Radical Changes Coming To F1

[Inferno]

Hey folks, I am a hockey guy but I also enjoy Formula One and I couldn't help but vent on this after reading this article on TSN:

http://www.tsn.ca/auto_racing/story/...headlines_main

A few points, in no particular order...

1)

Ban on refueling.
Possible reduction in race distance or duration (proposal to follow market research).

That is absurd, FI races are short enough as it is and if you cut it any shorter you may as well not even have the race. And no refueling? Is that even possible? If you want a 30-45 minute race then yeah I guess you could stretch it..

2)

Engines will be available to the independent teams for less than €5 million per team per season. These will either come from an independent supplier or be supplied by the manufacturer teams backed by guarantees of continuity. If an independent supplier, the deal will be signed no later than 20 December 2008.
This same engine will continue to be used in 2011 and 2012 (thus no new engine for 2011).

This doesn't seem to leave much room for error. If a team ends up with a crappy engine they're stuck with it for multiple seasons, pretty much keeping them from improving and moving up in the constructors standings and keeping drivers off the podium.

3)

Engine life to be doubled. Each driver will use a maximum of eight engines for the season plus four for testing (thus 20 per team).

I remember when they used to swap engines between qualifying and the race, they rarely used the same engine for any longer than a couple of days. Expect a lot of blown engines to ruin races for drivers unless the manufacturers can find a way to make them even tougher than they need to be now.

4)

Ban on tyre warmers.

Seriously?

5)

Manpower to be reduced by means of a number of measures, including sharing information on tyres and fuel to eliminate the need for "spotters".

I thought this was a team sport with competition to come out on top, not a "let's share our thoughts, feelings, and tire information so we are all even".

That's just a few that irked me, I'm sure if I read deeper into it I could find a bunch more to critique.

I have been an F1 fan for quite some time but I don't think I can watch anymore with these foolish changes. I can understand that they'd want to cut costs in times like these, but destroying the integrity of the sport in the process isn't going to do them any good because if people don't want to pay to go to the events then they still won't make any money.

[ajwest92]

They want to cut costs in this sport when the costs can run nine figures for a two-car team. I can understand the engine durability issue, that needs to be done with, but no refueling? It wouldn't even be worth going to a race (oops, I forgot, there is NO F1 races in North America) to see a glorified sprint race.

BTW, the tire warmers was to heat up the tires Before they were put on the cars during a pit stop. That way they would go full throttle on the first lap out of the pit lane.

I would like to see a few of these changes made, especially the engine durability issue. F1 is becoming a six car race with the other tweleve cars (maybe less) going for two point positions.

[ajwest92]

Read the update, they will cease refueling after 2010 races...that is a definite headstratcher.

Alex