A massive problem with current f1

"Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls" (internerdstuff)
04/06/2014 at 22:34 • Filed to: None

Because development isnt allowed after pre season testing the not so fast engines are damned to losing for eternity*.How the hell is that fair?

*i dont know the rules exactly.someone please explain them!

DISCUSSION (9)

For Sweden > Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls
04/06/2014 at 22:38

I think the engine manufacturers can improve efficiency, but not performance. I don't know how that would be enforced.

Icemanmaybeirunoutofthetalents > Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls
04/06/2014 at 22:38

Homologation is done so that companies/teams don't spend millions and millions developing their engines throughout multiple seasons and bankrupt themselves. So they're given a date and their designs submitted on that date is the design they get to race until the next change in regulations. This is an agreed upon practice for many things on the car to keep costs under check. Its perfectly fair. If you don't design a good enough engine, you lose. Simple as that. Once fixed, the only changes you're allowed are for cost and reliability.

Corey CC97, MAZDA DPI IS STILL BAE JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV JOESTACTIV VISIT FLORIDA RACING LIVES FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS > Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls
04/06/2014 at 22:41

Here's how we fix F1: bring back the V12s and put 12 turbos on them (one per cylinder). Why? Because racecar.

ttyymmnn > Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls
04/06/2014 at 22:42

I am in no way an F1 boffin, but Mercedes' significant advantage is gained through an engine design that no other team can replicate because the engine designs are basically locked for the year. Beyond that, the cars would have to be completely redesigned to accommodate a different power plant.

Merkin Muffley > Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls
04/06/2014 at 23:32

they can homologate changed engines for 'efficiency or reliability' reasons. Basically, they can re-homologate when they have a better powerplant.

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls
04/06/2014 at 23:55

That's a massive problem for sure. Combine the wanted lack of development during the season with the dramatically improved reliability over the last two decades or so, and you have a team that found the right formula and will dominate a season. This inevitably leads to bitching and moaning because one driver will be winning "everything". It's worsened by the fact that the tires are being delivered by Pirelli alone. When there were at least two manufacturers there was the question of which tire was best at each circuit and different weather conditions. This sport has the possibility to be great, but instead it's frustrating and annoying.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer
04/07/2014 at 05:43

Allowing increased development during the season is no guarantee that someone won't dominate. It may well be that any developments the other teams make is matched by the team out front.

The single tyre manufacturer is again to limit costs. Tyre manufacturers were spending colossal amounts of money, to the point that it was difficult to justify their involvement in F1. Plus you wouldn't have tyre strategies like you do now, and it's unlikely you'd have pitstops. I reckon someone would make a tyre that can last all race and that would be that.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Ron Calls on his years of experience....and freezes at the controls
04/07/2014 at 05:51

What's fair got to do with it? It's a cut-throat sport and Renault fucked up.

I'd like to see them up front duking it out with the Mercedes cars, but if you make an exception for Renault and Ferrari then you'd have to allow Mercedes to keep developing too. All that would end up in is colossal spending on engine development until no-one can afford to get into the game any more.

This article has some interesting points about it, but I don't know if they've actually gone anywhere: http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/2014/02/feb-28…

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
04/07/2014 at 07:46

I can't really disagree because you are absolutely right.

And there were always dominating teams in the past - development during the season or not, that's the nature of the sport. Let's put it this way:

I feel - there are no solid facts and I definetely can't speak for anyone of you - uneasy with an imposed development restriction. Ridiculous amounts of money and competition on all levels (so including tires) were always a factor in F1. Isn't it part of the appeal to see the technically best possible car - within the current rules - on the track? Now it feels artificially restrained and a Team can be stuck with pre-season problems.

And no, I'm not a romantic who wants the 80's or 12 cylinders back. "Just" give me engineering ingenuity.