Thread: Impact of Technology Gains on the Excitement of Formula 1

The evolution in engineering and aerodynamics of recent F1 car compared to 30 years ago is amazing.

The question is, did we go forward or backwards when it comes to pure racing and excitement??

Lets hope next year's new regulations will help us a bit back on the right track again!

F1 will never be like it used to be. It used to be very unregulated teams could do anything for an edge, but that was when the driver was still the most important thing. Nowadays the technology can essentially drive the car. In 1992 Nigel Mansell just about only needed to steer the car to win the title.

In the past the cars were the greatest technological marvels in the world, but the driver was still just as important.

Those days are gone forever.

My idea for making F1 more exciting doesn't involve changing the cars much, but rather changing the racing strategy which I think is a major drawback. I'm a big fan of eliminating fuel stops, can still stop for tires, and reintroducing economy runs. Also doing away with Safety Cars whenever possible.

Imagine at the end of a race a driver who has been frivolous with his fuel to build a lead is trying to nurse it home while being caught hand over fist by a driver who saved fuel early on and has fresh tires.

This would hopefully create situations where passing would occur on the track, and later in the races. Right now teams seem only to try overtaking other cars in the pits, rather than on the track unless absolutely necessary. But imagine, it's early the race, the leader is trying to conserve while a driver behind him wants open a quick lead suddenly there is going to be a great battle for the lead, and early the race too.

Originally Posted by Ryan

In the past the cars were the greatest technological marvels in the world, but the driver was still just as important.

Those days are gone forever.

My idea for making F1 more exciting doesn't involve changing the cars much, but rather changing the racing strategy which I think is a major drawback. I'm a big fan of eliminating fuel stops,

I agree with you, the end of refueling it would make impossible for drivers to make their strategy based on pit-stops, they would have to win the race in the track not on a pit lane.

If in this year in F1 the refueling was banned i dont know if it was enough for bring the passes again, i think that a few aerodynamic changes it would be good too.
But the biggest step was already made in my opinion with the end of the traction control and slick tyres back for the next year.

Racing without refueling could be a good thing but wouldn't change very much if they still pitted to change tyres.

The main reasons why overtaking has become so difficult will be solved with next year's new regulations. Reducing the aero-downforce with 50% and increasing the mechanical grip was the biggest issue. I'm not sure if next year the front spoiler can be lowered again to increase the posibility for slipstreaming in faster corners.

They could bring the competition even closer if they restricted the maximum horse power. Teams then could only differ in making the engine more reliable than others and trying to control the power and transfer it on the track as best as possible.

How in the world could you run a race without refueling ? Not possible in the IRL or NASCAR nor would I want it to be. Fuel strategy and pitting is a big part of racing strategy in my opinion.

Cars can only get so many miles per gallon. How would you go about making a race without refueling ? Shorten the race, lean the fuel out all race and go slower, etc ?

That would make it less eventful and less exciting not to mention it wouldnt be good for the fans.

Maybe Im missing something but at the surface, it doesnt sound right or good.

F1 didn't allow refuelling in the mid 80's. Fuel tanks were big enough for the race but yeah, sometimes drivers ran out of fuel. I'm anxious to see what happens in 2009 with aerodynamic rules, rumoured to push the aerodynamics close to where they were in the early 90's. Also the KERS will be interesting and who will use it the best.

Back then they used 3,5 liter V10 engines which needed buckets of fuel when hitting the throttle. With the 2,4 liter engines they use these days it probably would be a good thing to race without refuelling.

After all, most of F1 technology will sooner or later be seen at road cars. Therefore with the fuel crisis these days and the problems with the environment it would be a good idea that teams with the most economic F1 engines could slightly benefit from it.

And why not change the stinking fuel with something cleaner, it's about time if you ask me.

Banning refueling would also make teams search for ways to make their engines more fuel efficient. Which is something that could then be applied to everyday use, that's something F1 has been trying to do for a while, use technologies that have a future in everyday use. Such as the kinetic energy recycling system they are introducing.

FIA President Max Mosley wants Formula One to halve its fuel consumption by 2015.

In a letter to team bosses, a copy of which has been seen by this publication, he said the sport cannot ignore the world's energy problems, claiming that the KERS initiative for 2009 may have convinced some sponsors to stay on the grid.

Also describing teams' spending habits as 'unsustainable', Mosley invited proposals about new rules, including ones that would 'extract more useful energy from less fuel'.

"The target should be a (very challenging) 50 percent reduction from today's levels of fuel consumption by 2015, while maintaining current speeds," he wrote.

Mosley said the proposals should be ready within three months or 'the FIA will itself prepare new rules for 2011'.

Source: GMM