980-89

  6. 1990-99

  7. 2000-09

  8. All the same, pretty much (weenie answer, but valid)

Multiple votes are allowed.
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  1. Whisky

    Whisky Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 27, 2006
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    In the flight path to Offutt
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    The original Fernando
    #1 Whisky, Nov 23, 2009
    I'll take Kizdan's poll a bit further and ask if you were in a, let's say a consistent top-12 qualifying car, which decade would you have a better chance at a top-3 finish?
    Consistency may be more rewarding than winning, but if you had to come from 10th or 12th, what decade would you stand a better chance in?
     
  2. zaevor2000

    zaevor2000 Formula 3

    Jul 18, 2007
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    Dallas, TX
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    Frank Waugh
    #2 zaevor2000, Nov 23, 2009
    As the saying goes...

    To finish first, first you have to finish.

    The current generation of F1 cars are pretty much guaranteed to finish virtually all of the races.

    Earlier in F1s history, there was between a 30-50% of finishing a race (ESPECIALLY in the turbo era, where tortured engines and turbos blew up with depressing frequency).

    The current reliability matched to polished, professional teams means that the current era allows top teams to rack up podiums consistently at almost every race.

    Before the reliability of the current era this was not possible.
     
  3. Whisky

    Whisky Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 27, 2006
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    The original Fernando
    #3 Whisky, Nov 23, 2009
    I disagree.

    In the 80's, the only Turbos I recall blowing up with regularity were the Brian Hart 4-cyls that were in the Tolemans, and the first season of the BMW - 1982. The BMW's also had issues off and on in the 80's, but the McLaren/TAG and Williams/Honda were pretty stout, Renaults were fair and IIRC, both Renault and Ferrari had a lot of mechanical failures not directly turbo, or even motor itself related, like electrics.
    I remember Eddie Cheever was leading a race when his accelerator wire fell off, and Prost had similar stupid issues when he was at Renault. The 80's of F1 are my forte'.

    In the 2000's it is easier to finish a race, no doubt, but we pretty much see the same faces in the top-3, or even top-6.
     
  4. PSk

    PSk F1 World Champ

    Nov 20, 2002
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    Tauranga, NZ
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    Pete
    #4 PSk, Nov 23, 2009
    Yeah I used to love how Ferrari used to say we had an electrical issue while oil pissed out the bottom of their engine and a valve head was visible on the track ... 90% of engine failures were blamed on something else to save face!
    Always been like that, but in the last 15 years if you kept out of trouble you scored points, especially with this stupid down to 10th place points system.

    Pete
     
  5. zaevor2000

    zaevor2000 Formula 3

    Jul 18, 2007
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    Frank Waugh
    #5 zaevor2000, Nov 23, 2009
    1981
    US West- 31%
    Brazil- 50%
    Argentina- 50%
    San Marino- 50%
    Belgium- 50%
    Monaco- 35%
    Spain- 62%
    France- 65%
    Britain- 42%
    Germany- 58%
    Austria- 42%
    Dutch- 38%
    Italy- 38%
    Canada- 46%
    US West- 46%

    1982
    S. Africa- 69%
    Brazil- 38%
    US West- 38%
    San Marino- 38%
    Belgium- 35%
    Monaco- 42%
    US East- 42%
    Canada- 42%
    Dutch- 58%
    Britain- 38%
    France- 62%
    Germany- 42%
    Austria- 27%
    Swiss- 65%
    Italy- 46%
    US- 50%

    1983
    Brazil- 62%
    US West- 46%
    France- 50%
    San Marino- 50%
    Monaco- 35%
    Belgium- 54%
    US- 46%
    Canada- 42%
    Britain- 65%
    Germany- 50%
    Austria- 50%
    Dutch- 54%
    Italy- 50%
    Europe- 58%
    S. Africa- 46%

    Hard to get huge numbers of podiums when you are running between 35-50% of even finishing the race...
     

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