So who can claim F1 is (still) boring?

I agree.
I can't beleive some people found the race boring. Button vs Raikkonen, Webber vs Ralf, Webber vs Heidfeld, Webber vs Fisichella, DC and Klien on Barrichello and Raikkonen on Massa. Lots of action!!

Because Renault has won the first 2 GP's some say its boring? Renault have become the team to beat? Alonso's car was working well but not Fisi.
Toyota are improving A LOT and you have Ferrari that might release the F2005 in Bahrain. McLaren can do better and Williams too.
Ferrari are going to be right there with Renault , it's only a matter of time.

 

While I'm usually the first to advocate developing street technology on the track, extended use tires are not street technology -- on performance cars.

The modern generation of summer maximum performance street tires are lucky to get 10K miles of normal driving, much less 200 miles at G-forces like a fighter jet.

Giving up longevity for performance is in the nature of tire compounds. Arbitrary rules aren't going to change that. The tire rules just takes the "maximum performance" out of F1. With billyuns and billyuns of racing venues around the world, "maximum performance" is what makes F1 stand out from the crowd.

 

Firstly, the F2005 isn't going to solve Ferrari's problems unless Bridgestone step up to the plate. Their tyres simply do not last the distance and don't provide enough grip. The aero of the F2005 isn't that different from the F2004M, and with Brawn saying the new car is between 0.5 and 1 second a lap quicker... well the Ferraris are already 1.5 seconds off the pace. In fact alot more than that towards the end of the race; Rubens was lapping in the 1:41's while the front runners were doing 1:36's. Michael was also unable to push during the race, and only scored points as a result of others crashing out.

Rubens retired early because the car had become undrivable, and Michael's qualifying laps were untidy and packed with small slides. There was a closeup shot of Rubens' tyres after the race, and they were absolutely hammered - zero grooves left. There is no question that Bridgestone's tyres are underdeveloped compared with Michelin's, and this problem is currently the archilles heel of the Ferrari team. It's no wonder then that Ferrari are ignoring the complaints of the other teams for doing extra testing... they know if they don't, there won't be sufficient testing mileage of the new package, and especially the Bridgestone tyres, to have a hope in hell of being competitive.

Secondly, I thought it was hilarious how both BAR Hondas blew up within a lap of each other, only 3 laps into the race... with new engines too! Reminded me of the regular engine blowups Sato had early last season.

Button's scathing comments afterwards weren't unexpected. Even I thought he was misguided for wanting to leave BAR after 2004's successes... boy has the team done an about face! It seems like they've taken a step backwards this year as large as the step forward taken last year.

On that note, Toyota this year definately seem to be the BAR of 2004 in terms of improvement... although it helps to have decent drivers.

 

This is 2003 all over again... except instead of McLaren and Williams it is Renault and maybe Toyota.

Fine... there is no need to panic... let us just wait for the F2005.

 

Have to agree 100%. This year is the first time i have watched a whole race with interest in 10 years. Whatever the other teams have done, its great. If the new ferrari puts schumi in the tussle for points so much the better.

It's no longer a schumacher/ferrari lap fest. 2 wide in many corners, now its back to driver skill and action, not domination.

 

I was watching the race on my Tivo, and decided for excitement I would look out the window and watch the snow melt. Hell of a lot more interesting. I am not sure of what peoples definition of racing is but the following to me is not racing:

a. 2 races - 5 lead changes - all during pit stops !
b. No use of slicks
c. Not able to change tires - 12 guys standing around a car looking at the tire pressure does not excite me.
d. constant rule changes that dumb down the sport
e. Qualifying system that no longer has the excitement of the last minute head to head fast laps - remember Senna v Prost, Villeneuve v Schumacher, or Hakkinen v Schumacher!

I watched the NASCAR race this afternoon - 7 lead changes in about 45 minutes. Now I am not a bif fan of oval racing but I am getting tired of watching the snow melt...

 

Amen to e. Let's go back to the way it was several years ago. It certainly did have one sitting on the edge of their seat during the last minutes under green. It was obvious looking at practice the stands in Malaysia were pretty empty; qualifying had a few more folks and the race had perhaps only a slight increase (making this statement based on the area SpeedTV kept showing). Makes me wonder if . . . the ticket costs were really high, if . . . folks may have lost interest with the new qualifying rules, etc. We could always hope that the 12 guys standing around the car when it comes in for fuel are staying sharp for when/if the rules change again! We thought about watching the NASCAR race but opted for the SciFi channel and the Addams Family!

Carol

 

Oh yeah this new "cost cutting" tire rule could be dangerous, especially when the sport is in a tire war. If there was one spec tire supplier it would be safer. The aggregate qualifying times look like they are going to keep drivers who finish at the back in the back for the next few races. Everybody knows the more rubber going on the track the faster the next car will go.

Expect to see Trulli and Alonso at the front for much of the season. Fisi and Rubens will have to struggle to get back up front. But is F1 boring? If you like wheel banging for the lead on the last lap yes it is.

 

If by definition, points earned are what makes F1 exciting, then how was the 2003 season boring? MS won the title by one point at the final race by finishing 8th? The current stem is just as stupid as the current qualifying format, tyre rule and the 1 engine/2 race rule.

 

Button vs. Raikkonen?? Were you watching the same race as the rest of us? Both BAR-Honda cars lost their engines within a lap of each other....3 laps into the race, how exciting was that?

 

Yes the 2003 was a close season ... but the 2002 and 2004 were a real bore. Impressive Ferrari models yes!, but surely even MS was bored.

Anyway I'm looking to the future, this could be a great year again.
Pete

 

Points-wise, yes. However, if you recall correctly, MS won 8 races that year vs. KR won 1, how was that exciting?? To me, the 2000 season was way more exciting as the two lead drivers were close not only in points, but also in race wins during the season (MS vs. MH). But regardless, I still enjoy and love F1, but the dumb-ass rules that FIA are making up during happy hours are making it harder and harder. And yes, I am a Tifosi through and through, world title or not.

 

I don't understand the complaints about the tire rule. As long as there is a level playing field, what is the difference? Benefits that I assume F1 was seeking was - holding down costs and maybe limiting speed a bit. I don't know, I'm not a big follower of the rules games, yada yada. But in the end I like the rule because 1) I don't think races should be decided by who can change a set of tires quickest, and 2) It seems to cause the drivers to elevate driver skills rather than just knowing the stickies will get them anywhere they want to go. I am a Ferrari fan (or I obviously wouldn't be on this site occasionally) but I don't think Ferrari's problem is the tire rule - you should be glad you have something to blame it on. Face it, Renault and others have a strong game plan and great drivers - what did you think they would do with Ferrari domination in the past years - take a nap? I think the race was great due to Ferrari pushing up the bar in the last few years - to everyone's benefit. Now they have to find a way not to get beat at their own game - great challenge and great racing to come.

 

Good points there. The key is that the new rules apply to everyone, so
if you excel , you're doing something right and if you're falling down on
the job , then well .... something is wrong.

It'll be interesting to see how Ferrari will respond to this. A sure test of
resolve, determination and skill ...

If they pull through to come up level or exceed the other teams , then
they're all the stronger for it and it'll get them the respect that they
are sorely lacking now.

As for F1 in general , I don't think that this could have come at a more
opportune moment. F1 is dying slowly , dwindling sponsers + viewers
worldwide , everyone was just waiting for something/someone new to
come along ....

cheers.

 

If you have been watching F1 long enough, you would understand why most of us thinks all these recently new F1 rules are as stupid as it gets. Formula One is about the ultimate speed that both the men and the machines can do. Not too long ago, especially during qualifying, the cars are tuned to the maximum performance with the lowest possible amount of fuel possible. There was no limit to who can go out and qualify first or last, the team/driver decides when to go out and set a fast lap, and yes, if you are not careful, you will be stuck behind a slower car thus ended up further down the grid. It was amazing seeing how the past great drivers gets back on track with barely enough time left to set the fastest lap and takes the pole. The post-qualifying interviews were fun to watch, not the sorry excuse of an interview that we have today, as they are pretty much meaningless. They may as well just skip the interview and go straight to the race. Anyway, with the new tyre regulation, you will actually see less passing, as the drivers will tend to "conserve" their tyres, equipments (mainly the engines) during qualifying and even during the race, especially during the first of the 2 races. When a team is out of the points, they will probably pull into the garage, not just so they can use new engines for the next race (BAR-Honda), but more to "save" the engine until the next round. The dueling of the drivers may now only occur at the very end of the race and maybe not at all, as the current point system does not really reward the winning driver as much. The system instead, rewards drivers that are consistant that comes in either 2nd or 3rd with only 1 or 2 wins during the season. (Case in point, 2003 season, MS has 8 race wins, KR with 1, yet, MS only won the title by 1 point at the end. If you don't think there is a problem with the point system, then you have no clue to what auto-racing is.) One may say what is wrong with being consistant, the problem is, Formula One is about creating the ultimate machine with today's engineering know-how, and with world's fastest drivers in the cockpit to show case what can be done and achieved, hence "Formula One", not Fomula Five, 3000, LMP, IRL etc. As it stands now, it is not the GP of anything, it has now been mutated into an endurance race of "4 hours of Melborn" and the "4 hours of Malaysia". The past greatest drivers such as RA, JMF, JC and AS must be rolling in their graves now seeing Formula One has now become.

 

try to be objective here.

If we all agree , for the sake of argument , that M.Schu is the best
driver that there is on the grid presently , then there is seriously
something WRONG with the team and/or the car.

They seriously miscalculated the strength of the opposition vis the
new rules and found themselves 'bringing a knife to a gunfight'.

well , too bad.

 

It is not so much as if Ferrari wins or not, many of us suffered through those 20 ugly, winless years, but we are still part of the Tifosi. I for one am glad to see how well Renault and Toyota is doing, especially with Toyota. And yes, it is up to Ferrari and its partners to elevate their games to match the others. But at the same time, rules in F1 has to be different, has to innovate, to push the envelop, has to be true to the spirit of F1. I want to see real F1 racing, not this waterdown racing that is only a shell of what it used to be.

 

The new rules were all about stopping Ferrari in my opinion. F1 is supposed to be about the ultimate in racing. No holding back and spending every dollar it takes to win. The new rules on tires are dangerous and it makes the sport boring. It is suppose to be about hanging it out on the edge every lap at the fastest speeds possible. This is not the ultimate in racing any longer and it is not F1 anymore my friends. If this is the path that F1 is going, they matter as well just make every car the same, same tires, same engines, same horse power, and make it a drivers race,

 

Looks like you missed the first 3 laps of the race. Button overtook Kimi and then right after JB engine went kaboom.

Button comments after the race:
"It goes without saying that I'm incredibly disappointed and frustrated. I felt I was one of the quickest cars on the circuit - our pace was so strong that I was easily able to take the Red Bull cars and then get close enough to Raikkonen to pass him. In light of how our strategy would have played out versus the competition we've let ourselves down today. I'm disappointed for myself, for Anthony in his first race for us and also the team who've worked so hard all weekend in extremely tough conditions. We have to sort this out in time for Bahrain."

 

I must admit that I think this season has been extremely boring to this point. Ferrari on the podium or not (in fact, I really enjoy watching Renault succeed) there just isn't enough going on during the race to keep me interested.
Give me back REAL pitstops! The two-race engine rule is ok with me (even though it took out Button, one of favorite drivers)

 

I guess Ferrari not being a contender is an issue but the race itself and the format for qualifying have been pretty exciting all around. I liked what I saw this past weekend.