Is this the end of F1?

I agree with that.
F1 has to move with the time and adopt the technology of the 21st century.
Hybrid cars are the future it seems, and by embrassing it , F1 will keep interesting big manufacturers and stay relevant.

 

I cannot wait either.

I am so glad we agree at least on that !

 

That's easy: 2014

2004 was one of the most boring seasons of all times. 100% predictable. 2004 was like 2013 and 2014 will be more like 2005/6

 

That's easy: 2004

As boring as 2004 was, it looks like 2014 will be equally or even more boring. At least in 2004 we had decent cars.

 

We used to call it just Grand Prix racing, and that was fine.

 

1. ALL teams are running the same FIA homologated fuel flow sensor.

2. The Technical Regulations are publicly published, even then, I highly doubt any fan knows all the rules in it. So why would I think 99.9999% of F1 fans know about this particular specification.

4. Ferrari dominated for so many years, there was no mass exodus. Oh wait, that doesn't count because it was Ferrari/Schumacher right?

Red Bull has dominated the last four years, I haven't seen any mass exodus either.

It's ONLY the FIRST race, and you're writing off the season already?

These changes made the top runners stronger over the back markers? Well the Caterhams and Marussias will always be at the back.

Last time I checked, last year, McLaren, Toro Rosso, Williams, Force India were not top runners, yet they looked great this past weekend. Then again, it's only 1 race so far, so things can and will change.

Silly regulations? Because all that technical jargon and regulations should be logical to the casual fan? Why have engineers at all then? Please. Even NASCAR which many people consider a redneck dumb sport, is highly technical.

DQ'ing Ricciardo sends the message that if you cheat/don't follow the regulations, there will consequences.

I will check back after next race for a mass exodus.

The cars in the 80's did maximum HP in quail trim. For the race, they were significantly dialed back. Even then, most of them were no where close to 1300 hp. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it the BMW engine that made those astronomical numbers? With a 4 cyl block nonetheless.

Good point .

 

Correct, that was for qualifying where there were few cars on the track at a time and the extra loudness was appreciated. In the race with 24+ cars bunched up at 1000bhp the group sound was like a stampede and ear plugs were needed, not so with 2014 turbos.

BMW was the most powerful, even more than 1300, Honda, Renault, and Ferrari, next in line with Porsche TAG , Hart, Ford, Alfa, and others considerably less. With the advances in tech and materials getting 1300 in race trim today would be easy I imagine, and *****limiting the top gear ratio and engine rpm would cap speed at a fixed number *****, but still allow for maximum acceleration and sound. It's supposed to be racing of the highest order, it should look and sound like it.

Just to add, one year in Montreal I was on the far side of town a good distance from the track early in the morning and I could hear the engines from that distance as they did warm-up laps.

 

I said passion. Passion has nothing to do with the numbers of races you have attended. There are people all over the globe passionate about F1 and it's amazing machinery, screaming in front of their TVs and cranking up the volume to experience the awe of F1.... and they will most likely never attend a race. Passion! You may not know what the term means. Just my opinion, and having not met you I could be way off....but based on your comments...

 

To answer the original question, to me, yes, this might be the beginning of the end if things don't change for the better. With regulations resembling the tax code, plus the lack of innovation and excitement, no way in hell I'll spend my money to see a live F1 race until we get our V8s or V10s back . Heck, might not even justify watching them on TV if things don't get better. Indy Cars seem exciting by comparison now. To each his own, but that's my take.

 

Agreed. The Long Beach Grand Prix is looking better and better!

 

Ah so you haven't been to many GPs I reckon.

Having passion over a sport you only watch on TV is a bit like being a gourmet who only eats tofu. But I'm glad you are lecturing me over the lack of passion.

Maybe you want to come over to my house and take a look at the hundreds of F1 models or books or my collection of F1 seasons on DVD since 1950 (not many people match that outside of Bernie) or maybe you want to read some of the articles I wrote over the years incl numerous front page shots I got.

It is particularly ironic that your passion for F1 is TV based, a medium where the sound of F1 is the hardest element to grasp.

PS: Any idea what my avatar is? A Prost F1 and yes that's me driving it. And that wasn't the first F1 I drove but pls tell me more about that passion thing

 

LOL one thing I have gleaned in my time on here, is that without doubt you have a lot of passion for F1 and know a lot of history about the sport.

 

is this really a discussion? Who is the most passionate about F1?

 

No it isn't.

And you can say many things about me, but questioning my passion for the one and only sport I follow is a bit much.

 

Isn't this whole debate getting a bit out of hand? Has everyone forgotten that F1 is primarily a business? Doesn't everyone know that any long lived and well run profitable business quickly identifies threats and seeks to resolve them before they become life threatening? Give F1 and the FIA to sort the sound issue out. This is most definitely NOT the end of F1, it is just a bump in the road and will soon be sorted. Relax - and breath...

 

+1

And by introducing a new formula they addressed the problem F1 had in the last couple of years: they stopped the predictable RB/Vettel train and made F1 unpredictable once again

And that to me is the most important thing as a fan.

 

I believe that the more passionate fans are the ones having a harder time facing reality here. Its harder to let go of something that you have invested so much time into. I saw F1 going the wrong way a long time ago and it will only get worse. We used to get together to watch races all the time and Im talking guys who were GP fans from the 70s. Back around 2006 2007 season we started to fall asleep watching the races...that told me that we were losing interest.

 

I "invested" 35 years into the sport yet I have no problem with the rule changes. In fact if there hadn't been any drastic changes I'd be a lot more upset: F1 has to stay technically relevant and the forerunner of new automotive technologies otherwise it becomes a dinosaur.
This is nothing new btw. Has been like this since 1950

 

The operative phrase^.
I object that FIA feels the need to interfere with success. If the others cannot compete, tough, move to a lower formula.
Not sad to see RB taken down a notch but they do not deserve it.

 

The rules are the same for everybody. If RB can't produce a turbo car, maybe they should go to a lower formula?

 

Of course they are same, they were before also.
When the rules are changed to upset a certain team's dominance I object. I have no sympathy for players at the top level who can't cut it. Either step up your game or get out, not everybody can play, it's not tee ball.
I have no objection to watching a dominant team crushing the rest, again and again until the others manage to catch up.
I'm just waiting for something really absurd like NASCAR's "lucky dog" rule.
Sorry, you can tell I'm disgusted

 

Yes but the new technologies are being brought in more to limit the competition. Im sure that if one turned loose any of the top teams to produce any type of engine/car they wanted without limitations that they would come up with a car that would blow todays field away. F1 used to be about letting the teams created the fastest car they could. Now its about creating the fastest car they can but "oh here is the anchor you have to attach to your car" Its bs and we (including you) all know it. People like you choose to remain staunch fanatics because that's the way you are. If F1 in 20 years came to the point of solar powered cars, you would probably still be a fan but most wont be and the wagon of fans has been getting lighter and lighter till eventuall IMO this sport will not longer be a sport but more of a scientific event.

 

I guess you haven't seen some of my posts on here I made in the past:

F1 to me looses its appeal once they go
- all electric
- Diesel
- cover the wheels
- close the cockpits

Turbos and less noise isn't a worry to me.

 

Well said! All of us should..........
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