First F-1 race I've missed in 35 years...

I cant beleive it but It's happend. I did not watch Abu Dahabi this past weekend. I was on vacation down in Palm beach and the hotel did not have speed, so I figured I'd catch it by DVRing it at home... but simply forgot... so conclusions are:

1. Just not into F-1 as I used to be - cant relate to the cars, drivers etc...

2. Watching Cars at Yas marina... just not same as Monaco

3. Getting too old to worry about any sports....

4. Since Vettel is WDC what is left to watch?

I never thought it would come to this, but I think I'm there.

 

Wow 1st time in 35 years that is a blow.

Personally I thought it was a great race and a great place, I would certainly like to go there funds allowing.

Your never to old IMO, I don't think it is worry, maybe your priorities have changed.

I can also understand it if you have no one cheer on.

To be honest Vettel had won it mid season anyway the way I saw it.

It's a bit sad you feel that way, but I'am very impressed you watch all the races for 35 years, more than I could ever say.

 

I'm getting there also sad to say.....I didn't watch it either nor India.

The most interesting thing to me this year has been Webber's horrific performance in what is supposedly the best car on the grid, or Vettel is just that F'ing good...however I will watch the first few races next year as winter testing means nothing...

 

I watched Ferrari/Schumacher dominate the early 2000's despite the races being lousy, because of Ferrari. now that Red Bull is doing the same, it's just not as compelling. I'm not as eager to watch the races this season either (especially since most of them are at 3 or 4am )

still, 35 years is amazing! that's a lot of racing

 

You are not alone....

 

Agreed. There are a lot of drivers who would do better in that seat, I believe, although I like Webber personally.

To me the highlight of the season has been watching Button come into his own, demonstrate superior race craft, consistently beat his supposedly #1 teammate and show up his relentless bashers. And in this race he drove around a car with problems to get a great podium finish. Very satisfying.

 

I'm sure it's just me, but I have never cared for car racing on TV. It ain't the same.

Dale

 

especially for an American, I congratulate you for being such an hardcore F1 enthusiast.

 

I've been following F1 religiously for 32 years. But I'm sure I missed some race somewhere in there because of traveling.

I'm perfectly fine with today's F1, tracks, drivers and cars. However if F1 would ever switch to Diesel, electric only engines, covers its wheels, get rid of the standing starts or cover the cockpits I would probably start to loose interest.

I have endured some pretty boring seasons (McLaren domination in the eighties, Ferrari domination last decade) so I can deal with a few RB seasons knowing full well, that this too will end.

Vettel being champion hasn't changed much for me. It was clear to me from the beginning of the season that he would bag this one too. I'm much more interested in what's happening behind him and that battle is never ending.

 

I feel Tom's plight as I never failed to watch or record a F1 race from '84 through '98 and then sporadically off and on until the 2010 season. I mean hell I have even cancelled sunday dates (forsaking any nookie) because I had to be up at 3-4am for the Japanese GP's back in the late '80's.

I did not record the last race or this past weekends race and I do not feel awfully bad about it.

 

I agree. I believe Schumacher slicing across the starting grid going down into turn 1 was one the most exciting events in all of sports. This could be seen just about every other Sunday.

IMHO

Joe

 

Schumacher is my main man and I loved his domination and I just find it difficult to feel the same about Vettel, I cannot put my finger on it? Could it be the few races but raw talent I saw in Schumacher while driving for Merc/Sauber?? I mean I watched Senna from his first race in F1 and realized he was a F1 God but I have never put asmuch support and faith into any driver like I have with Schumacher.

 

I missed it too. Moving is a pain! I did watch the race on a live timing app though.

 

LIFE"S SHORT-NEVER FORSAKE THE NOOKIE!!!!!!!!

 

Forsaking that nookie for F1 was a wise decision at the time, I'm cool & smart like that.

 

I'm 44 and attended my first F-1 race when I was 10 Months old... that was 1968 USGP at Watkins Glen, and never missed a US GP until Phoenix 1990 - I was living in Switzerland for school... I've attended most all the F-1 races in 1986 & 1989 -1991 & 1992 and watched every Televised F-1 race since I can remember - that's back in the days when you saw highlights from Monaco and Watkins Glenn ( even though we were there) on Wide World of sports.... in the early 80's ABC sometimes showed various GP's... and then in 84 ESPN started mid way thru the season with full races. watched & recorded almost every race from 1985 - thru 1995....Still have the Tapes!

For an American - I dont know if I'm un usual or not, but my Dad has been watching and following F-1 since it started! and Formual libre before F-1 - So its the sport of my youth, and my passion.

Today's F-1 is simply not as alluring as it ever used to be. ( I know the young guys will just cry you're old,) but I mean it! - the cars are really not that technically interesting, the drivers are bland - but high quality, and the tracks almost look the same every race.

THINK about it ... Monaco, Monza & Spa look different. everywhere else looks the same - ok maybe the pit complex has some different architecture... Singapore I guess stands out since its at night....I'll watch, but its really not the same any more, I used to ensure that I was always able to see the race live or at a min, tape / DVR the race. now - I have to actively remember to do it! Abu- I just forgot!

 

I'm older than you, grew up in Switzerland and followed F1 for almost the same amount of years. Yet it hasn't lost any of its appeal to me.

Time moves on and things change. It is only natural that the cars, rules, drivers and tracks are not the same anymore.

Personally I also see a lot of benefits from the modern F1: Now we have a night race and a race into the sunset. I think that is very cool. And F1 is more global than it ever was (just wished they'd come back with an African GP). And we have all the races live on TV, as well as the internet to talk about and live timing on our iPhones!

The thing I do lament as the biggest loss to how it was before is the access to the drivers and the cars. And that's not because times moved on as we see from NASCAR and IRL. That's purely a bad development based on greedy Bernie. The fact that I can't even pick a grandstand in practice anymore or that the guards don't even give me access to certain areas where my ticket doesn't apply (e.g. Montreal) is appauling.

 

I don't know if I would blame that on Bernie or management, if drivers wanted to avail themselves to the fans, they could, they would.

I see instead a direct correlation to more pay = less availability: you seldom see super-super-stars in ANY sport be available to the public anymore.

 

I too have some Beta and VHS tapes from the mid-80's - almost none of them are watchable, I plug them in to a VCR and see nothing. Tried it on several VCR's including the ones I recorded them on, all I had left that was usable was Imola 1985, I think.

Pull yours out and see if they are usable.

 

I hear your arguments and they sound convincing, but the guys from IRL or NASCAR aren't living in the poor house AND give the fans great access.

There are several issues here:

- Bernie wants to make $$$ with the VIP Paddock club
- Bernie is a control freak for press access, which has the trickle down effect on us mere mortals with covered fences etc
- Drivers are spoiled brats who hate to sign autographs

F1 could be doing a lot more for its fans, yet isn't. Even if you cough up the Paddock pass $ (which I got once), your access is still VERY limited: I remember being at lunch in the Paddock area and the team announces that Schumi 2 and JPM will give a brief speech. Cool! Next thing they say: "Don't ask them for autographs!" I mean c'mon. Here we are, 50 people who paid 5k each and can't even ask the guy for an autograph???

Good thing I waited outside the tent and got mine anyhow.

 

I digitized anything I had left over from my VHS days. And I bought any commercial VHS tape I could find. The end result is that I have now a somewhat complete collection of F1 championships since 1950. Meaning not all races but at least some footage from each year.

 

I'm not saying that F-1 is worse off because of the digital technology, but that all the rules are strangling the sport... It used to be a sport, and now is a SHOW... so the purpose has completely changed in my view. It is not so much about out right winning, but to make money ... Berine - teams etc... Drivers are smothered with handlers, orders etc... the cars are so controlled there is NO innovation - no electronic aids, abs, active suspension, multi cylinders etc.... KERS? that's it? 1.4 L turbo engines? Push to pass? DRS? ... the cars could be so much more...

Back in the 80's when you looked at a F-1 Car, it was Awsome.... literaly blew you away, big, powerful etc... today, they look so dainty, enemic... its not what F-1 is about ( in my opinion).

 

you know what?

I agree. seriously.

the new cars just aren't as beautiful, or as fun to watch.
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Unfortunately for me, I just got into F1 as of last year... haha
I wish I was around with the legends of Formula 1; Senna, Prost, Mansell, Piquet, list goes on...

 

Shhhhh! Bernie could be listening...