4 ms·

I have a theory that F1 is motorsport for people with no interest in motorsport. You can't possibly watch it for the racing, in a series where 90 minute races r

by mdoms 6y ago

I have a theory that F1 is motorsport for people with no interest in motorsport. You can't possibly watch it for the racing, in a series where 90 minute races routinely end with over 25 seconds between each podium car. Where the fanbase fanatically opposes things like simplified powertrains, simplified aero and control parts, which would all result in far better, closer racing but would (in their minds) erode the prestige of the prototype series. Personally I think prestige comes from winning hard-fought races, not driving a Mercedes to yet another cruising victory. It boggles my mind that people bother, when there are such incredibly close series like MotoGP, GT World Challenge [Europe|Asia|America], V8 Supercars, etc... The only explanation is that the fans simply don't care about the racing itself.

cwaffles 6y ago
IMO F1 is a testing ground for engineers firstly, and a medium for displaying driver skill second.
inamberclad 6y ago
It really is reality TV. I just watch the post-race highlight videos on Youtube.
saberdancer 6y ago
There are plenty of series that do what you ask for yet there are few series that do what F1 does. Fanbase isn't inherently against simplified powertrains (there are many calling for NA engines for example V10s) but they are against spec engines or majority of parts. F1 was always an engineering competition. You can't compare it with GT racing where they BoP all the cars to drive around relatively the same. I disagree with your opinion. F1 racing can be very exciting and interesting, but it is similar to soccer/football, you get periods of boredom mixed with moments of sheer brilliance. Sometimes you get a great race with many moments of sheer brilliance and sometimes it ends with no goals on either side. Just like in soccer, you could "spice things up" by mixing up the players on the teams and making the teams equal, but that is not really the idea behind the sport. F1 is trying to stay relevant, these hybrid engines are here because of that, but the problem is that costs escalated due to the complexity involved. F1 should focus on reducing complexity while allowing innovation, especially in hybrid/EV fields.
rocqua 6y ago
I watch F1 for the drama, the story. It is not a fair battle test of drivers. It is an epic struggle between drivers, teams, manufacturers, and even the F1 organization itself. It would be nice if the racing were closer. Because closer racing means more of a struggle. But taking away the difference between teams would take away more of the narrative. Is Verstappen staying with Red-bull now that Honda is gone? Is replacing Perez with Vettel a good idea. Should it maybe have been Stroll that got replaced? Does Sainz regret his move to Ferrari next year? Will Albon get demoted again, will Gasly get promoted again? Will Williams be stripped for parts and sold now that it is taken over by private equity? Who would win between Hamilton and Verstappen in a fair fight? How good is Russel actually? In a 'fairer' system few to none of the above questions would be as compelling. The last two would even get clear answers, which I think takes much of the fun out of it.
- secondcoming 6y ago
  In my mind you're describing a soap opera.
  - rocqua 6y ago
    In some sense yes, but it is real instead of based on a script. It is actual reality TV without any manufactured drama, and with an actual resistance to manufactured drama.
pmontra 6y ago
> a series where 90 minute races routinely end with over 25 seconds between each podium car That was more true many years ago (80s, 90s). The gaps are closer now. I'm checking the results in the table at the end of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Formula_One_World_Championship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Formula_One_World_Champio... (click on the GP code at the top of the columns) AUT top 5 in 8 seconds STY wide gaps HUN top 3 in 9 seconds GBR 2nd in 5 seconds, wide gaps after them 70A wide gaps ESP very wide gaps BEL 2nd in 8 seconds, wide gaps after them ITA top 6 in 8 seconds TUS top 3 in 8 seconds RUS 2nd in 7 seconds, wide gaps after them The problem is that we usually know who's going to win the championship after 3 or 4 races now. Q. Is Mercedes dominant again this year? A. Yes, except from Ferrari in 2017 and 2018. Q. Is Hamilton getting some competition from his team mate? A. Nope, except from Rosberg especially in 2016.

by mdoms 6y ago

cwaffles 6y ago

IMO F1 is a testing ground for engineers firstly, and a medium for displaying driver skill second.

inamberclad 6y ago

It really is reality TV. I just watch the post-race highlight videos on Youtube.

saberdancer 6y ago

There are plenty of series that do what you ask for yet there are few series that do what F1 does. Fanbase isn't inherently against simplified powertrains (there are many calling for NA engines for example V10s) but they are against spec engines or majority of parts. F1 was always an engineering competition. You can't compare it with GT racing where they BoP all the cars to drive around relatively the same. I disagree with your opinion. F1 racing can be very exciting and interesting, but it is similar to soccer/football, you get periods of boredom mixed with moments of sheer brilliance. Sometimes you get a great race with many moments of sheer brilliance and sometimes it ends with no goals on either side. Just like in soccer, you could "spice things up" by mixing up the players on the teams and making the teams equal, but that is not really the idea behind the sport. F1 is trying to stay relevant, these hybrid engines are here because of that, but the problem is that costs escalated due to the complexity involved. F1 should focus on reducing complexity while allowing innovation, especially in hybrid/EV fields.

rocqua 6y ago

I watch F1 for the drama, the story. It is not a fair battle test of drivers. It is an epic struggle between drivers, teams, manufacturers, and even the F1 organization itself. It would be nice if the racing were closer. Because closer racing means more of a struggle. But taking away the difference between teams would take away more of the narrative. Is Verstappen staying with Red-bull now that Honda is gone? Is replacing Perez with Vettel a good idea. Should it maybe have been Stroll that got replaced? Does Sainz regret his move to Ferrari next year? Will Albon get demoted again, will Gasly get promoted again? Will Williams be stripped for parts and sold now that it is taken over by private equity? Who would win between Hamilton and Verstappen in a fair fight? How good is Russel actually? In a 'fairer' system few to none of the above questions would be as compelling. The last two would even get clear answers, which I think takes much of the fun out of it.

secondcoming 6y ago
In my mind you're describing a soap opera.
- rocqua 6y ago
  In some sense yes, but it is real instead of based on a script. It is actual reality TV without any manufactured drama, and with an actual resistance to manufactured drama.

pmontra 6y ago

> a series where 90 minute races routinely end with over 25 seconds between each podium car That was more true many years ago (80s, 90s). The gaps are closer now. I'm checking the results in the table at the end of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Formula_One_World_Championship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Formula_One_World_Champio... (click on the GP code at the top of the columns) AUT top 5 in 8 seconds STY wide gaps HUN top 3 in 9 seconds GBR 2nd in 5 seconds, wide gaps after them 70A wide gaps ESP very wide gaps BEL 2nd in 8 seconds, wide gaps after them ITA top 6 in 8 seconds TUS top 3 in 8 seconds RUS 2nd in 7 seconds, wide gaps after them The problem is that we usually know who's going to win the championship after 3 or 4 races now. Q. Is Mercedes dominant again this year? A. Yes, except from Ferrari in 2017 and 2018. Q. Is Hamilton getting some competition from his team mate? A. Nope, except from Rosberg especially in 2016.