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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2016 13:39:55 GMT
Knowing Ron Dennis and his investment in Alonso, he's more likely to dump Button at the end of the season. Shame really because I think that Button is a more complete driver these days. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 4, 2016 14:31:15 GMT
Agreed!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 4, 2016 15:24:32 GMT
That's the frustration with F1. Jenson could be at the top of his game and be soundly beaten by lesser drivers. When you go for seasons on end with only one car winning it makes a mockery of the sport. It's been a problem many times over decades. They really need to find some for of leveller. As things stand, you need either a series of incidents or crazy weather to see any real prospect of an upset. Even then, it's not always down to a great drive.
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Post by robbiegong on Apr 4, 2016 17:12:38 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Apr 4, 2016 19:10:02 GMT
F1 is essentially a team sport. Often, you'll get one team dominating for a number of years through great design, impeccable implementation and having a fast, reliable driver. Schumacher with Ferrari, Vettel with Red Bull and now Hamilton with Mercedes. It's the way these things go, in cycles. Surely it's still possible to appreciate the technology and the driving? I certainly do.
The only thing I don't appreciate are the promoters sticking their oar in and interfering with the sport.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 0:02:18 GMT
I don't really mind the team sport element, but the driver should still be able to make the difference if I'm to remain interested. Right now F1 seems to have lost its mojo. Surely F1 should be about speed? Drivers repeatedly complain about tyre and fuel saving. I want to see them going flat out, not trying to economise and drive within themselves.
It's not an easy thing to remedy. Cutting edge technology means biggest players will dominate unless there are levellers of some sort. There have been a few attempts at cutting costs to help smaller teams but then they haven't worked. Take limitations on the number of engines. We could end up with potential championship ending penalties at the end of the season. Championships should be decided on the track by racing, not by bureaucracy. Even the fear of penalties leads to cars running with the engine turned down.
We also have the limits on testing and development, this must be the stupidest rule of all. If a big manufacturer like Honda and a major player like McLaren can't catch up when they have two World Champion drivers, then it's clearly a rule that preserves the status quo. One of the saving graces of a season was that a year that started out as a one-team procession could liven up as it went along. Any rules that kill this possibility cannot be good.
For me F1 has become sick to the point of losing its soul. Clearing out Bernie and having some new blood sit down with teams and drivers would be a good start. It doesn't just need a few tweaks, it needs major surgery if it's to become exciting again.
I remember the times when F1 drivers were charismatic Daredevils who lived life on the limit and raced the same way. I'd like to see a return to what made it so compelling. At least some driver aids and radio comms have been restricted. I'd like to see more of that and more pure racing where the driver is actually able to make the difference.
Unless it changes direction the ultimate destination of F1 will be auto-piloted mobile advertising hoardings toddling round saving fuel on dreary Herman Tilke tracks on Sky PPV. Frankly I hope we see a rival to F1. It may be the best way of shaking it out of sleepwalking into irrelevance.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 5, 2016 5:32:53 GMT
I will agree that Bernie needs to be retired, and fast.
However, I still think that drivers make the difference. If they didn't, results would be far more random than they are.
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Post by davidf on Apr 5, 2016 10:40:10 GMT
We are only 2 races in but Lewis is already 17 points behind Rosberg, so is going to have to pull out all the stops. Early days, and there's 21 races this year. Hamilton might see this as a slight setback, but he knows he's got another 19 races to go. A 17 point deficit becomes an 8 point lead if Rosberg crashes out one race and Hamilton wins. Sunday's setback was all Buttarse's fault. Someone I know believes there's some conspiracy going on in the Mercedes team to affect Hamilton's starts in order to give Rosberg a better chance. I'm not usually one for theories like that, but with a top team like Mercedes having two drivers (one who has been world champion three times, twice with them), aren't they going to want a bit of equality between their drivers? Aren't they going to want to give Rosberg a bit of glory and make him feel good too, rather than let him become deflated because he never wins a championship, possibly with him ending up leaving to seek a championship elsewhere? We all know how things go if one of the two top dogs wins all the time...  |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 5, 2016 11:12:29 GMT
I can't see it, personally. I don't think Toto Wolff would be a part of it and Lauda certainly wouldn't.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 17:09:07 GMT
I agree about Lauda but equally I wouldn't put it past Toto, he wants a German Workd Champion so I wouldn't be surprised if he had something up his sleeve.
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Post by pre65 on Apr 5, 2016 21:54:32 GMT
Anyone who thinks F1 is exciting should try watching Moto GP.
I've just watched the last race that was broadcast on ITV4 (Monday 22.00) and it was thrilling.
Try it on catch up and see what you think.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 6, 2016 5:24:16 GMT
I thought the F1 race at Bahrain was thrilling. Everything I was looking for in a race. It's the politics that aren't so impressive at the moment.
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Post by speedysteve on Apr 6, 2016 13:12:34 GMT
I watch all F1 races, motogp, World super and British super bikes as well as some junior formulas. Motogp was in general much more exciting a few years ago. Bring back old style clutches, gear boxes and no anti stall. That would create a lot of unpredictability! Also would bring driver skill out again. I'd even remove rev limiters and have an analogue rev counter with a tell tale red needle for the mechanics to see when the prima donna driver has blown the engine - that would sort the playstation generation out for sure Ain't ever gonna happen as it's old tech... But at the same time they could allow some of Colin Chapman's and others great ideas that the FIA could not accept cos' Ferrari could never have competed with that sort of thing - like dual chassis', down force fans instead of aero (that would allow overtaking without today's silly rear wing push to pass overtake cheats), I'd watch that just for the innovation - oh silly me, I watch already! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 17:04:24 GMT
Vettel is already down to just 4 engines or the remainder of then season. www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/560247/Vettels_Bahrain_engine_issues_cannot_be_fixed/ Stupid, stupid rule: one of many that have been designed to have one result but have actually had the reverse. The idea of limiting engines was meant to create a closer season by stoppng the richer teams from outspending the poorer ones on engines. Instead, it's just reinforcing single-team domination because the team with the advantage doesn't have to drive flat-out. They can preserve engines better and also focus on reliability whilst they have a speed advantage. If it gets towards the end of the season and Vettel has driven his arse off to be in competition for the world championship, we can now look forward to the title being decided by a ten place grid penalty for using a new engine. Bernie, you are a true genius. You may not have many years left on the planet, but at this rate you will at least outlive F1. |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 7, 2016 18:58:18 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 19:19:43 GMT
Yes, but only after Bernie's idea of COMBINING A DRIVER'S TWO BEST LAPS was rejected. Sitting with a calculator adding up times to discover who's on pole? Bernie really has lost the plot. Please go away, Bernie. Right now I'd struggle to think of a less capable replacement, unless EJ steps up |
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Post by MartinT on Apr 7, 2016 20:59:52 GMT
Have you seen Bernie's latest outburst? That drivers should drive and keep their mouths shut.
He has lost the plot. Please, someone, retire him now!
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Post by pre65 on Apr 7, 2016 21:31:41 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 22:09:51 GMT
The last I read, Bernie now favours Flávio Briatore. Personally I can't see that happening. Nor can I see Christian Horner getting the nod. Niki Lauda would probably be accepted by most, but I don't think he would take the job. Jean Todt? He's been mentioned repeatedly. Personally I wouldn't know what to expect from him.
It would be nice to have a former driver. Gerhard Berger? How about an outsider like Jacques Villeneuve? Doubtful but it's fun to speculate and he is a "no limits" kind of guy. F1 needs to return to a focus on pure speed and racing IMO. Anyone who has those interests at heart is fine by me.
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Post by davidf on Apr 8, 2016 21:14:48 GMT
Who, Flávio who was banned from the sport for life? Mind you, in this crazy world, it'd probably happen.
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