Formula 1

[Tsakali]

I just started following the sport again...

some questions:

why does Shumacker have lap records that are 3 to 4 seconds faster than anything being ran by todays drivers? Are the cars getting slower because of new regulations?

why do they have to use (super) soft tires? what's up with that rule? everyone seems to hate it...does it promote closer competition?

and why is the point reward system so boring ? I believe they should give points for atleast having the lead for one lap... then another for leading most laps. And why the fuck do they not reward a point for having the fastest lap like they used to?

[Nightshade]

Most of Schumacher's records were set in cars with V10s, more horsepower, more downforce, traction control, etc.
Since Michelin left F1, leaving Bridgestone as the sole supplier, they, not the teams or FIA, have determined which compounds will be used in a given race. They base it on the track surface, etc. They issue so many sets (forget the number) of the Prime (harder compund) and Option (softer) tires. The rule is that the car must run each compound at least once during the race, unless it rains. Usually the cars will get more grip from one compound or the other, so they'll try to run two of the three stints on that tire.
Hey, don't knock the points system. It might be boring, but it's better than that faggoty "medals" system that Bernie wanted to switch to for this season. I do like the way GP2 does it, with a point or two for fast lap of the race. I think that there's room for improving competition there.

I'm a rabid F1 fan and I always will be, but I've been loving MotoGP this year. I think that THAT is the sort of racing that F1 should be shooting for. Right now it's all about qualifying performance, fuel load, and pitstop overtaking. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...

[Tsakali]

exactly this pitstop overtaking business is disheartening.

But to be honnest I am just barking out complaints of which I have no solutions to.
I like the sport but I don't see any clear cut way to make it more competitive...to bring back the excitement.

Different constructors will have diff. ability cars, and then you have the individual driver's skill that goes into play.... and on top of that , these cars are really fast so naturally the speeds involved make for close racing very difficult, atleast at a glance.

I am not familiar with MotoGP so i don't know what improvements it has over F1 racing and if those , would even be applicable to F1 in any effective way.

Anyway thanx for the reply, good info... even though I don't understand why the tire provider would have such say so on the matter of tire usage...

[Don Carlos]

F1 next season will be interesting...

I will post tomorrow properly on why etc

[Mr.Sparkle!]

USF1 team FTW next season? Wonder who will drive for them. I just got into F1 this season as well and I'm interested in DTM but they don't broadcast that here....

[Nightshade]

They're not confirming their driver lineup yet, but IIRC they've stated that they want American drives. Don't know about the likelihood of that happening, I know that Sebastien Loeb's been in contact with them.
I just want to know if they want another American test engineer.

[Mr.Sparkle!]

You think it would be possible for NASCAR drivers to migrate to F1?

[DogMeat]

You think it would be possible for NASCAR drivers to migrate to F1?

It's friggin NASCAR, they drive in circles for hours, of course they can.

[Don Carlos]

There is some bird that is rumoured to be driving for USF1

[Nightshade]

You think it would be possible for NASCAR drivers to migrate to F1?

Drivers are drivers. Jeff Gordon and Whine Pablo Montoilet swapped cars (and bodily fluids, one would assume) a couple years back when WPM was still driving for Sauber BMW. Gordon gave a fairly good accounting of himself in the F1 car, he came within a second of WPM's lap times after a few familiarization laps. WPM did well enough that they offered him a race seat not long after

With the exception of the younger drivers, NASTARD drivers seem to be redneck idiots, and I don't think that they'd be interested in driving in a series where "puttin' 'im inta tha wall" was discouraged.

[+JuggerNaut+]

F1 next season will be interesting...

I will post tomorrow properly on why etc

ok.

[Tsakali]

no shit

[Eraser]

I'm a rabid F1 fan and I always will be, but I've been loving MotoGP this year. I think that THAT is the sort of racing that F1 should be shooting for.

Hear hear