The more seasons I watch the more I see rules honing in on technology such that technical achievement is becoming more of a minor advantage, and compromised in delivering results - if it can stand up to competitor challenges.
This has got to the point where the regulations are now creating the defining factors in order to regain the racing excitement that differentiation used to provide. The likes of KERs and DRS are prime examples where the FIA have tried to create an impression of the excitement we used to enjoy.
A couple of years in to these new "features" and I feel that they no longer materially impact drivers racing one another owing to teams understanding their impact and use, so they are fast becoming as irrelevant as the technology that was driven by excellence and are probably little more than a credible alternative to the Blue Flag.
There's than one problem as a result of this homogenisation. F1 is not an environmentally friendly sport. This is true on a stand alone basis, but if racing technology can cause a minor gain in road cars the environmental basis of the sport could easily be justified. F1 is very expensive, and if each 1/100th of a second is gained through an ever increasing exactitude there's a danger that the core excellence of the sport will be priced out. Cars can't overtake easily. No shit sherlock! If you have 24 of the best drivers in the world driving the same car at the same circuits for nine months of the year, you will need a mistake or an exceptional level of inspiration to generate a pass.
So, where do we go?
For my part I have one rule change I desire. Set the rules, as they are, tougher/looser, whatever, but have two levels of restriction on the various areas of the car. Each team announces at the start of the season which three areas where they wish to exploit the more relaxed rules and develop further. They must stick to these selections for the season.
This will encourage design excellence, differentiation in the relative performance of the cars at different venues and different conditions, and, most importantly, give F1 a chance to demonstrate where their designers can take them.
What are your thoughts?
This has got to the point where the regulations are now creating the defining factors in order to regain the racing excitement that differentiation used to provide. The likes of KERs and DRS are prime examples where the FIA have tried to create an impression of the excitement we used to enjoy.
A couple of years in to these new "features" and I feel that they no longer materially impact drivers racing one another owing to teams understanding their impact and use, so they are fast becoming as irrelevant as the technology that was driven by excellence and are probably little more than a credible alternative to the Blue Flag.
There's than one problem as a result of this homogenisation. F1 is not an environmentally friendly sport. This is true on a stand alone basis, but if racing technology can cause a minor gain in road cars the environmental basis of the sport could easily be justified. F1 is very expensive, and if each 1/100th of a second is gained through an ever increasing exactitude there's a danger that the core excellence of the sport will be priced out. Cars can't overtake easily. No shit sherlock! If you have 24 of the best drivers in the world driving the same car at the same circuits for nine months of the year, you will need a mistake or an exceptional level of inspiration to generate a pass.
So, where do we go?
For my part I have one rule change I desire. Set the rules, as they are, tougher/looser, whatever, but have two levels of restriction on the various areas of the car. Each team announces at the start of the season which three areas where they wish to exploit the more relaxed rules and develop further. They must stick to these selections for the season.
This will encourage design excellence, differentiation in the relative performance of the cars at different venues and different conditions, and, most importantly, give F1 a chance to demonstrate where their designers can take them.
What are your thoughts?