F1 2014 - Are you excited? I am struggling...
Discussion
I am struggling to get excited chaps. I have tried to knuckle down a little on the tech, as a major part of my enjoyment is a reasonably high understanding of WTF is going on!
I am wondering whether come Sunday at the chequered flag, if I will be able to make any judgements on any aspect of the result.
Please tell me it will be ok...
I am wondering whether come Sunday at the chequered flag, if I will be able to make any judgements on any aspect of the result.
Please tell me it will be ok...
There will be different winners, that's something to at least be interested about.
Quite likely to be some dramatic engine failures too.
My gut feeling is that this could be Hamilton's year (again). Red Bull seem like they've got too much work to do to be competitive. If it was only their problems that they were dealing with then I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, but Renault seem to be some way behind the competition.
Quite likely to be some dramatic engine failures too.
My gut feeling is that this could be Hamilton's year (again). Red Bull seem like they've got too much work to do to be competitive. If it was only their problems that they were dealing with then I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, but Renault seem to be some way behind the competition.
I'm intrigued rather than excited. It will be interesting to see what happens from a reliability point of view and it will be interesting to see if Red Bull can bounce back from a disastrous testing program. If we get some genuinely good racing then I will be excited. If it's more 'push to pass' rubbish then I'll find something else to do on Sundays.
Skipppy said:
How can you not be excited about the first race! We have almost no idea what will happen, who will qualify where etc... first time in a long time we've been able to say that...
I get that, but my concern is that we will not be able to understand the result.There would seem to be so many complex interlocking variables this year, especially in the use of fuel and the management of the 'power unit', that its going to throw up some wierd speed differentials at different part of the race.
Its going to be frustrating and Brundle and all are going to have their work cut out trying to explain it.
I can't wait - for me it's a return to proper prototype racing, not slight evolutions of last years cars. This reshuffles the pack for the big teams, everyone starts from the same blank page, it's the same for the drivers, new challenges and a chance to really show they can adapt.
Yes some will moan the second that a driver has to lift and coast, or shift early to save fuel, but that has ALWAYS been part of the sport and it's the same for every team. Some people I think are unhappy that F1 isn't an exorcize to create the fastest cars in the world - but can you actually see a lap time?
For the smaller teams and newer drivers it gives them a chance - yes Mercedes, Ferrari, RedBull and McLaren have massive budgets, but if there's some young genius in Caterham who's come up with THE best idea yet, then they'll succeed, without change it's just a case of refining known solutions and that's just a race of the biggest cheque book.
I predict it will be great, it'll be messy, some big names will be found wanting, some cars will give up mid-race and at times it'll look like chaos - but the best drivers and the best engineers will win.
Yes some will moan the second that a driver has to lift and coast, or shift early to save fuel, but that has ALWAYS been part of the sport and it's the same for every team. Some people I think are unhappy that F1 isn't an exorcize to create the fastest cars in the world - but can you actually see a lap time?
For the smaller teams and newer drivers it gives them a chance - yes Mercedes, Ferrari, RedBull and McLaren have massive budgets, but if there's some young genius in Caterham who's come up with THE best idea yet, then they'll succeed, without change it's just a case of refining known solutions and that's just a race of the biggest cheque book.
I predict it will be great, it'll be messy, some big names will be found wanting, some cars will give up mid-race and at times it'll look like chaos - but the best drivers and the best engineers will win.
I'm very excited this year for lots of reasons.
Red Bull may not be dominant.
British drivers have a chance at the WDC.
Williams could be in the running.
I think the new cars could sound even better than the V8s adn V10s (just my opinion).
It's just a shame that the first race isn't on normal TV.
Red Bull may not be dominant.
British drivers have a chance at the WDC.
Williams could be in the running.
I think the new cars could sound even better than the V8s adn V10s (just my opinion).
It's just a shame that the first race isn't on normal TV.
mollytherocker said:
I get that, but my concern is that we will not be able to understand the result.
What's there to understand? Someone will win, someone will come second, third and so on. Edit: I'm not trying to be a smartass by saying that, it is just I don't really get it when people talk about understanding the result. Usually the order of the cars is caused by some teams getting it right and some teams getting it wrong, along with the drivers either driving well or not so well. Throw in some variables like unforeseen failures and hey presto, one result. I don't get what is so hard to understand about that!
Edited by leglessAlex on Tuesday 11th March 13:11
mollytherocker said:
Skipppy said:
How can you not be excited about the first race! We have almost no idea what will happen, who will qualify where etc... first time in a long time we've been able to say that...
I get that, but my concern is that we will not be able to understand the result.There would seem to be so many complex interlocking variables this year, especially in the use of fuel and the management of the 'power unit', that its going to throw up some wierd speed differentials at different part of the race.
Its going to be frustrating and Brundle and all are going to have their work cut out trying to explain it.
From what McLaren have said the new engines pretty much match the reduced fuel load so they're not going to be coasting around at 40mph with their engineers begging them to slow down.
mollytherocker said:
I get that, but my concern is that we will not be able to understand the result.
Perhaps you're over-thinking it? The car over the line first is still the winner! Maybe you mean to say that the strategy of how they got there first is not so obvious anymore? I agree it's definitely not. It might take a few races for strategy to settle.
I remember the same thing when we had the 'start on what's left of your qualifying fuel' rule change, the top teams were too conservative for the first couple of races before they realised they had to use their car speed advantage to build a gap in the first few laps.
Anyway IMO the first race is always exciting for various reasons, maybe at the very least just to know the season is starting!
I'd imagine we won't be able to tell much from the first race. There will be so many variables, the teams will be figuring out how the cars actually perform in race conditions, so I'd imagine it will be a very cautious first race. Points on the board and learning about the car will be the name of the game.
It will be 3-4 races before we know whether this new Formula is any good. Thats how long I intend to give it before I decide whether to keep watching it or not.
It will be 3-4 races before we know whether this new Formula is any good. Thats how long I intend to give it before I decide whether to keep watching it or not.
I don't understand the quietness thing.
If you're a live race it's completely different, you'll be able to get within 100m of the track without ear defenders.
If you're a TV viewer, the sound is 'compressed' anyway, that's how it's possible hear Ted in the garage and hear a car from a few metres from the lens moments later without your TV speaker passing you enroute to it's final resting spot in the back garden. Yes the tone will be different, but the volume will be about the same.
If you're a live race it's completely different, you'll be able to get within 100m of the track without ear defenders.
If you're a TV viewer, the sound is 'compressed' anyway, that's how it's possible hear Ted in the garage and hear a car from a few metres from the lens moments later without your TV speaker passing you enroute to it's final resting spot in the back garden. Yes the tone will be different, but the volume will be about the same.
P-Jay said:
I don't understand the quietness thing.
If you're a live race it's completely different, you'll be able to get within 100m of the track without ear defenders.
If you're a TV viewer, the sound is 'compressed' anyway, that's how it's possible hear Ted in the garage and hear a car from a few metres from the lens moments later without your TV speaker passing you enroute to it's final resting spot in the back garden. Yes the tone will be different, but the volume will be about the same.
I'm talking about at the race.If you're a live race it's completely different, you'll be able to get within 100m of the track without ear defenders.
If you're a TV viewer, the sound is 'compressed' anyway, that's how it's possible hear Ted in the garage and hear a car from a few metres from the lens moments later without your TV speaker passing you enroute to it's final resting spot in the back garden. Yes the tone will be different, but the volume will be about the same.
The sound from the NA cars from 1989 to 2013 were visceral. There was that amazing excitement when you could hear them from a great distance as you approached the race circuit.
I'm not denying that part of what excites me about the noise was the sheer volume, a volume that could not be described without hearing it in the flesh.
I used to go and watch Concorde take off a lot for the same reason. You could feel the sound reverberating inside your chest, the ground shook, car alarms were set off.
Some people like the sound of turbos, those Subarus that race up and down Essex streets with their pops, whistles and whooshes. Personally I like the sound of higher pitched, higher revving machines.
Each year at FoS the current (or up to 2013) F1 cars were the loudest things on show. It'll be sad if from 2014 they're not.
zac510 said:
Molly sorry I did not mean to sound patronising in my post! I understand that it's nice to know why something occurred, it's human nature to want to find or at very least attribute some kind of cause to an event.
No worries mate, I know what you mean of course. But for me, the enjoyment comes from following the events of the race and understanding what is going on etc etc.
If I dont know why events are unfolding in front of my eyes in the way that they are, then I get frustrated.
To be fair, the tech isn't straightforward - Too many acronyms, etc.
However, essentially, they have a new smaller engine and better battery systems to boost power.
No more exhaust blowing-diffuser
Few other aero tweaks, including height of the nose.
The power unit is they key. I'm excited because:
a) We should have a return to an element of unreliability - everyone finishing the race does not spice things up
b) Judging by Red Bull's testing form, we're in for a shake-up in terms of winners, etc.
I'm hoping for a season like 2009 (with the same WDC!)
However, essentially, they have a new smaller engine and better battery systems to boost power.
No more exhaust blowing-diffuser
Few other aero tweaks, including height of the nose.
The power unit is they key. I'm excited because:
a) We should have a return to an element of unreliability - everyone finishing the race does not spice things up
b) Judging by Red Bull's testing form, we're in for a shake-up in terms of winners, etc.
I'm hoping for a season like 2009 (with the same WDC!)
mollytherocker said:
No worries mate, I know what you mean of course.
But for me, the enjoyment comes from following the events of the race and understanding what is going on etc etc.
If I dont know why events are unfolding in front of my eyes in the way that they are, then I get frustrated.
I'm the same except i get caught up in the excitment of the race and just enjoy the spectical But for me, the enjoyment comes from following the events of the race and understanding what is going on etc etc.
If I dont know why events are unfolding in front of my eyes in the way that they are, then I get frustrated.
then watch reruns to figure out how what happened happened, in fact last night i watched the 2011 canadian race for like the 20th time just to find out exactly how Button went fron 21st to fist cos TBH even after so many reruns i still couldn't figure how he got some of the places back, i have em all now but i'll still watch it again tonight after whatever classic Aus gran prix they show.The trouble with a lot of F1 enthusiasts is they forget to just watch the race and take it at face value, have fun and do the figuring out later in the re run
Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff