Here are four ideas, which have been tried in other championships to make racing more entertaining, that don’t belong in F1.
f1 rules articles archive
Luca di Montezemolo is right: F1’s safety car rules are humiliating for the sport
Posted onFerrari’s Luca di Montezemolo was not impressed by the role the safety car had to play in Singapore: When we race on tracks where staging a circus or something else would be better, anything can happen, because the spectacle is supplied by the Safety Car. This is humiliating for F1. Montezemolo may be sore about … Continue reading Luca di Montezemolo is right: F1’s safety car rules are humiliating for the sport
2009 F1 rules make rear wings tiny
Posted onWilliams has tested a version of its car with a rear wing apparently designed to meet the 2009 F1 rules. Becken has pictures of it on his blog and here’s an artists’ impression of how the 2009 F1 cars will look (right, found on the F1Technical forum). I knew from looking at the 2009 F1 … Continue reading 2009 F1 rules make rear wings tiny
Rumours about equalising F1 engines
Posted onAt the British Grand Prix Max Mosley asked the teams to come up with proposals for the future technical rules in F1 from 2011. As ever, one of his stated priorities is reducing expense. The teams are due to present their response by October and have formed a new organisation to do that – FOTA. … Continue reading Rumours about equalising F1 engines
Those Santander trophies are rubbish – and probably break F1’s rules
Comment
Posted onAfter the Italian Grand Prix Todd was unimpressed with the Santander logo trophies that were given to the drivers: F1 trophies I would have thought would be a very special thing, usually events have a very well designed trophy to commemorate the victory, but now – and for the rest of his life – Sebastian … Continue reading Those Santander trophies are rubbish – and probably break F1’s rules
Four of F1’s ‘unwritten rules’
F1 video
Posted onAt the Italian Grand Prix weekend driving standards was a hot topic again – hardly surprising given the furore over Lewis Hamilton’s penalty at Spa, and Monza’s combination of two tight chicanes plus a soaking wet track. With Hamilton’s appeal against his penalty due to be heard on Monday 22nd September it’s a good time … Continue reading Four of F1’s ‘unwritten rules’
Thought the Valencia race was rubbish? Don’t blame the track, blame the rules
Posted onValencia’s first F1 race was not a classic. Looking at the rate the race poll it seems most people thought it was as boring as the Bahrain, Spanish and French Grands Prix. But let’s not jump to conclusions about the track. Circuit designer Hermann Tilke is not to blame for the paucity of action in … Continue reading Thought the Valencia race was rubbish? Don’t blame the track, blame the rules
Will the 2009 F1 rules allow Honda to catch McLaren, Ferrari & the rest?
Posted onNext year will see the biggest change in the technical regulations for some time. It’s certainly the greatest since the grooved tyre/narrow track switch in 1998, and perhaps the largest overhaul of the rules since turbo engines were banned after 1988. In 2009 F1 wing sizes will be reduced, movable front wing flaps allowed, slick … Continue reading Will the 2009 F1 rules allow Honda to catch McLaren, Ferrari & the rest?
Why have the teams formed their own group and what does it mean for F1?
Posted onFormula 1’s ten teams have formed a new group to represent their interests in the sport following a meeting at Ferrari’s Maranello headquarters. It looks like another move in the power games that have been going on between the sport’s regulators (the FIA), the commercial rights holders (FOM) and the teams, which intensified during the … Continue reading Why have the teams formed their own group and what does it mean for F1?
Adjustable wings – a change too far?
Posted onThe 2009 F1 rules are a source of great interest with several radical changes aimed at improving overtaking. Along with bring back slick tyres and reducing wing sizes, teams are expected to be allowed to use adjustable wings. I’m not a fan of the idea. What do you think of it? Cast your vote below…
Bridgestone to widen difference between tyres in 2009 – but how will we know?
Posted onSlick tyres are making their long-awaited return to Formula 1 next year. Drivers and fans have largely welcomed the return of proper racing tyres to F1. The FIA apparently intends to keep the rule requiring teams to use two different compounds per race. But in order to make this more of a challenge Bridgestone plans … Continue reading Bridgestone to widen difference between tyres in 2009 – but how will we know?
Bourdais unhappy with grooved tyres
Posted onWhen we debated Sebastien Bourdais here a few weeks ago there were some reservations about the quality of his performances since he scored on his Grand Prix debut in Australia. The Toro Rosso driver has hinted why he might be having difficulty settling into F1 after five years in Champ Car. He remarked he was … Continue reading Bourdais unhappy with grooved tyres
FIA set to allow tyre warmers in 2009
Posted onThe FIA is expected to back down from its proposed ban on tyre warmers for the 2009 F1 season at the World Motor Sports Council’s meeting on Wednesday. A ban on tyre warmers had been proposed for next year along with the re-introduction of slick tyres. However the FIA is now understood to believe that … Continue reading FIA set to allow tyre warmers in 2009
We are all weathermen now
Posted onWhat has been the biggest talking point on the Live Blogs during the past three races? Plenty has been said about the state of Lewis Hamilton’s driving and Max Mosley’s libido, but I think the most popular question is this: "Is it going to rain?"
Engine rules and the F1 monopoly
Posted onOver at F1 Insight Clive is concerned about possible future F1 engine regulations: The FIA seem to want every engine involved to produce the same amount of power. Where is the logic in that unless what they really want is a spec formula? There are rumours the FIA wants to extend its control over F1 … Continue reading Engine rules and the F1 monopoly
New safety car rules for French GP
Posted onF1 is likely to have a new procedure in place for what drivers are supposed to do in the event of a safety car deployment in time for the next round at Magny-Cours. A trial of the new system will be held before the race. The plan is that, when the safety car is deployed, … Continue reading New safety car rules for French GP
Why do million-dollar F1 drivers keep making mistakes at red lights?
Posted onLewis Hamilton would be best advised to skip today’s newspapers. Unless he wants to read several unfortunate comparisons between his father’s prang in a Porsche last week and his crash with Kimi Raikkonen in the pits (see video here). Hamilton is not the only F1 driver to have messed up at a red light in … Continue reading Why do million-dollar F1 drivers keep making mistakes at red lights?
Tyre warmers set for 2009 ban
Posted onBridgestone is standing firm by its desire to see tyre warmers banned next year despite strong opposition from some teams and drivers. Director of motorsport tyre development Hirohide Hamashima said: Bridgestone has said to the FIA that we have confidence in (producing) a good specification of tyres, in terms of grip and handling, without tyre … Continue reading Tyre warmers set for 2009 ban
The foolishness of crowds
Posted onMark Webber is frustrated that Formula 1’s flawed safety car rules still haven’t been fixed – and he blames the team bosses for it: As far as I know, a solution is being worked on. But there needs to be unanimity and I have heard that some teams want to keep the current rules. I … Continue reading The foolishness of crowds
Video: the safety car rules danger
Posted onThere’s been an excellent discussion in the post on Nick Heidfeld’s misfortune in the Spanish Grand Prix about how the problematic safety car rules might be fixed. Part of the difficulty in finding a solution is how to safely slow down a pack of racing cars when the safety car is deployed. This video shows … Continue reading Video: the safety car rules danger