How to slow F1 cars down for 2008

Odd that the FIA hasn't thought of this, but all this talk of re-inventing F1 in 2008 has made me chuck a random suggestion forward.

If they want to slow the cars down that much, why not extend the race to something like 200 / 220 miles? Makes it more enjoyable for places like Monza, races are generally 1h:30 or less, depending on whether it's raining or not, so why not?

Thoughts / opinions / rants / insults (about this, not about F1 in general ) welcome.


Ready?




GO!!

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i doubt the rulemakers want longer races though, cos it might mess up tv schedules for much more important programmes like Coronation Shite, i mean Street.

they can't afford an extra 10 minutes on the end of the North American and Brazil races to show the press conference, so i can't see them extending the actual race coverage.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2006 09:32PM by Muks_C.

how does that slow the cars down?

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Or they could just say whoever is leading after two hours wins. Doesn't matter how many laps leader has done.

As you say, just a bit of random thinking.

Still, where's the slow down part coming into play here?

Hey how about making the LAST car over the line the winner, Will that slow them down?

Jenson, Jenson, he's our man,
If he can't win it,
Someone else........er can?

how about making the LAST car over the line the winner

Jenson 2008 Champion.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2006 10:31PM by Lex.

lol it appears to be open season on jenson, poor lad!

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Why slow them down? When was the last time an F1 driver was hurt in the car?

All that needs to be addressed in F1 is the aero and the driver aids. Hopefully the slicks will also improve the mechanical grip to allow some closer racing.


vMax.Keiran
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F1 racing is a risk, but many many more people get injured playing football (a non contact sport) than F1. F1 is incredibly safe for what it is and how far it haas come in the last 10 years.

American racing (NASCAR + IRL) has 200 + laps and nearly over 2 hours of racing. I don't see why F1 should have shorter races.

DrDougal Wrote:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> F1 racing is a risk, but many many more people get injured playing
> football (a non contact sport) than F1. F1 is incredibly safe for what
> it is and how far it haas come in the last 10 years.
>
> American racing (NASCAR + IRL) has 200 + laps and nearly over 2 hours
> of racing. I don't see why F1 should have shorter races.


Since when has football been a non contact sport dont you mean basketball?
Decrease the cornering speeds. Get back slicks. remove driver aids. remove @#$%& aero and w00t there we go

in the gp2 race today they were saying ferrari tried the slick gp2 tyres at a test and went to secs faster on them than the current grooved tyres

i thought GP2 raced on grooves :\

keiran Wrote:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Why slow them down? When was the last time an F1 driver was hurt in
> the car?
>
> All that needs to be addressed in F1 is the aero and the driver aids.
> Hopefully the slicks will also improve the mechanical grip to allow
> some closer racing.
>
>
> vMax.Keiran
> Velocity Maximum Simulation Racing
> www.vMaxSR.com
> www.liveforspeed.net


erm... supporsodly villeneuve was hurt in germany and couldnt race in f1 ever again

more seriously the slow schumacher broke his back in indianaopolis 05

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/27/2006 03:32AM by matt3454.

If the guy is concerned about speed then he should not take part in RACING

I don't think slowing the cars down is the solution to the problem, it's only a symptom of the solution; that is, cars which can race closer together, for longer.

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turkey_machine Wrote:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>Odd that the FIA hasn't thought of this, but all this talk of
> re-inventing F1 in 2008 has made me chuck a random suggestion
> forward.
>
> If they want to slow the cars down that much, why not extend the race
> to something like 200 / 220 miles?<<

One effect of that proposal is an immediate benefit in terms of cost for the teams. Extending race distance means the car designs have to be more robust, similar to Nascar, and we might not get the present situation of engines failing after one and a half races. The rest of the car would have to be beefed up too, to handle the extra stress which would be a bonus for spectators as then more cars should last throughout and finish a race. So, longer lasting components would make racing cheaper all round. The smaller teams might not have such an obvious gap in performance and racing as a whole would tighten up all round.

Then again, another method of slowing the cars down is the circuit design. Circuits have been dropped over the years for safety reasons as the speeds climbed beyond safe levels. New circuits addressed the problem, temporarily, but speeds are reaching critical safety levels for some circuits, now. (My opinion, only). But having said that, F1 needs the mix it has now; slow, technical, fast to keep the interest in the sport high.

Sure, you can lock the designs down to one agreed format for all, as in other categories of the sport, but would it have the desired cost/excitement benefits we're used to in F1? Innovation also goes out of the window, R&D budgets cut to the bone with no incentive to produce a new car specification every six months/year. (Graphic design costs go sky high as teams now compete for the most interesting livery)


turkey_machine Wrote:

>
> Thoughts / opinions / rants / insults (about this, not about F1 in
> general ) welcome.

You did ask.... :D

Wheely
>
>

Well chicanes were developed to force drivers to brake earlier for corners but having circuits design with them in mind already is pretty sad, they're thought of as part of the racing design, not for safety. To be honest I believe F1 is very safe, to come out of the car after some crashes those guys have the way they do is nothing short of brilliance in terms of technology/design.

A flat bottom and a basically wingless chassis (front and rear wings, nothing on sidepods or engine cover, just bardgeboards), and nice slicks! And change the brakedisc to something else that isn't so amazingly effective so braking distances are increased.

Yep Guimengo, I'd agree with most of that. Absolutely no winglets is a first step. Reducing the front and rear wings to single element is also good. Not sure about the mini-wings idea at the back and some sort of reduction of turbulence from the rear wheels would aid passing. Scooping of sidepods, or sidepods in general should be outlawed as these little sewing machine engines don't need a lot of cooling. So any main chassis aero effects other than top surface should be removed. Slicks are okay and I wouldn't touch brakes except to bring them closer in line with what's on production cars. Introduction of alternative power sources should be pushed through as fast as possible but that won't be 2008.

Circuits could do with updating. Drivers much prefer a bit of a challenge so Spa is always popular. With that in mind, I'd beef up a few circuits. Suzuka is gone but if it came back I'd put a bit of bite back in 130R. Its too tame for these little cars. Good things are being done at Nurbergring (I agree with sharing the German GP) but more is needed. If Monza stays, I'd get rid of one or two of the chicanes. That would give better passing chances. Switch the French to Paul Ricard for similar reasons. The list goes on but none of that would cause any greater risk and may be safer than frustrated drivers trying Kami-Sato moves to get by. But a lot of track changes might not be possible for '08.

Brian

Nico bites yer tyres!

slicks, ban winglets/flipups, no tc, manual gears, better tracks, like turkey.

like in karting, the cars have outgrown many of the tracks.

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"Trulli was slowing down like he wanted to have a picnic" LOL