*IF* your team had a spare car. So again, those that have money distance themselves from those that don't. DRS is a crock, 'here is the maximum dimensions of your wing, ONE horizontal surface allowed, must be attached no higher that X inches above the center of the drive axle, have at it'. 'cost reductions' Seriously guys? We've seen rules implemented to 'lower the costs', but has it? EVER? It may have stopped people from spending MORE, but I have not seen it lower costs. 'instead of having 20 of these at X cost, you can now only have 5 of these, but they cost 4x more'.
+1 A new engine already costs a significant amount (in the millions). So taking a new engine is already extremely costly for the small teams. Take away contructor points is rather pointless as the big boys don't really care, the little ones do and replacing an engine and losing X point could lose them multiple positions at hte end of the season, costing them 10s of millions. Specify a less ridiculous engine, max 1 per car per 2 races. Less ridiculously complicated = be a load cheaper so not much cost to replacing an engine for the weekend. Simple = anyone can make one, should limit the cost reasonably to around 200K each. Only reason to limit 1 engine per 2 weekends is just so that big teams can't do their usual trick and get a new engine every session or something ridiculous.
Severely limit the number of upgrades (e.g. 2), but allow testing, otherwise let them re-build at will.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 Grid penalty system incomprehensible Pressure is growing for F1 to scrap its system of grid penalties for technical car failures. In the name of cost cutting, drivers are penalised with grid penalties when they run through their allocation of limited engine parts for the season. Former F1 driver Jochen Mass told the German source T-Online: "Moving down the grid for changing a part is completely incomprehensible to me. "These are parts of the car, and when they do not run, they need to be changed. "We all saw the chaos of Monza, where numerous drivers were punished," he added. New F1 sporting boss Ross Brawn says the need for a new system is even "urgent", but it may not be possible to find an alternative until 2021. "We will look at this in forthcoming meetings," said FIA president Jean Todt, "but it is not easy to find a solution." Brawn said: "We hope to find a solution before the introduction of the new engine generation in 2021. "Why? Because I think the current system is very unpopular with the fans. We need to find a better way."
Brawn: F1 looking to increase number of F2 drivers in GP practice Formula 1 managers are evaluating ways to increase the number of Formula 2 drivers regularly participating in Friday grand prix practice sessions, according to Ross Brawn. https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/131728/f1-wants-more-f2-drivers-in-gp-practice I think if you bring in guys like LeClerc, Markelov, Latifi, Matsu.......it would be risky but overall guys like these would be cool to watch against the current F1 grid.
The current F1 hybrids are just a creeping transition. I fear that in less than five years, F1 will no longer have any internal combustion engines. Formula E has just been joined by Mercedes and Porsche and they are abandoning LeMans to do so. Within two years at most, the batteries will last an entire 90 minute to 2 hour race. They are moving to let manufacturers make their own batteries. The next step is to up the speeds, and put the electric motors into a current F1 chasis. At that point F1 and F E will merge and be one and the same.
Here we go again. I know your new here but I don't know if you have been following some of the veterans here as this particular topic has been discussed quite alot. Anyways, Ross Brawn and company have stated in 2020 going into 2021, there will be a simpler and cheaper PU, possibly V-6 T w/KERS or V-6 2T w/KERS; they are doing away with the MGU-H....with other and outside manufactures and engine builders joining in the fray. Maybe in 50yrs time, F1 will merge into FE....but I won't be around to see it.