FIA presents new rules for 2008

I don't know what to think anymore. On one hand the current sport needs to be fixed, it often too boring and the costs are just silly. On the other hand as a friend of mine pointed out, if I wanted to watch Formula BMW, I would. So it is a question of balance, and that said these proposed changes are very sweaping and cut deep into what many consider the heart of F1.

If it was up to me I would ditch most of the current tech that is staus quo and therefore does nothing for the show but runs up costs, but I wouldn't place so many limits on future development.

 

holy crap....i'd like to see what happens after monaco...where there's thousands of gear changes involved durin the whoel race

 

Just a random comment: one of the reasons for various components to last multiple races is the fact that a gearbox, for example, designed to last one race, is at the end of its design life 19 times in a season. If it has to last 4 races it is at the end of its design life 4 times a season. Parts are designed on their expected life. Personally, I'd like to see engine blocks, cranks, and rods required to last a full year, among other things. And if my street trannt can last hundreds of thousands of miles, why can't F1 gears be designed to last all year? No reason at all, IMO.

 

I can only laugh....Untill someone creates a new series, I will see you guys at the next vintage race!

 

Let's hear it for the cows - cow manure to power F1! The fuel is to be comprised of 6% biological material. I always thought of F1 being the pinnacle of the motor world; however, I can go not to far up I-35 to Carl's Corner and buy Willie Nelson's bio-fuel at the truck stop!!

Carol

 

I think the new rules will force teams to spend even more money in the off season making sure they have the most efficient engine and bodywork since they will no longer be able to make multiple changes during the season. So in the long run it's not really cost effective.

 

Count me in! On top of that most vintage racecars are nicer to watch too IMHO.

Ciao, Peter

 

Why don't they just paint a bunch of F3000 cars in different colors and be done with it?

 

You mean A1 GP? ;-)

 

Will any of this ever really reduce costs?? Because everytime they change the rules millions of dollars go into research and development to abide by whatever they decide this week. Plus you have to think, if you have $400 million to spend, wont you find some way to spend it. I mean will teams like Ferrari, Honda, Toyota, ect actually reduce what they spend or will they find other ways to spend it....ie like on new wind tunnels, better facilities, more compture simulations, or in Ferraris case they could just test that much more. Just my thoughts.

Mark

 

You're quite right:

I agree that any rule change basically leads to more R&D to get the max out of the new rule. So no, this will not really reduce costs.

I read an interview with one of the top teams and they basically made your point: There is a budget and it will get eaten up by the end of the year regardless. They said exactly what you said: Spend it on something else if you really save in one area.

 

Two type‘s of teams will always exist in F1 those with the big money and those without and it sucks for some fan’s when you root for the underdog.