Horner: F1 should be polar opposite of Formula E

Well, I´m not really interested in baseball or boxing. I like motorsport and I´m interested in the hardware, not only in the drivers.

As I always say, the cars are still desgined and built by humans, so those guys are part of the game too.

 

That's your penchant, fair enough.

As we can only hear the engines, most audiences only care about whether they are fast and loud. Even then, lots of viewers switch channels unless there is some human drama occurring. Processional laps, despite the hidden tech, are a big switch off for the majority of viewers. I am certain Liberty Media will be factoring this into their future equation.

 

+1

 

Motor racing isn't just entertainment. Technical excellence is part of F1 and I hope that won't be diluted, just to make a show.

 

Technical excellence ..as in Honda.

 

Technical excellence has diluted the human craft of wheel to wheel racing.

 

Wheel-to-wheel racing exists far more in lower categories like F3, GP3, GP2 or even Indycar than in F1, because they are specs series where everybody drives the same car.
F1 isn't a specs series (yet) and has always accepted diversity and disparity between cars, engines, etc...
So obviously some sort of merit order make it impossible to have constant wheel-to-wheel during a race; it's the exception rather than the norm.

 

Perhaps not the essence but a huge part unless you are drag racing.
I also miss re-fueling. Are the now mandatory(and ridiculous) stops to change to a less than optimum tire supposed to substitute for that bit of strategy?

 

These mandatory tyre changes were introduce to instil some unknown in the race, as an attempt to disturb the running order. Just like adding another unknown in the equation.

All that looks so artificial to me; I just don't see the point to it.

I could perfectly see a GP where the drivers are released at 15 sec. intervals and race against the clock. Like the motorcycle TT is, or the Targa Florio was.

 

Disparity between engines should be welcomed. V8 vs V10 has produced close F1 battles in the past.

Things like DRS are nothing more than a gimmick

 

Sheeessshhh!!! Again, wonders never cease! 'Agreement, once again.

 

Engine disparity should go a lot further than V8 vs V10 in my opinion.
Any type of engine should be allowed, and some equivalency found.

DRS is a necessary evil; it's the antidote of aero.
Without DRS, there would be even less overtaking.

 

An "AutoPass" button is not overtaking.

Hopefully Ross Brawn will sort out such nonsense by decreasing aero.

 

I know, I know, but without DRS, there would be even less passing on the track.

Everything would be down to pit strategy; that's not racing.

Decreasing aero will be difficult, IMO.

 

+1

The only passes people actually remember in the DRS era, are the ones made without use of DRS.

 

The mandatory tyre changes were brought in because every fan and his/her dog were complaining about watching processional races every race weekend, where, once the cars had completed the first lap, all of the drivers simply held station and finished in that order.

(That's a slight oversimplification, but the basics are correct!)

So basically you'd be happy to watch a race that is basically just old style F1 qualifying?

 

+33

 

I'm sure everyone thought that during the first turbo era then POOF they were gone

 

The collapse of LMP1 has shown that manufacturers don't have the stomach for these ridiculously complex and expensive hybrid systems long term.

Drop in a fuel flow restricted V10 with the best lean combustion/spark technology and a basic KERS system. These engines would be simple, sound awesome, make great power and could still be branded as green. Run it on biofuels for all I care

Winner winner

 

I went to watch the Targa Florio in Sicily in the 60s, and it was a race against the clock.

I have been at the TT a few time in my youth, and it is also a race against the clock.

Both provided a lot of excitement and drew crowds, and there was no wheel-to-wheel racing.

Rallyes are against the clock and attract millions of people worldwide.

So yes, I wouldn't mind if GPs adopted that format.