[Bazil]

All,

Before I start, I should make it clear that this isn't me trying to wind up the forum and cause havoc from within, I'm being absolutely serious - so please don't crucify me!!

On with the issue... Question is this:

Do you really, really find Formula 1 interesting to watch?

When I think about what F1 is about, it should be one of the most exciting sports in the world:

You have young guys, of skill and bravery almost beyond comprehension. (I've driven a Formula Palmer Audi on the track. To your average Joe, it's an F1 car - wings, slicks etc. Even on my bravest day I'd be miles off the pace, so I'd never knock the skill/bravery of F1 drivers).

They're driving cars with performance that I genuinely cannot imagine. (You look at the performance figures, and they make everything look slow - unless you're a drag racer).

The cars are so full of technical and design genius that they can rightly be called the premier class.

It really should be exciting/interesting.

But I find it stultifyingly boring to watch. It wasn't always that way, I used to love it. I deeply wish I didn't find it so dull, as I love to watch virtually any sport, and I'm an absolute car nut - always have been.

I'm not denying that some races have interesting moments - the odd crash, the odd brave piece of overtaking - but add them up and you rarely have more than 30 seconds of real "action" in a race.

Am I the only one? I'd love someone to tell me what they find interesting about F1. Maybe I'm missing something these days!!!

Maybe I should get excited about the court cases, the appeals against everything. But I can't get excited about watching race after race that's won by a combination of qualifying and pit stop strategy.

I await the debate!!

Bazil

 

[justynb]

Maybe we should return to the days where the drivers lined up at one side of the track then ran over to their cars and jumped in before racing off.

F1 can be too scientific these days, there is too much emphasis on the setup of the car, the size and angle of the spoilers etc etc etc.

What we need is a return to the days where it was true driver skill that won the race and not the advantage offered by having a tyre 1mm narrower than your competitor.

BTW, my Wife's Father works for Maclaren and he gave me a guided tour of the factory once. Very interesting!

Justyn.

 

[360 Spyder]

My opinion, and this is just my opinion, is that racing in general has become more of a political object. I say that due to these facts...
Whoever has the better sponser gets more money.
More money means better parts/people/equipment.
Better parts/people/equipment means better track position.
Better track postition means better chance at a win.
More wins means better sponsers.
Thus the circle begins again.
I know NASCAR is not F1 racing, but when those guys started racing on the beaches...they did not have all these computers and technical monitoring stuff. They built a car the way they thought best then went out and raced it. Yes racing is still that in a way as far as they build a car they way they think best, but they have computers and such telling them whats best; no human intuition.
All in all, I still do enjoy watching a race on Saturday when the oppertunity affords itself, but I enjoy watching the classic races aired on Speed Channel a lot more!
That's just my opinion...next :wink:

 

[Andrew]

Everything spoke in this post is truth. F1 is very boring in my opinion. I haven't seen an auto race in sometime being here in Japan but I do remember watching CART and loving it. There was more action. I know IRL is now the more popular of the two. I also agree that F1 should be able to bury these others because it is more international than any of the other circuits. I think the solution to F1 is to level the playing field and possibly add some more cars to the track.

 

[Dane]

This is a fantastic subject and I am pleased it has been brought to light. Yes, today's F1 can be a bit dull, especially at a circuit like Catalunya. I think the new qualifying format has improved it dramatically. But, I think measures such as grooving the tires and launch control have taken a bit away.

Without a doubt, F1 is mind boggling in person. I am leaving for Indy tomorrow and am so excited about my fifth Grands Prix. However, I enjoy NFL football on television more than F1.

I think CART racing is where F1 was about ten years ago. The days of Mansell, Senna, Piquet, Villeneuve and even Berger were some of the best. The driver was in direct control of the car; high-tech gadgets had yet to have taken control. No doubt, today's F1 car is the most difficult to handle and with which to compete; there are reason's that people such as Zanardi could not do well in F1.

The worst thing that could happen to F1 would be for Ferrari to leave; it'll never happen and I will say 'never.'

Like I said, I cannot wait to hear the V10's fire and see those beauties weave through Indy. It truly is spectacular in person.

Forza,

Dane

 

[Dane]

Let me clarify my statement about CART. I mean to state the racing of today's CART was like that of F1 of old; tight, close racing where nearly anyone could win on any given Sunday. Thanks!

Forza,

Dane

 

[Stradale]

We can't say the races this year has been boring. I don't like qualifying but the races have been exciting.

F1 is business and sports. Business because the teams need big time sponsors to get the kind of budget to keep them in front in their developments. Tha's how it has turned out and it's just too bad that F1 doesn't fit into the "ideal motor racing" category. There is no perfect formula in motor racing.

 

[Bazil]

Stradale,

Please, please tell me what's been exciting about them?

Take yesterdays race, that's fresh in the mind - what was exciting about that? As I said in the original post - I'm not anti F1 - I'm a car nut. I used to LOVE F1.

If you found yesterdays race exciting, I must have been watching a different USA F1 race!! Maybe there are 2? The one I was watching was the usual dull procession - finishing, as normal, with no car in the top ten closer than 10 seconds away from the car in front or behind it.

Please don't tell me you find THAT exciting, or I'll really have to feel sorry for you

Bazil

 

[Stradale]

Basil, what do you expect? A race where the safety car comes out every 10 laps? And get a full course yellow every 5 laps. If that's what you want to see then watch IRL or CART or NASCAR. That's the way the races are run. But if you watch F1 and expect to see CART or IRL then you'll be sadly disappointed.

Watch it for what it is. Don't watch it and expect it to be something that it is not. I used to attend the BTCC races very time I had the opportunity when I travel to England and I love the fender bending and the close racing. I love to see DTM now for the same reason.

But F1 cannot be like that. Drivers cannot get too close or they'll end in disaster. Look at waht happened to Montoya and Rubens. It's exciting to see but disasterous for the drivers. So don't expect them top take unnecessary risks for the sake of the viewers.

 

[ForzaRossa]

I'm with Stradale!

F1 isn't like CART, but it is, at least for the last few races and in the Championship, very exciting.
For example, the last race (USA): When you look at Michael, you see him start as seventh, after the start he was third, then he was overtaken by three drivers and he was sixth...again a few laps later he was first, later, after the pitstops he was again sixth, third and finaly he became first.
There were some leaders of the race you don't usually expect, like Frentzen...so I thought it was very nice to watch!
Also...the race went on during the rain...you don't see that happen in the CART or NASCAR...
So for me it's still: FORMULA ONE STILL NUMBER ONE!!!!!!

:green:

 

[Bazil]

I think we'll have to agree to differ on this - which is fine, as I accept that we all watch it for different reasons, and probably get different things out of watching it.

I don't know how many of you follow the Motorcycle racing, but the one's that do will know why I say that that really IS exciting.

As per my original post, however, I can't help feeling it's a shame that it's so damned dull, when the constituent elements say it should be such a spectacle.

Bazil

 

[Dane]

I just returned from the USGP, my fifth overall GP; what an experience but I'll post more with a new topic.

The race was exciting, no doubt. The rain, the weather uncertainties and the mix-up in the starting grid. Yes, Michael finished well ahead of Kimi but that just doesn't make it boring to me.

Racing is like art. It is all in the eye of the beholder. Some like it, some do not. Me? I love it. I think it is futile to try and talk another out of their likes and dislikes.


Forza,

Dane

 

[Bazil]

Dane,

I honestly think you misunderstand me.

I'm not trying to talk anyone out of their interest in F1 - I'm just genuinely interested in what people find exciting about it these days.

As I said - "I accept that we all watch it for different reasons, and probably get different things out of watching it."

I'd love to find it as interesting as I used to - but I simply don't. I actually envy those of you who do find it interesting.

You said "Michael finished well ahead of Kimi but that just doesn't make it boring to me" - and that's a good example of my point. If you find that exciting - fantastic. To me, I guess racing is more about "close racing" and if it's not close (and it's very rare that it is) I may as well be watching qualifying. Qualifying is certainly interesting - but it's hardly exciting to me!!

So please don't think I'm trying to influence anyone on the topic - I'm just curious as to how people view it, and what they find exciting about it.

Regards,

Bazil

 

[Dane]

Bazil,

Please know that I never meant to say directly that you were trying to convince anyone of your view of F1! I was trying to say it in a more general sense.

I love Formula One primarily because of the shear sex appeal, technology and speed of the cars. I like the fact they run in the rain, globe trot and do more than just go around in a circle, like NASCAR or IRL. Plus, seeing and hearing these boys in person is out of this world.

To follow-up my comment about NASCAR and IRL: That is just my opinion and I choose not to watch those events. Still, there are millions that are fanatical about each series.

Though I certainly respect your opinion of F1, I just happen to have a different one that keeps bringing me back for more!

Good topic.

Forza,

Dane

 

[Pete04222]

I love Formula One primarily because of the shear sex appeal, techonology and speed of the cars. I like the fact they run in the rain, globe trot and do more than just go around in a circle, like NASCAR or IRL. Plus, seeing and hearing these boys in person is out of this world.

I would have to echo Dane's comments. The other thing I like about F1 is that it is an international sport (it would be nice to see an American driver )

As for the staggered finishing, well that is racing. If you have the best car, the best driver and you start first, well you should finish first if the car stays together and the driver doesn't screw up. I am not a fan of bringing out the pace car to bunch the field up just to make the finish more exciting.

I like the fact that there are only 10 teams. I can easily keep track of and follow 10 teams. How many teams are there in NASCAR? Heck, how many teams are there in Football? You want to watch Football? Which game? Flip through the channels and there are probably 6 different games on. You want to watch Formula 1? There is one race every 2 weeks. I like the anticipation and speculation that time gives you.

But the best thing about Formula 1 - Ferrari!

 

[Dane]

[/quote]

The other thing I like about F1 is that it is an international sport (it would be nice to see an American driver )

[/quote]

Pete,

Great post. I would go [email protected] if there was an American in F1. Come to think, I think there are two potential candidates doing well in F3000...need to research but I think Schekter is one and I can't recall the second; lame knowledge base here so I'll research it.

The most recent American I can recall is Michael Andretti (whose job was taken by some guy named "Hakkinen" and probably the two most sucessful were Mario and Jim Clark.

Anyone with some opinions or knowledge here??

Forza,

Dane

 

[Bazil]

The most recent American I can recall is Michael Andretti (whose job was taken by some guy named "Hakkinen" and probably the two most sucessful were Mario and Jim Clark.

Either I'm going completely mad or Jim Clark was Scottish not American!!!

What about Phil Hill - US GP World Champion from the 60s - not sure which year - I'm almost certain he's still alive. (Apologies Phil, if you're reading this :green: )

Bazil

 

[Andrew]

What about Phil Hill - US GP World Champion from the 60s - not sure which year - I'm almost certain he's still alive. (Apologies Phil, if you're reading this :green: )

Bazil

Yep he is alive and kicking (writiing I should say). He writes for Road & Track.

 

[Pete04222]

Either I'm going completely mad or Jim Clark was Scottish not American!!!

Yup, Jimmy Clark was a Scotsman.