A crisis meeting in the cards?

[myurr]

I hope it doesn't turn into a fuel conserving snooze fest. It will kill what remains of F1.

You mean the tyre-saving snoozefest from the last couple of years was more interesting and F1-like?

Or the refuelling years where most of the overtaking was done in the pits? F1 has always had it's strategy side, and all the teams will be trying to find the fastest way to the flag. If that means Mercedes push hard for most of the race but then have to cruise for a bit whereas Ferrari or Renault can push all the way leading to similar overall time to complete the race, for example, then that would still be very exciting to watch.

[CHT]

Or the refuelling years where most of the overtaking was done in the pits? F1 has always had it's strategy side, and all the teams will be trying to find the fastest way to the flag. If that means Mercedes push hard for most of the race but then have to cruise for a bit whereas Ferrari or Renault can push all the way leading to similar overall time to complete the race, for example, then that would still be very exciting to watch.

Refueling, tyre change are events which can be seen on TV, for fuel consumption strategy?? I am pretty sure everyone watching the race will be clueless unless FIA post live information fuel tank reading on screen.

Imaging watching your favourite driver leading the race and then in the last 10 laps, he lose his position because he has to slow down by 1 to 2 sec per lap just to complete the race.. How is that going to be interesting?

[Vettel Maggot]

I hope it doesn't turn into a fuel conserving snooze fest. It will kill what remains of F1.

You mean the tyre-saving snoozefest from the last couple of years was more interesting and F1-like?

Or the refuelling years where most of the overtaking was done in the pits? F1 has always had it's strategy side, and all the teams will be trying to find the fastest way to the flag. If that means Mercedes push hard for most of the race but then have to cruise for a bit whereas Ferrari or Renault can push all the way leading to similar overall time to complete the race, for example, then that would still be very exciting to watch.

At least they were flat out most of the race. Schumi used to string together a few qualifying laps before he would pit. That was actually good to watch.

Cruising is not F1. I hated the tyre saving races too.

[FoxHound]

Imaging watching your favourite driver leading the race and then in the last 10 laps, he lose his position because he has to slow down by 1 to 2 sec per lap just to complete the race.. How is that going to be interesting?

Even in the V10 days cars would not be on the limit all the time, It's just another discipline that needs mastering.
Everyone gets a 100kg's of fuel so if someone has has been using it prudently in the early stages of the race then the latter stage becomes the sprint.
Or, some teams will bolt early and save later....others will have a fuel save stage in the middle.

Team will eventually converge into similar strategies but not initially. And as we go forward there is huge scope to use ERS to not just be a power addition....but a fuel saver. And you can be sure that the three suppliers will have different requirements, even from race to race we could see a big swing in which package will be best suited to specific track layouts.

I'd rather have this than cars with decomposing tyres. At least there is a choice for teams here, and it opens up multiple stratagems.
I for one applaud this, as I doubt we will see the boring rubbish of the last 4 years where a crushing car advantage leaves the rest of the grid squabbling for left overs.
Let's see how it pans out at least.

[CHT]

During the V10 era or even the V8, backing off during the race are mostly done by choice or due to race strategy, but now we are talking about back off out of necessity due to uncertainty about finishing the race.

Personally I do not share the excitement you are talking about because there is nothing exciting when drivers are constantly limited by the supply of their fuel on board and the race to victory is about saving fuel instead of instead of being the fastest around the track.

And I also believe all the excitement and novelty of not seeing RBR winning could quickly be replaced by predictability and boredom due to outright dominance of certain team(s) with a particular engine.

[myurr]

During the V10 era or even the V8, backing off during the race are mostly done by choice or due to race strategy, but now we are talking about back off out of necessity due to uncertainty about finishing the race.

Personally I do not share the excitement you are talking about because there is nothing exciting when drivers are constantly limited by the supply of their fuel on board and the race to victory is about saving fuel instead of instead of being the fastest around the track.

And I also believe all the excitement and novelty of not seeing RBR winning could quickly be replaced by predictability and boredom due to outright dominance of certain team(s) with a particular engine.

Drivers have always been limited by tyres or fuel. The weight penalty is great enough that it has always been quicker to turn the engine down a degree in the race for at least some of the time. And tyres have always needed management to a greater or lesser degree.

There was also nothing more boring to watch than two cars enter the fuel stop window following each other without any attempt to overtake, have one car do a lap or two more, and then have them exit that window in a different order. Doesn't matter if it's visible if it actively discourages drivers from racing each other on track.

Think of it this way instead. All the drivers are going to be energy limited with the same ration given to each. Efficiency differences between the cars, especially when the season settles down, will be measured in fractions of a percent. So overall they'll have the same amount of energy and efficiency, it's up to each team and driver how they use that energy to get to the flag as quickly as possible and in the best position possible. But it will be a live situation where they will be reacting and adjusting to the strategies being employed around them, driving around the car, managing any issues, and yes managing fuel and tyres just like they have always done.

At least this year the cars look more difficult to drive so the on track racing should be closer and harder fought with driver mistakes being involved rather than just measuring who has the better aero package or relying on DRS alone.

[CHT]

Looking at those.comments from fans who attended the race I don't think it will take long for the impact to be felt around the globe.

http://www.planetf1.com/driver/18227/92 ... ace-Walker

Beside noise the effectiveness of drs has also diminished as a result of bigger ers which driver can use to defend their position.

Will be interesting to see what happen at sepang

[stephenwh]

I find Ron Walkers statements to be ridiculous. I seriously doubt anything he is predicting is going to happen over the sound of the engines...F1 is a lot more than just sound, the whole thing is just silly...the engines are a lot quieter because of the formula, and with all the investment in the new engines, you can't just say..."oh sorry, nevermind.." there is too much investment; including from Honda. I predict not a thing will come from this.

[Vettel Maggot]

I think Mr Walker needs to step aside and hand the race back to Adelaide if its really that terrible.

[mantaque]

Just because engine manufacturers put silly amounts of money in engine and whole ERS development it doesn't mean V6+turbo with low revs is a good idea. In my opinion it's sick, that despite engines can rev up to 15,000 rpm they do hardly at 11,500 because of fuel save and limited amounts of engines, gearboxes, etc. Of course changes won't happen this season, too much money is involved, but when fans turn their backs on the Formula 1, things may change rapidly fast. Formula 1 was always bussiness first, now more than ever, and if they won't get enough money, interest and prestige from it, it will have to change.

[Cam]

Perception is probably the biggest thing the FIA and FOM have underestimated. Whether or not the cars are better, safer, faster, easier to drive, harder to drive - is almost besides the point. It's what the fans take away. The way F1 is 'sold'.

A child in plane smiles with joy knowing he's flying - when in reality he's in a 20 cent ride at the local shopping mall.

[stephenwh]

From what I recall the formula was supposed to be a 4 cylinder turbo anyway, which I would assume would be higher revving than the V6 in order to get the horsepower figures and laptimes they would want, so in theory Ron Walker is not even right to blame Todt for "destroying the sport Bernie built" - they need to blame Ferrari, they where the ones who threatened to quit over 4 cylinder engines...for all we know the 4 cylinder proposal would have sounded great...

That is the irony here for me, the FIA had to compromise with petulant Ferrari to even get us to this engine through, and now people are upset at the results...

[bhall]

The four-cylinder engines would have been limited to 12,000 RPM. Not that it matters, because it's the turbo that muffles the exhaust note.

[mantaque]

Exactly, I think he should thank Ferrari for that threat. In case of noise, no wonder V8 Supercars is really popular racing series there in Australia.

[CHT]

Exactly, I think he should thank Ferrari for that threat. In case of noise, no wonder V8 Supercars is really popular racing series there in Australia.

For petrol head, all kind of motor racing is interest, its only a matter of how much you are willing to pay to watch them.