I don't see Honda coming in and being a dominant force, just competitive at best. Honda lost its mojo a long time ago and is more interested in selling Accords and pitbikes these days than racing at the absolute top level. They will pour money into something for a short time, but then seem to lose interest. 30 years ago it was a different game, if you embarrassed Honda you got to answer to Mr. Honda himself. These days Honda is a successful car manufacturer that also sells motorcycles and lawnmowers, but it is not an engineering company at its heart. As for Alonso, never liked him and never will. Not even since he has been at Ferrari. I hope Kimi proves to be the #1 driver by Monaco. Fernando will have that constipated scowl on his face for the rest of the year and be gone.
In '77 there were 6 different makes of engines on the grid in 4 different configurations-V-8 (Cosworth), 2 flat 12s (Ferrari & Alfa), 2 V-12s (Matra & BRM) and the Turbo V-6 (Renault). Now we will have MB, Ferrari, Renault and eventually Honda producing a 1.5 Turbo which will be rev-limited.
Not only that, but there was an unlimited amount of engines per team for one season, no testing limit, and even qualifications cars with BANZAI engines to get the best spot on the grid. Each driver had 2 cars and 2 or 3 engines available per GP!! Teams used to do as many miles in testing as in a whole GP season too... Also, there were no stage managed pit stops, and tyres could last a whole race. Fancy that!! It was way better than the dog and pony show we have to suffer now.
+1 Pretty much 'my era'. A fantastic mix of engines, teams and cars. Great stuff! However, playing devils advocate for a moment, even then there was *still* incessant whining about a lack of overtaking and how 'boring' it all was!.... We were lucky if more than 3-4 guys finished on the lead lap. 6th place ( the last point payer of course) was often 2-3 laps back. Reliability wasn't close to what we have today - At least half the field generally didn't see the flag. F1 was about to die was the oft quoted line. Sound familiar? I too would love a return to multiple engine formats etc. But it's not what the teams want unfortunately. Unlimited testing? Same thing - They simply don't want it. As I've said many times, KI cruising home time after time is getting old, but that's not gonna last forever. (Unless he really is *that* good, which I'm starting to suspect!) The rest of the grid is closer now than it's ever been, and reliability beggars belief. I guess all I'm trying to say is careful what you wish for........ Is it really *that* bad?...... Cheers, Ian
Indeed they are..... Without them, we wouldn't have much to watch after all..... Don't get me wrong, I'm with you, I really am, but I just have no idea how to go about "fixing it". Is it even broken is the question I guess? I dunno, but as I've said many times, as long as they remain the quickest thing around a road course, I'll keep watching. Cheers, Ian
Nice. But freedom of choice means $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ for development. Qualifying engines, T cars and unlimited testing means more $$$$$$. Of course, big teams can spend that kind of money. Right now they´re spending in simulators the money they can´t spend in testing and so on. But in current F1, all but 3 teams are struggling just to survive. I don´t know if the current trend of speccing everything is the solution (I doubt it), but I´m pretty sure that the old F1 won´t be back.
Budget monitors per team. Teams on a shoestring receive a lighter weight car or increased aero. Two tier anyone ?
Sure. I loved Formula Two. If you're going to create a two tiered arrangement let them run for their own championship. You might be able to run it as a second grid at the same races.
Pretty much what Todt wants to do. He's not convinced (is anyone? ) the RRA goes far enough and/or is being adhered to. [Incidentally, he just got reelected, unopposed, for another 4 years.] Dust off the Chapman as you suggested a while back? But, nah! Blasphemy I tell you!..... It's F1, damnit! Teams come & go, always have, always will, but as long as there's 9 of 'em (IIRC) Bernie's happy. If it ever looks like he may loose too many he'll step in again to support the minnow(s). He's done it before. One could argue that the prize fund should be divided a little more "evenly", but again that's all defined in the Concorde which they all sign up to. Once again, F1 is *hard*, as it should be. Start messing with the playing field and I don't think you'll satisfy anyone. Do you "tweak" the weights for everyone for example, or just a selected few? Sorry, not for me - Build a good car, you win. Build a dog, you don't. Please, no "BOP" nonsense in F1! Cheers, Ian
+1 But isn't that pretty much what we've got now with GP2, GP3 and the like? Separate series and separate races I'm all for - Back in my day F3 was a support race at many GP's - Great stuff and a nice way for the kids to get noticed; Win the F3 race at Monaco and an F1 test was pretty much guaranteed for example. [Working there in F3 *sucked*, but that's another story. ] Cheers, Ian
In a perfect world I'd agree but with Bernie's need for full grids running a two tiered championship sharing races might fly. The lesser formula could have meaningful cost restrictions and the big boys could build and race in a manner suited to traditional F1.
Beg to differ. Some of them are "struggling" at present, but it's always been that way I'm sure always will be. One way or another, Bernie will make sure there's at least 18 cars out there every time. Without looking, does anyone (outside of Isobel of course ) even remember who won The Chapman? (for constructors), or the Jim Clark (for drivers)? Same as winning one of the baby classes at Le Mans; Who knows or really cares outside a very dedicated few. And Le Mans has always had a plethora of classes - In endurance racing I get it, but please, not in F1! I think they kind of do, at least in GP2 & 3. You can go buy a car & lump and go racing - Costs are pretty well known. Don't like the heat in F1? Go and play somewhere cheaper and don't let the door hit you on the way out! Cheers, Ian
Again I agree but the need to keep the backmarkers in the hunt has constrained the sport. As long as there is a commitment to keep them (and yes I think it should be sink or swim) on the grid can't we try to lessen their diminishing the sport?
Hmmm.... I hear you, but think this is our "disconnect" - I don't think backmarkers do "diminish the sport" - They've always been there (I well remember some complete **** trundling round at the back over the years!) and someone's always got to come last - Years back it was Frank, then he got his act together (OK, Saudi money! ) and gradually moved forward - Great stuff! As I noted recently, I've always been something of a fan of the tail end Charlies; They're out there competing and trying just as hard as anyone. If they can find some money and come up with a decent car, who knows? Maybe Marussia's 10th place allows them to do something good and move forward next year? I'll love to watch it unfold either way. A sometimes mooted alternative is of course allowing "customer cars" - I hate that idea too - You've gotta be a constructor, damnit! That's a large part of what makes F1 unique IMO. Right now, I'm sure Caterham at least would love to get their hands on a couple of RB9's, but that would just be wrong IMO. Cheers, Ian
