Am I the only one loosing interest?

When you look at all the shenanigans at the top it's not too hard to figure that the whole thing is theater, WWF style.

 

Man, what season are you watching?? This is probably the best F1 season I have ever seen!

The drama is mostly ON THE TRACK this year instead of in the paddock over who the #1 driver is on a given team.
Who wouldn't be captivated by Brawn GP and its roller-coaster ride from the brink of doom to the front of the grid!
The new regulations have created an environment where the ingenius can use their brain and their wallet to get ahead.
That's what sports is all about. To me, F1 is finally getting interesting again.

I enjoy getting up to watch a race and not knowing who will be on the pole or who is going to place in the top 3.
The last few years have been too darn predictable. I love the new feel - the uncertainty makes it that much more fun to watch.
New constructors in the mix is only a good thing. The cars don't look that bad. Besides, it's not a beauty contest.

The OP and many of the responses seem to be tinged with sour grapes because Ferrari isn't at the top. Also, I think
that a lot of people miss the "no holds barred" spending and glamour of the past. But think about it - the spend, spend, spend
to win mentality brought us a sport where you didn't even have to get up to watch to know the outcome. It was a 2 team
race between the richest teams - McLaren and Ferrari - with a little BMW sprinkled in if the big boys had engine trouble. Now it is anyone's game.
There is actually something to watch now!! If that is the result of cutting some spending and glamour from the sport then so be it.

I think it is great that there is competative balance now. If the FIA and their shennanigans is turning you off
then I am shocked you have lasted this long! The FIA has been pulling stuff like the Vettel penalty for as long
as F1 has been around. But it is almost always in Ferrari's favor!

Saddle up and enjoy this ride. The shake up in the grid will stabilize soon any way. Ferrari and McLaren will figure stuff out and start
winning again soon. I hope the uncertainty lasts a bit longer though.
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Agreed, penalty's should be given in pure reckless cases, and the gravity of the offence taken into consideration, but the most important thing they have to be consistent.

 

Sorry about that! I shoiuld have made myself clear. It was directed at the OP.

 

I agree with alot of you. This F1 season is going to be very exciting!
The last race did upset me... because of the rain.

They should have stopped the race as soon as the hard rain started.
That was the only thing that upset me. Especially because I watched
the race live and it ended at 4 am!

but it was still a great race up until that point!

 

I must admit, yes I have been losing interest. It started in 07 with the Stepneygate BS. I took a long break from Fchat and really only watched the races when they were on. I never checked the news sites and really just didn't wanna hear about it anymore. I hope it doesn't get to that point this year as well. The off track antics are detracting from the on track racing. When it gets to that point, something's got to give. it's usually my attention span.

 

I absolutely love this season. Yeah, the cars don't look as nice, but they're still putting up the numbers. The cars are obviously running a LOT closer to each other than they have in years past, the best of the rest from the last few years are now.. well... the best.

I'm heartbroken to see Ferrari doing so poorly, but I'm loving seeing Brawn dominate this sport. It's not often that you get to see that anymore.

All of the other stuff is unfortunate, but I don't really care. The races are still going to happen, and if the stewards find a different winner than the checkered flag does, then so be it. I don't think they're abusing the system, they're doing what they think is fair.

So McLaren got caught lying. They're the New England Patriots of F1 right now. Everyone does it at one point or another, but they're the ones who got caught. It's unfortunate that it has happened to them so soon after the 2007 season, but that's their problem.

The only thing I don't really like so far is the KERS systems. It seems more of a hinderance than anything else, but we'll see how it all plays out. I can't wait to watch the Chinese GP!

 

Sore looser syndrome?

I think it is one of the best seasons in a very long time.

Ever since 2006 things have been getting better and better each year.

 

Other than the now usual FIA dealings, this season is like a breath of fresh air.

Ferrari is struggling and that is not a good thing but to be honest I'm very happy watching the Brawns, Toyotas, Red Bulls and Williams do good job.

I still have no sympathy for Mclaren though

 

I can go along with that, but with one stipulation: The FIA keep there input to a bare minimum, in other words Butt out.

 

What you stressed in bold should be easy enough for the FIA to <ahem> grasp.

 

LOL I can't believe I said all that without realizing the pun! ..Danke for pointing it out...

 

But don't forget - financially - one of the 2 'big boys' has never won a race. Toyota.

 

I could not disagree more. Not only have the cars deteriorated, we are stuck with V8 engines, no real high tech anymore, all the aero, engine and suspension is totally controlled. why dont the FIA just make a car, and the teams put their own engines in.

Whats so exciting? seeing new teams winning? If that is what F-1 needs, we should just call it NASCAR or DTM... because its not F-1 racing.

As for all the sanctions... that is part of F-1... has always been. The rules are so constricting that its not the pinicle any more... to me that is the problem.

you cant have the best drivers if you dont have the best cars... just my opinion.

 

I have been an F1 fan since I was young. In the last 3 years, I didn't miss one qualification or race. NOT ONE. I attended every USGP and even attended Mona in '04. Now, I haven't been able to watch 5 minutes this season. I am disgusted with the changes that have been made. The sport has been cheapened IMHO. I'm done with F1

 

Bigger doesn't necessarily mean better. When you look at the history of F1, Ferrari and McLaren are one and two in total wins. That's why they are the big boys. What goes to show about Toyota is that money doesn't necessary buy success (although this year looks pretty promising).

Honda may have paid a lot for the Brawn car development, but you have to give it to this tiny team to not screw it all up.

I used to like Super Aguri for the same reason. They surprised many and thumbed their noses at other "bigger" teams. Ya gotta love that.

 

To which you are obviously entitled.

However, could you please let us know what are the "best cars"?....... They're still far and away the fastest & most "high tech" vehicles on a race track - *Nothing* comes close. Just my opinion

Cheers,
Ian

 

It seems to me you need to sit down with a good book describing the history of F1. What's wrong with V8 engines? F1 cars used to run with tiny V6 normally aspirated ones. They used to run with even tinier 4 cylinder turbo ones. V8 engines were powering most of the grid during one of the best periods of F1, the 70s to early 80s. F1 cars are still the fastest cars on the track. During the early to mid 90s, a period that you probably feel was a "pinnacle" period the FIA prototypes were running times that would have put them in midpack in an F1 race and close to the front when they were in qualifying trim. So don't think that today’s current cars are that much less compared to the LeMans series cars.

 

Wow...I think 2009 has started off as the best season in decades...

 

To date, I'm sickened, angry, skeptical, bitter and seething over one of the best seasons in recent history.

 

+100!

Perfectly stated Is.

 

Yes Is, I know how you feel, but let's face it, it's hardly surpising with a bunch of upper-class delinquents, that do twenty minutes' work and then spend the rest of the day loafing about in Paris drinking gallons of champagne and then sneak off to a Chelsea flat, full of highly experienced girls equipped with butt clenching implements for a good thrashing.... hang on.....

 

I only pay attention to each race from the beginning of qualifying to the checker flag at race end. Everything that happens before or after is nonsense in my book. So far it's a good year. New faces and cars up front, passing on the track. I'm sure the usual suspects won't be trailing for long. Middle third of the season should be very interesting.

Cheers,
Kurt O.

 

I'd have mentioned that too if it wasn't the secret dream job of most F-Chatters.

 

These aren't American V8 engines with two valves per cylinder operated by push rods. They are very high tech, and IMO the F1 cars are still the fastest cars in racing.