F1 with or without Schumacher? Your thoughts. . .

I don't think the "problem?" is with Schumacher. I think that Ferrari is just that much faster than everyone else. RB would still be dominating (or a driver that was better than RB would be dominating).

 

You said it already.

 

Okay I do think the problem with F1 today is mainly focused at the lack of talent in the driver pool.

But to be fair to the drivers we have these issues that slow the drivers down:
- Too much cost in the cars, thus drivers need to bring money not talent.
- Too much cost in the cars, thus team managers get pissed if the cars are damaged.
- Too much corporate pressure to get the results and thus drivers are settling for okay points, instead of racing for the win.
- Aerodynamics of the car designed for sponsorship not racing
- Grooved tyres thus reducing mechanical grip which is most important in passing situations.
- Slack souless safe tracks that are covered in chicanes. Bloody hard to pass in or out of a chicane.

The above is all Bernies fault!

What we currently have is one of the few drivers who made it in to F1 largely due to talent in the best car with a back up puppy to ensure the others cannot get to him.

Since we cannot ban MS from racing as that would be totally unfair we must put more pressure on Ferrari to motivate RB to his peak and if that peak is not good enough then for the sake of the sport replace him. This is not going to be easy though and I can see many more years of total dominance by MS.

Thus F1 needs to address:
- Cost. Lets reduce the amount or number of corporate BJs the team are giving to their sponsors and while we need sponsors the priority is NOT to entertain them and their friends but to go racing. Currently I think the team bosses are so busy paying for the sexy ladies and fancy dinners, etc. that the racing is getting in the way. Look at the motor homes now ... not required for racing, just to wine and dine the sponsors.
- Once the cost is under control motor racing needs to put into place a ladder structure that ensure that when a driver makes it to F1 (via this ladder of junior series) they can actually race and have all the race craft skills required to keep the F1 RACING at the highest level.
- Open up the pits area to some degree to the public to keep the drivers feet on the ground. This IMO is critical with reminding the drivers that they are not super heros but just racing drivers, and we have no need for hiding them away playing games with the sponsors. Again lets keep the drivers focusing on the racing not becoming great corporate consultants. Again money and sponsors are killing the sport ...

Pete's views

 

I think F1 would be more interesting without MS. Very few people are willing to make risky passes around Michael for fear of colliding with F1's goose that lays the golden egg. The cars have been allowed to become so technologically advanced that only Ferrari is in a position where its F1 technology finds its way into its road cars. I don't like MS, he's a talented driver but put in cars of approximately equal capabilities he will buckle under pressure, a la Jaques Villeneuve in 97. Bernie will NEVER let MS retire too early since Bernie gets such an enourmous royalty on all the F1 related merchandise, and MS and Ferrari are the biggest sellers in that area.

I think the answer is slick tires, single element wings, 2 litre engines and flat bottomed cars that place the emphsis on mechanical grip rather than aerodynamic grip.

 

Schumacher is the best racer that ever lived. What could be more exciting than watching the best racer that ever lived?

 

Try staying awake if the Dallas Cowboys win all the NFL games for the next 5 years.

 

Is there an answer though?

F1 without the technology ... is it still F1?

I do not know the answer, but I do agree with the much smaller engine and a ban on drive-by-wire throttle BS and a mechanical over aerodynamic grip requirement.

If you look back in history the best racing period (ie. most WC's on the grid) occured in the 60's with the 1.5 litre formula ... out of this period technology moved forward big time too!

In the end I would like the focus to be on motor racing not making a buck ...

Pete's opinion

 

If the real question is what is the problem with F1 at the moment then MS is not the issue as far as I'm concerned. IMO the real problem has been with Max Mosley taking the rules in completely the wrong direction since he took over the FIA. Constant changes never properly thought through.

They should never have gone to grooved tyres. They should ban refuelling (meaning the drivers often don't even bother to try to overtake they just wait for the stops). They should sort out the aerodynamics so there's less downforce and the cars can follow each other more easily. Get rid of all these identikit circuits all designed by Herman Tilke who designs interesting trackside buildings but tedious tracks (gradients anyone?). Personally I absolutely hate the idea of smaller engines. F1 cars should be powerful and tricky to drive. The average spectator should be watching thinking 'wow, I could never do that'. F1 also needs some measure of technology IMO but not to the detriment of the sport. It shouldn't be NASCAR though. And why do all the cost savings seem to involve less track action at a race. They should be encouraged to do as many laps as possible at a GP meeting, when the paying spectators are there and when they hotel and travel costs for the teams are already covered. Much less testing. But no point in banning testing completely so that they all have to use even more expensive simulation techniques.

Costs is more difficult. The top teams will always have more money and they'll always spend what they have. It would also be very difficult to cap budgets particularly with manufacturers involved who can hide expenditure all over the place.

With regard to competition it seems to me the current problem is largely that Mclaren and Williams are not doing good jobs. It is up to them to step up to the plate and take on Ferrari. Bear in mind Schumacher is likely to retire in the next two or three years anyway and a lot of the top Ferrari people are also not likely to be around for ever, so I'm sure things will be quite different in a couple of years or so. I'm just concerned that they don't rush through a whole load more idiotic and ill-thought out rule changes in the meantime.

 

Agreed. In ten years time discussions such as these are going to look very stupid.

 

Well said!

 

Watching paint dry.

With all due respect to MS, his skills and the cars speed make it look far too easy and utterly boring. I usually turn off the races halfway through now. I'm sure I'm not the only one and that can't be good for the sponsors.

 

For me watching Schumacher debut in the Jordan and then climb the ladder to his first and second title were fantastic. Later on watching him fail and eventually get the first title with Ferrari was the best of all times. THAT I wouldn't want to have missed for the life of me.

But now it has become rather repetitious and F1 would be a more interesting place with MS in retirement. It would open a power vacuum and we would see some younger lions (Kimi, Alonso and guys whose names we haven't even heard of) duke it out. Of course that is not MS' fault.

Want to make F1 exiting and terminate the Ferrari dominance? Let MS retire in grace and put JPM in his cockpit. No more domination and lots of sliding action...

 

Hey guys, I got a great idea!
In order to make a sport more entertaining and fair (since 90% of the teams competing are performing poorly), let's eliminate the best team! This way all the other teams will look better and it will be fun again!

This is the dumbest thread I've ever seen.

 

This is kind of like asking if the NBA was going to be exciting w.o Jordan. The answer is yes, there is tons of talent out on the field, if you watch the battles for like 3rd or 5th and 6th you see some of the greatest driving ever.

 

True, if the camera would ever go there.

 

yea u do get to see a few minutes

 

We will look back on these few years and remember watching a legend on the track. Schumacher can make a decent car win, and a great car untouchable.

Remember- the championship was decided in the last race last year.

This year is a little boring, but at least it's a Ferrari mopping up!

So- just enjoy it.

 

This may be the dumbest thread ever. It won't even jump onto the needle where it belongs.

(sorry for the highjack.)

Back on topic. No MS would make a dull F1 even duller. He's about the only amazing thing to watch in F1 right now.

At least it's better than watching paint dry with him there.
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Everyone that is complaining now, are the same ones that will be saying in the future, " I saw the great Schumacher when he raced". Enjoy and appreciate this time, because when he's gone, and eventually the team declines, you'll be wishing for the old days. It's up to the other teams to get thier acts together. You're going to tell me with budgets similar to Ferrari they can't get it done? Sure Montoya could come to Ferrari and make it "exciting", lets see if he'll go off on the first lap or run into his teamate.
I think to make F1 more exciting fans have to be given more access like NASCAR. Autograph sessions, behind the scenes look into the drivers, how they live,anything to to make fans feel a part of F1.

 

Indeed, I'm with you. Enzo Ferrari was convinced that the car makes the driver non viceversa, he might be laughin in his grave seeing what is going on with his cars in the last five years.

 

Enzo would yell that the German guy is way overpaid and should give Ferrari SpA some money to have the honor of driving for the marque. Then he would go on and insist that Bruni be made driver #1.