Simpler Cars

[davidbuckden]

I am new to this forum so forgive me please if this topic has previously been done to death, but don’t you think Formula 1 would be far better with simplified technology? Things which I find especially counterproductive to a good technology/driver balance include: telemetry; car to pit radio; over-complex rules; severely restricted testing; automatic transmissions.

An example of the rules complexity is the fix we’ve been in of late over team orders – this has always been a team sport and there should be no restrictions on how a team chooses to direct its drivers.

As for overtaking, why so much deliberation over the past few years and so few positive outcomes? Simpler cars, where, e.g. driver has, (with good co-ordination), to operate a clutch with the foot and change gear with a hand, as well as greatly reduced aerodynamic wake effects would surely help and support the quest for smaller budgets.

This was a good season, and Vettel a very worthy champion, but the underlying strength of Formula 1 needs attention. The formula proposals for 2013 are very unappetising!

[gridwalker]

Personally, I believe that F1 should feature the most technologically advanced racing cars in the world : the more complex and exotic the better.

Naturally, that is pretty much impossible in the current economic climate, but we can all dream, right?

[Formula None]

Sounds like Formula Ford on steroids is what you want, which would be very entertaining. The cars might look like modern day 60s era pre-wing awesomeness. Package it as Formula Retro, get a hopped up new Mini as pace car, call it a day.

[Tamburello]

Personally, I believe that F1 should feature the most technologically advanced racing cars in the world : the more complex and exotic the better.

Naturally, that is pretty much impossible in the current economic climate, but we can all dream, right?

Wait a minute, if F1 cars are not the most technologically advanced racing cars in the world, what are then and can I have refund for the last 25 odd years of following this ersatz series?

[Jersey Tom]

Simple does not necessarily = cheap. Just means spending the same amount of money trying to squeeze the last drop out of performance out of a different technology.

[multisync]

Personally, I believe that F1 should feature the most technologically advanced racing cars in the world : the more complex and exotic the better.

Naturally, that is pretty much impossible in the current economic climate, but we can all dream, right?

Wait a minute, if F1 cars are not the most technologically advanced racing cars in the world, what are then and can I have refund for the last 25 odd years of following this ersatz series?

I remember reading some 20 years ago an article written by the late great LJK Setright that the then latest Citroen was more advanced than the currect F1 cars due to the regulators constantly banning progressive technologies (he was talking specifically about active ride)

Nothing has changed and in fact got worse as whenever a real breakthrough happens it's banned almost immediately

F1 is less about able minds and more about able bank balance

[agip]

Porsche boss plays down F1 foray likelihood

Porsche's new boss has played down speculation the marque might soon enter Formula One.

In October, Matthias Mueller sparked the rumours by saying Volkswagen brands including Audi and Porsche would have a "round-table" to contemplate a F1 foray.

Porsche's research and development boss Wolfgang Durheimer then said Porsche "can afford" to enter Formula One "with its own team".

But in a new interview with Germany's Westfalen Blatt newspaper, chief executive Mueller is now playing down that possibility.

"Formula one is a drivers' world championship, with the focus on the sponsors and the manufacturers only secondary", he said.

"For us, this is a clear drawback.

Porsche boss plays down F1 foray likelihood

"The second drawback for such a long-term investment is the unclear rules for the future.

"But if the VW Group was interested, then Porsche would surely be the brand that would work best for this," added Mueller.

After forays in the 50s and 60s, German marque Porsche supplied engines to McLaren in the 80s. Its most recent F1 project was the failed collaboration in 1991 with Arrows.

[Tim.Wright]

Simple does not necessarily = cheap. Just means spending the same amount of money trying to squeeze the last drop out of performance out of a different technology.

Exactly, take a look at NASCAR for example and see how much money can be used to develop different vehicles which are almost all identical.

David, I appreciate a simple answer as much as everyone but the honest truth is there is no simple answer to the complicated requirements of a good F1 race.

In fact if you restrict all the things you proposed "telemetry; car to pit radio; over-complex rules; severely restricted testing; automatic transmissions" you will end up with entertaining races which run (for example) 15-20 seconds a lap slower than the support GP2 series in extremely uninspiring cars.

No-one will want to be a part of that.

Tim

[rfs]

As for overtaking, why so much deliberation over the past few years and so few positive outcomes? Simpler cars, where, e.g. driver has, (with good co-ordination), to operate a clutch with the foot and change gear with a hand, as well as greatly reduced aerodynamic wake effects would surely help and support the quest for smaller budgets.

I don't think bringing back old technology would change the overtaking situation. I've watched a few races from the 80s with manual gearboxed cars, and they weren't that much better (if at all) than what we watch now IMO. Besides, the semiauto gearbox has been in F1 for over 20 years and almost all high-performance sports cars use them now. There's not much use going back.

[Formula None]

It all falls short of the chariot races I used to watch as a boy. 1 horsepower, 30mph at full trot, no brakes, manual reigns, oat fueled active exhaust, those were the days.