It is a street circuit of some sort. One of our drivers hasn't exactly got a good record around those this year! And the other 50/50 at best!
They're one step ahead of you: https://www.planetf1.com/news/ferrari-sign-up-for-formula-1-e-sports-series/
worst is they don't even use a simulator for it?! They use a game best described as ''sim-cade''...definitely leaning to arcade.
I think a marginal expense. Pay some young kid that can drive about on the arcade well enough some basic expenses and a janitors salary.
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/143786/current-engines-too-incredible-for-formula-1 Racing Point technical director Andy Green believes the current Formula 1 engines are "too incredible" and reckons F1 could benefit from a simpler power unit. The current hybrid V6s, introduced in 2015, have been labelled as an "incredible piece of engineering" and the Mercedes powerunit became the most efficient engine ever by passing 50% thermal efficiency. The normally-aspirated F1 engines that preceded the current formula had a reported 29% efficiency. But Green, whose team runs Mercedes engines, feels the technology of the current power plants is too sophisticated. "What we have now is an incredible piece of engineering in the back of the car. But it could just be too incredible," said Green. "What we have is potentially something where the technology bar of the power unit is just way too high and I think I would like to see something that is just slightly simpler. That's my view. "I'd never say no to more horsepower. The sport can't have enough horsepower. We need to make the cars harder to drive. More power; a simpler power unit. That's where I would be going."
I remember a French-language newspaper running a front page photo of a bewildered rodent in the middle of the track. A wonderful race and an even better city. Great memories and some I wish I could remember.
For sure he's definitely not wrong! No denying how incredibly sophisticated these engines are but good for the sport? No. Whilst NA V10/12 is a dream (for now), I still say a good alternative will be the current base V6 paired with 2 conventional turbos and all the hybrid crap removed. Up the boost, enlarge fuel tanks to 150KG an let them run. The base V6 really doesn't cost much at all. it's the hybrid stuff and ancillaries which cost a ridiculous amount of money. Make the base V6 last 3-4 races but they'll be able to be pushed. Cost will go down immensely and power disparity will be much less. Allow the turbo's to be swapped after each weekend (cost 10K all in).
It's not the engines that are expensive (their cost is limited), but the bloody aero. The engineers are just barking up the wrong tree. What Andy Green is saying is "I can't win, so let's try another formula." Racing Point has in fact the best engine, a Mercedes one !!!
Mercedes spends 250 annually on top of their usual F1 business. I'd say engines are pretty ****ing expensive. The aero obviously is another point. These engines are a huge expense to customer teams, also. Due to their complexity and cost to develop. Even with Mercedes selling them at a huge loss, it's a huge expense to customer teams (when promised engine cost would be reduced, in fact they more than doubled despite receiving 3x fewer engines per season!). When a customer team receiving the best engine is complaining, doesn't that wake you up?
Nope. The Cosworth DFV was available to 80% of the grid, but only a few teams were winning with it, if you remember. There is more to a car than the engine. Look at Williams !
The engine is unnecessarily expensive and complicated. It has zero road relevancy (not that that matters, as it's a pointless thing in a single seater formula, but the reason Mercedes/Renault wanted these engines was for that). Why does it need to be expensive and complicated when it doesn't make the racing any better? in fact the very opposite? Go to a simple engine and simple aero and let the teams race for once.
As far as I know, all the teams agreed with this formula. If they don't like it, they can leave. "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!"
Under the promise of cheaper engines, yes they agreed. Is that what you want? Ok then, lets Mercedes introduce a new formula that will be so cost prohibitive that only Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull can partake. Sounds like a recipe for success!
At least one can argue about the road relevancy of the pu hybrid tech; the aero is not applicable to normal driving and have made the cars ugly with those goofy front wings.
A good question. For us fans, it needn't be. But, for Honda, Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari (witness Ferrari's latest offering), it probably has to be.
Training ground for future engineers. That said, the semi a Trickle down tech to road cars(semi auto gearboxes) etc. training ground for engineers, etc