I thought with F1 being the pinnacle of motorsport and the premiere home of speed, power and fast lap times, that the sport should stay fast and loud!
I have been aware of the recent engine downgrading attempts from a V10, to a V8 and regularly reducing the maximum revs an engine is allowed to reach. But next years change to the V6 Turbo engines with a maximum of 15,000RPM is going to be the bane of Formula One I think.
Adding to matters, the introduction of the new formula in 2015, which is looking at a further reduction in aerodynamics is going to be in the final nail in the coffin! I read somewhere last year that F1 lap times are to drop by up to 5 seconds per lap!
I understand that part of the reason for this is a new path for technology in Road Cars, something which I disagree entirely! Formula One is a SPORT where aiming for the fastest to win should be encouraged, driving to the shops for your paper and a pint of milk is not a sport and thus has no place in the F1 world!
Another understandable reason for the reductions and parameters of the new Formula to be introduced is cost-cutting, in an tight squeeze with economy leading to the withdrawal of Honda, BMW and Toyota as teams.
Does anyone share the same thoughts with me that as a sport, Formula One is about to go down the pan?!
I personally want the 2005 season back (but obviously with testing / design & research / fuel management restrictions in order to please the bankers and green police!)
Almost lost faith in the sport!
posted on 23/6/13
gregg rugby
think you are worrying over nothing , unless you go to every race you will not be able to really distinquish the noise from this years v8s to next years turbo engines on the little speakers on your tele ,
as for the cars being a few seconds slower , dont worry about that either as you will never notice the difference and the cars will still be the quickest things on just about any given circuit on the planet --
posted on 23/6/13
I can relate to what you both say about not really noticing the 5second deficit that we will see in lap times, it'd be just like watching the 2010 season between McLaren and Virgin! But I do want to see lap records broken, not just under the current formula, but all-time records!
@martial artist: I will notice the sound difference on my big-ass surround sound speakers that I religiously have ridiculously loud on when I am watching Formula One, it's going to sound more like GP2!
posted on 23/6/13
gregg rugby
dont worry about it -- you will soon get used to the noise of the turbo engines ,
you have to also bare in mind that design restrictions are put in force for safety reasons as well as cost saving ,
if the cars were left unchecked season after season the very sneaky , clever designers would make the cars so incredibly , ridiculously quick until they became a menace on the track endangering not only the drivers but the spectators when they do have an off -
posted on 23/6/13
Though safety is a high priority in any sport, and I wouldn't ask for the "killer years" to return, I think H&S has gone mad if slowing down the cars through the corners has become such a focus of the one of the "worlds fastest vehicles around a track" is really an option to consider!
What about the years 1995-2007? gravel traps, no ridiculously big run offs? The drivers are starting to take advantage of this "put your foot down, if you go wide, oh well" attitude!
posted on 23/6/13
gregg
safety has to be the no 1 concern of the FIA and yes keeping the cornering speeds at a reasonable and manageable level has to be a major consideration and no 1 priority of the governing body if drivers are to be protected from seriously hurting themselves -
lets not forget the high energy impact of kubica"s crash at canada a few years ago and the spa debacle last year , it was down to luck as much as anything else that kubica and alonso were not killed in those 2 incidents ,
as i say reducing the speeds of the cars every now and then can only be a good thing when you take into account those 2 incidents alone and what might have happened had the speeds been greater --
posted on 24/6/13
Merry, the fia couldn't have punished Mercedes as they gave permission for the test. Pirelli was already threatening a law suit and Mercedes would have followed suit.
The FIA have a history for stuff like this
posted on 24/6/13
There are many things happening in F1 that should test the faith of fans but I don't think the 2014 rule changes is one of them.
I read somewhere on this forum that someone (F1 expert?) claimed that all of the 2014 “engines” will have the same level of power. This is not true. The FIA now talk in terms of “Power Units” not engines.
I would recommend people read the following informative article which has been written by someone that at least has sufficient knowledge and credibility to justify the description of “expert” when it comes to F1.
http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2013/01/a-glimpse-in-to-how-f1-will-change-in-2014/
posted on 24/6/13
Great article by James allen. Very informative
posted on 24/6/13
"I will notice the sound difference on my big-ass surround sound speakers..."
(Don't mention hi-fi to ma, there are those of us with long memories. )
posted on 24/6/13
pacific ocean blue
take it you are talking about myself being an audiophile , and yes pacific i also have a long long long long long long long long long long long long long ----------------------------------------------memory
and can remember just about everything i ever said to people on the deceased bbc 606 and who i said it to -
-------------- and that includes you