mep wrote:
Since a couple of races I changed my opinion. And after Today's race at Silverstone, I think the OWG has failed their job. Both Hamilton and Alonso -two highly talented drivers- couldn't get passed the driving BMW-chicanes. At the beginning of the race Heidfeld had damaged his front wing, lost quite a lot of front end downforce and was about 1.5 seconds slower than Fisichella. Despite all of that, he could easily keep Alonso behind.
It is even worse:
Hamilton was 23,5kg lighter than Kubica and
Alonso was 11,5kg lighter than Heidfeld and he had a damaged wing.
Which is why most teams near the back fuel heavy - if you are going to be stuck behind an endlessly slow car, then one less pit stop leads to lot of track position.
If you fuel light then you have to be very quick and overtake to gain enough time to allow the extra pitstop. We know the McL is not a quick car, so why did they think of using a light fuel load???
Anyway, back to the OP, if Hamilton or Alonso had KERS, they would have easily got past. A mature boost system (KERS or a simple temporary increase in the rev limit) would greatly improved overtaking. Lets say it can only be used once per lap. So you overtake on the pit straight with your boost, and I try to take the position back on the back straight with my boost. The drawback is when both drivers use it at the same time. It would be a bit like scissors-paper-stone!
In truth I think the boost idea is a gimmicky distraction, all we need is less reliance on downforce, and less following turbulance. Further reduce the efficiency of the wings and impose the original intention of the diffuser rule. Ban all sticking out bits between the two wings.
I'd also have a free for all on all passive (non electronic) technology. So mass tuned dampers and more flexible wings are OK, but expensive computer controlled active suspension and adjustable wings are not.