Italian GP 2016 (may contain spoilers)

[Stratman]

The hybrid V6 engines aren't slow, far from it, and in my layman's opinion that's part of the problem. Combined with brakes made from unobtainium, the root cause of F1's processional dullness is the cars are quite simply too fast for the tracks on which they race.

Add in the reliance on aerodynamics which prevent cars following closer than two seconds without severe tyre problems (a whole chapter in itself) and overheating, most straights are too short for realistic overtaking opportunities.

My solution:- reduce aerodynamic downforce and increase braking distances.

Reducing downforce would allow cars to follow closer in higher speed bends as the dirty air would have less effect than it does now, which means they would be closer entering the straight where the increased braking distance would favour driver skill over technology.

 

[whitenemesis]

Current F1 cars are 5-6sec a lap slower than they were 10yrs ago, so to say they are too fast for the circuits doesn't add up.

The over reliance on aerodynamics for grip is the root problem. Next season sees much wider tyres and a return to 'mechanical' grip, hopefully reclaiming those lost seconds.

Coincidentally I was just watching a Youtube video of Jackie Stewart testing the six wheeled Tyrrel. Those were the days, when teams had near free reign to try whatever they thought might give them the edge.

Bring back free development and testing...

 

[bob6600]

Bring back free development and testing...

I agree to an extent. However, it would probably wipe out a few smaller teams

 

[Deleted member 113659]

^^^^ perfect.

I really hope the changes next year help improve things. As said improve mechanical grip and reduce downforce.

Allow teams to freely test then the chances of a car dominating a full season is reduced.

Thing is if we can spot obvious solutions then why can't they?

Sorry, my 'perfect' comment was aimed at Whitenemesis's post. Hehe. Don't want you to think I'm after losing the small teams.

 

[grober]

While in principle in favour of loosening restrictions on F1 , looking back to times when the rules were a bit more open as far as car development was concerned historically there still seems to be periods where one team seems to dominate for several seasons be it Red Bull , Williams, Ferrari or McLaren. Did they truly have a technically superior car or were they just better at adapting their car to whatever rule book was extant at the time? Engine power was certainly one factor but again it seemed that the team that won was the one who most quickly developed the best power plant for any new formula with the rest catching up . Looking back there doesn't seem to have been many truely "open seasons" for some time with the top slots being shared out in turn between a fairly restricted number of teams. Restrictions on development were I believe an ill fated attempt to control team costs. With no restrictions a cynic might say that instead of actually driving racing cars what the rival teams need to do is simply compete by all laying cheques on a table. The one with the biggest cheque wins the championship for that year! In terms of hybrid power altho these are complex powertrains if we adhere to the maxim that "racing improves the breed" that is probably the motoring future for all of us. The hotrodding days [ there ain't no substitute for cubic inches-- A J Foyt ] exciting though they were, are perhaps in the past.

 

[whitenemesis]

Money certainly helps development but one still needs that spark of creativity, allowing more freedom would give the more creative designers the ability to drive performance.

I remember back in the day when Lotus were totally dominant season after season, not because they had the biggest chequebook but because they were the most creative.

Yes, of course money is needed and lots of it but if the engineers and designers were allowed to indulge themselves who knows what 'left-field' innovations would emerge? Instead of squeezing the last mm from the rules, they could leap to entirely new ground..

 

[Stratman]

As we discovered for a couple of races earlier on, the current cars are so complicated they literally cannot be driven to maximum effect without a constant stream of instructions from mission control.

I'm on the horns of a dilemma here: I would not want to stifle innovation but I also want to see real racing. What we have at the moment is too much computer involvment and not enough right boot.

 

[Dryce]

Yes, of course money is needed and lots of it but if the engineers and designers were allowed to indulge themselves who knows what 'left-field' innovations would emerge? Instead of squeezing the last mm from the rules, they could leap to entirely new ground..

We have seen some of this.

(1) Extra brake pedal
(2) Dual diffuser
(3) F-duct

But nothing quite like the 6 wheel Tyrrell or the Lotus ground effect and active suspension.

If you look at motor manufacturers it seems sometimes as if the differences between cars aren't as great as it used to be. Safety rules and the aerodynmics and efficiency govern a lot of what goes on - ie. 'rules'. Eco engines are consolidating on 4 cylinder turbos - whether it be a 1.0 litre Mondeo or a 2.0 litre X5.

I think the same has happened with F1. There is enough money in the sport that everybody homes in on solving the design problems to meet the rules. The cars look the way they do - noses, driver position, layout, high cockpit sides because of safety related rules.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

As already said, money always helps but doesn't necessarily bring sucess. Toyota being a great example. $400m PA budget and they never won a race.

You need the best people, the best teams and the best ideas.

I agree that there's always a dominant team around leaving the others fighting over 2nd place. Look at the Schui years. I personally think they were more mundane than we are experiencing right now.

Look at the race this season where LH & NR crashed. Out on the first lap. That race was a great watch without the mercs.

For me one of the best seasons recently was 2012 with 7 different race winners in the first 7 rounds

Ant.