How would *you* make F1 better?.......

Hey,

I've been taking some flack over my defense of the current state of affairs in F1 - No problem, I've got pretty thick skin and in many cases am playing devils advocate.

While many have criticized, few have offered what I consider to be *sustainable* solutions. It's easy to say "bring back unlimited testing". "Let 'em run whatever they want" and so on.

Given that they need to restrict expenditure if it's gonna survive IMO, what are your thoughts on improving the sport? FWIW, my 02c;

- Replace some of the concrete run-off areas with gravel or grass - There should be consequences for falling off.
- Let 'em test on the Monday after some of the races.

Given that the days of unlimited budgets & multiple test teams are over, what would *you* do beyond simply announcing "it sucks".......

Cheers,
Ian

 

I still don't know what to think about the "Amount X of energy per race, do what you want" idea. Either it would lead to a very interesting multitude of concepts, or, after a time of wild ups and downs, everyone would converge to the same solution, and we'd be back at the status quo.

 

Set fuel loads and open engine design. Get rid of KERS. 100% more grid girls with 50% less clothing.


Mark

 

+1.
Im ok with the current status of F1. The single tire supplier has helped. No formula will be perfect. We humans will always find a way to criticize things of course.
To answer Ian: Less run off areas that are forgiving. Keep them on track. No skipping a qualy session ever. 2 full in season test periods. Manual gearboxes?

 

Yes, all of that - plus - I would get rid of most of the aero effects.

 

More power
More tire
Less aero

enjoy

 

heeee haw!

 

I said it before:

No wind tunnels. Ban their use by all teams.

Computer aided aero only but no actual physical data.

Why? Well, there are millions of $$$$ spent for tiny improvements between each race. They update the cars all the time but it's mainly in aero.

Stop this and costs go down. And, all this aero is not translatable to a modern car. A small winglet in the front of a F1 car is meaningless to a road car. Yet, CCB's, F1 gearboxes, EDiff's, etc are. All came from racing.

In addition, put a new emphasis in mechanical grip and engine/drivetrain power. Allow different types of engines and power plants of many types and let engineers figure it out what works best for them.

 

Here is my manifesto for F-1

1. 1L multi cylinder engines normally aspirated up to 20 Cyl. max allowance 4 engines per year. (5 races per engine)
2. Electronic stablity control- like active suspension, ABS, etc..
3. Minimum weight 800KG dry.
4. alow multiple tire mfg's but have to sign on for 5 year stints tires have to last 5 gp's
5. Alternative fuel's alowed as long as availalble to 35% of regional population of the Gp
6. Active aero alowable. maximum decelaration of 7G alowed & measured by potentiometers on the car.
7. Increase tire / wheel diameter to 18 inches.
8. alow infinate variable transmissions, controlled by driver input.
9. FIA control penalties on the performance of the car... make a bad move - fia can cut your power by 50% for x number of seconds
10. alow customer cars to be produced either as chassis or with engine. but no more than 5 chassis per manufacturer.
11. Fans alowed to enter paddock & pit walk at 8AM to 10AM & 2PM to 3PM at every race event. Tracked by rdfi chip in ticket.
12. Alow instant telemetry down load to all fans for each car.
13. Mandatory 3 hour driver & team principal autograph session on Thursday prior to race With Race car display at each team paddock site. - open autogaph session free of charge.
14 TV coverage to be supplied by host country using FOM team and standards. Host country gets 3 TV presenters on site.
15. Podium ceremony to be hosted by past F-1 Champion & Presentation of Champagne by lottery of Fans done on thursday before the race.
16. No testing limits on where and how many laps only Maximum of 5000 miles per team. FIA to monitor miles by computer satelite.
17. All test sessions to be public and available on line.
18. Each race lottery held for 20 lucky fans to do a "Grid Walk" at each race. with TV coverage.
19. Host country gets to nominate one driver from other series to participate in practice and attempt to qualify for the race. World Champion Constructor to provide the 3rd F-1 Car. car to be sponsored by the title holder of each race.
20. New team financially encouraged to use "Historic team names" when entering F-1
Brabham, BRM, Matra, Ligier, Ensign, March, Auto Union, etc...

there you have it... tear it apart!!!

 

1) No aero
2) Reversed grid
3) Sprinklers

 

I like a lot of this (particularly your ideas for increased fan interaction - F1 could learn a lot from Nascar in this regard). I'll post a list of mine when I have more time.

 

Get rid of DRS.
Allow refueling.

 

Get rid of front and rear wings completely to put the emphasis back on mechanical grip. Increase the size of the wheels to accomodate bigger brakes and low profile tires. Eliminate KERS. All are relatively cheap fixes that would bring back nose to tail racing without the need for artificial tricks like DRS. Sponsors probably wouldn't like it though since it decreases their ad space...

 

I don't think they can really eliminate aero. Unless they come out with a standardized mandated body all the teams must use, there will always be aero. They can, however, mandate that at X speed, you cannot have more than Y downforce (and set up multiple speeds, or have a linear graph of speed/downforce that cannot be exceeded). That would eliminate a lot of the problem with one car that can't pass the car in front... just keep the downforce numbers low and they're good.

As for testing/spend, just have a given # of FIA-approved/managed test days. They could have them be centrally located or at each track on Monday if they like.

We've had really exciting seasons so I don't think much needs done, really. The FIA is damned if they do and damned if they don't. Everyone is tired of the same teams winning, but look at this year... we had different winners for every race for quite a few races in a row, and the whining started about how it's just random and why bother trying since it's all luck, etc, etc.

 

Lose DRS. Mandate steel brakes. No esoteric materials that you don't find on production cars.
This is a manufacturers' series -- the technology should be applicable to production cars.

Get away from the carbon brakes, and you'll see passing without DRS: you can't brake at 100% every corner, without incurring fade.

And the chinese menu for tires is another joke. Bring three compounds, and the teams can use what they want.
I'd love to see one team trying to run the whole race on the hardest compounds, vs two stops on the softer.

Besides: we've already seen that some cars just don't do well on some of the compounds.

We need some in-season testing, not just to close the gap between cars, but to support "test drivers" who can jump into the car without a half season to come up to speed.
Remember how badly *everybody* did in that '08 Ferrari, compared to Kimi and Felipe, after Massa's accident?

 

Allow one flexible aerodynamic device with certain guidelines employed such as it cannot deflect more than 3cm or something. See what creative things come from that. Flexible diffusers anyone?

 

How would you make it better??????

Uh helloooooooooo, this has been one of the most unpredictable F1 seasons in YEARS.

 

Pure unpredictablity is not necessarily better racing.

 

1. Eliminate the ridiculous high noses by requiring that front wings be attached directly to the chassis of the car.
2. Eliminate carbon-fiber brakes to reduce braking power, which will result in many more outbraking attempts.
3. Keep the formula normally-aspirated and end the restriction on cylinder counts. Creative fuel management should eliminate the disadvantage of multi-cylinder engines. (In other words, bring back the 12s!)
4. Require that tire compounds are sturdy enough such that all races can be one-stoppers. Races should be decided on the track, not in the pits!

 

throw the rule book out the window , well not all rules , keep the safety ones ..........

 

I agree on the multi cyl engines. I think you have to limit capasity and use some form of consumption restriction. or perhaps use a miles per gallon restriction that will help improve engines in the future.

F-1 could do so much more with ceramics, composite engines, etc... but the rules just keep it so limited.

as for the high noses -again that is the rules that dictate the shape... I think they need to let the cars get larger - wider again... with bigger wings etc.

I wonder what would happen if you could alow high mounted wings again like they had in 68.. using todays modern composite materials they would be much stronger etc...

 

No limits.

 

To make F1 better:
make the races longer, even if 50 miles.
Races used to be much longer, when the champions were champions.
longer races=more racing, more strategy
allow refueling. Why not--if someone wants to start lighter and faster, then so be it.
Less wing, bigger slicks=more racing, more driver control.

 

Very cool!.....

Thanks for the comments guys! Some very interesting ideas. I love some of Toms manifesto ideas.

We've had suggestions running the gamut;

- Less (more) aero
- Less (more) tire
- Less (more) brakes
- Less (more) driver aids
- Less (more) "technology"

Some of 'em even with solid arguments behind 'em.

Some comments & Q's;

Why would the elimination of KERS and/or DRS improve the current state of play?

I like Florians "X amount of energy" idea - Easy to then make X=X-? over the following seasons - They'll get efficient in a hurry...... I think the trouble with fuel restrictions in general though is we get the old Le Mans economy runs - They sucked......

Max fuel flow rate is, I believe, the restriction we want if we're going down that path. But can it be done cost effectively if we throw out the other rules?

I'm easy either way on refuelling. Not hauling a 747 load of rigs around the world is saving 'em money, but in the scheme of things, so what?......EDIT; Conversely, is not having it "spoiling" F1?

Cheers,
Ian

 

+1

I'm pretty sure they pretty much "inflicted" these rules upon themselves however...... Heavy restrictions on "fancy" materials etc come from the TWG.

Cheers,
Ian