I prefer the 2012/ 2013 seasons to 2014
Discussion
Sorry, but 2014 is daft in my opinion. The rule change(s) were all well and good but we've gone from aero dominance to engine dominance. In 2012/ 2013 we had multiple winners of the first 1/2 of the season, now we have the metronomic precision of Merc. Red Bull took a long time to get to the front and (IMHO) it was sour grapes by 'those without Adrian' to lobby for the changes.
Yes, things needed to change. But this far? Not rev'ing over 10,000 RPM to conserve fuel ruins the sound and shear thrill of the engine note. KERS/ ERS is ruining technique of the late brakers, i.e. the old school. Etc. etc. etc.
Contrary to what seems to be pushed by the Media, Vettel didn't win by vast margins. Hamilton/ Rosberg will have the constructors championship won in a few races and the drivers championship will just come down to who cracks first (strategically, emotionally, etc.).
This series is going to be so dull come 3/4 through the season after Merc has it all sewn up.
Yes, things needed to change. But this far? Not rev'ing over 10,000 RPM to conserve fuel ruins the sound and shear thrill of the engine note. KERS/ ERS is ruining technique of the late brakers, i.e. the old school. Etc. etc. etc.
Contrary to what seems to be pushed by the Media, Vettel didn't win by vast margins. Hamilton/ Rosberg will have the constructors championship won in a few races and the drivers championship will just come down to who cracks first (strategically, emotionally, etc.).
This series is going to be so dull come 3/4 through the season after Merc has it all sewn up.
fatbutt said:
Sorry, but 2014 is daft in my opinion. The rule change(s) were all well and good but we've gone from aero dominance to engine dominance. In 2012/ 2013 we had multiple winners of the first 1/2 of the season, now we have the metronomic precision of Merc. Red Bull took a long time to get to the front and (IMHO) it was sour grapes by 'those without Adrian' to lobby for the changes.
Yes, things needed to change. But this far? Not rev'ing over 10,000 RPM to conserve fuel ruins the sound and shear thrill of the engine note. KERS/ ERS is ruining technique of the late brakers, i.e. the old school. Etc. etc. etc.
Contrary to what seems to be pushed by the Media, Vettel didn't win by vast margins. Hamilton/ Rosberg will have the constructors championship won in a few races and the drivers championship will just come down to who cracks first (strategically, emotionally, etc.).
This series is going to be so dull come 3/4 through the season after Merc has it all sewn up.
It is a bit repetitive, isn't it.Yes, things needed to change. But this far? Not rev'ing over 10,000 RPM to conserve fuel ruins the sound and shear thrill of the engine note. KERS/ ERS is ruining technique of the late brakers, i.e. the old school. Etc. etc. etc.
Contrary to what seems to be pushed by the Media, Vettel didn't win by vast margins. Hamilton/ Rosberg will have the constructors championship won in a few races and the drivers championship will just come down to who cracks first (strategically, emotionally, etc.).
This series is going to be so dull come 3/4 through the season after Merc has it all sewn up.
It has to be accepted that the 2014 formula is entirely new. F1 died and they replaced it with something different that they called F1.
It's the only one we've got.
However, I reckon that in many ways it is quite good. The fights further down the field are quite thrilling. Further, anything that allows Williams to be mentioned outside the also rans has to be good.
We're stuck with it I'm afraid. Love the one you're with I suppose.
The engines will be equalised by 2015, at the latest, so aero will once again become the only game in town.
Failure of the small teams should be a bigger concern right now.
However the inter team battles are making for more interesting individual races even if the outcome of the WCC is a foregone after just 6 races.
I am glad that Pirelli now look less controversial and that drivers are not pussyfooting around nursing tyres. The cars actually look like a bit of a handful at the moment, so overall, I do think the show has been improved, and should get better next year, if everyone can find the cash to go playing.
Failure of the small teams should be a bigger concern right now.
However the inter team battles are making for more interesting individual races even if the outcome of the WCC is a foregone after just 6 races.
I am glad that Pirelli now look less controversial and that drivers are not pussyfooting around nursing tyres. The cars actually look like a bit of a handful at the moment, so overall, I do think the show has been improved, and should get better next year, if everyone can find the cash to go playing.
Yeah, I agree. The engine playing field will level off, probably after a few of the lower teams have gone to the wall. Maybe that was part of the plan? Honda coming in could be interesting... or a total damp squib.
The back marker fights are interesting but the coverage by the media is still of the front 3 or 4 so what we get to see further down the field is quite limited.
I just wish they'd drop the fuel flow regulation and allow the engines to rev. A honda VTEC will almost rev as high as one of these cars. Again, maybe that was part of the plan.
The back marker fights are interesting but the coverage by the media is still of the front 3 or 4 so what we get to see further down the field is quite limited.
I just wish they'd drop the fuel flow regulation and allow the engines to rev. A honda VTEC will almost rev as high as one of these cars. Again, maybe that was part of the plan.
Gaz. said:
If it's all about engines, why are Mclaren doing so badly? They are getting smashed by Ferrari & RedBull every weekend and are behind Force India and level with Williams in the WCC (67/52/52pts) despite an enormous difference in budgets. RedBull have almost double the points of Mclaren & Williams.
Every time the rules change significantly the field spreads out, and they close up as the seasons progress. Mclaren & Ferrari were nowhere in the beginning of 2009, yet they were title contenders in 2010 & 2012 just by picking up the pieces in 2010 (and 2012 for Ferrari).
You can have the best meat in the world and still make a pretty sEvery time the rules change significantly the field spreads out, and they close up as the seasons progress. Mclaren & Ferrari were nowhere in the beginning of 2009, yet they were title contenders in 2010 & 2012 just by picking up the pieces in 2010 (and 2012 for Ferrari).
tty steak 
And, for my sins, I'm a McLaren fan.
Gaz. said:
It seems to be a common theme that if you're a fan of XYZ (team or driver) then this season has been crap, yet the neutrals have seemed to enjoy it so far.
True. Although, I'd argue that its very difficult to be a neutral and watch a sport for many years (28 in my case). I've got nothing against Merc as such, just overwhelming dominance. From what I've seen on forums, etc. ref. Monaco, the neutrals are saying it was a great race and the rivalry between Nico and Lewis is great. I personally couldn't care less about two drivers spat and Monaco is a procession of attrition, always has been. If the cars aren't rev'ving their nuts off out of a corner to pass someone then they aren't trying is always my gut instinct. They can't 'drive' as they have to preserve fuel. Just seems like a daft rule that really sucks the life out of the spectacle. zac510 said:
Eric Mc said:
There was a very similar reaction when the old 2.5 litre formula was changed to the 1.5 litre formula in 1961.
history repeating itself; the internet forums were ablaze with criticism I imagine!
The Brits were so upset with the new formula that they tried to create their own series for cars with 2.5 litre engines - known as the Intercontinental Formula.
That Formula failed - as rival formulae are wont to do. Ironically, it was the Intercontinental spec that was used for the successful Tasman series.
I've been an F1 fan for the last 5 years, and I find this season far more interesting than the last few. Not really a Vettel fan, which probably has a lot to do with it - glad that it's not a foregone conclusion that he'll win this year. Sure, it IS a foregone conclusion that it'll be one of the Mercs, but even that is more interesting than watching RBR/Vettel run away with it.
I think that despite the Mercs running away with it at the front, it's still very interesting to watch the battles throughout the rest of the field, and that's what I'm most interested in when watching the races. Will be interesting to see how much RBR/Ferrari etc can close the gap by the end of the year, if at all.
I think that despite the Mercs running away with it at the front, it's still very interesting to watch the battles throughout the rest of the field, and that's what I'm most interested in when watching the races. Will be interesting to see how much RBR/Ferrari etc can close the gap by the end of the year, if at all.
Gaz. said:
I stopped being a fan of anyone when Mansell retired though I did root for Hill in 1994.
Fuel saving has always been a part of F1 when there has been no refueling, I've never liked it but accepted it long ago.
Sorry, I should have emphasised the flow rate, rather than just fuel consumption. Its the flow rate that is stopping high revving.Fuel saving has always been a part of F1 when there has been no refueling, I've never liked it but accepted it long ago.
Ha. Mansell. I was a BIG Mansell fan back in the day. I remember sitting watching while holding my breath - don't break the car, don't break the car, get to the end, get to the end, etc.
And, strangely enough, his world championship win was one of total dominance by new technology. Maybe I'm getting too old and jaded
PW said:
2012 - worst season ever
2013 - worst season ever
2014 - worst season ever, 2012 & 2013 were great!
Says who? 2012/ 2013 were great if you consider the 10 years before then, maybe more. Multiple leaders, unpredictable races, etc. New 'interesting' tracks like Austin. Up until late season where Vettel simply walked it, they were great. But he still had to battle - I don't remember RB being consistently 1 sec/ lap quicker than everyone else. If the problem was Vettel, then there are ways to solve that without totally changing the formula. I agree that the formula had to change as it was stagnating but I think its too many changes in one year. Hopefully they'll drop a few for next season.2013 - worst season ever
2014 - worst season ever, 2012 & 2013 were great!
I enjoyed the 2012/13 seasons - despite the fact that Vettel did rather have things his own way. But there were lots of moans about both years - mainly centered around the perceived artficiality of some of the technology - KERS, DRS, the Pirelli "cliff" tyres etc.
You only have to read all the whiney threads that appeared here on PH to see how many DIDN'T like 2012 or 2013.
You only have to read all the whiney threads that appeared here on PH to see how many DIDN'T like 2012 or 2013.
Gaz. said:
fatbutt said:
And, for my sins, I'm a McLaren fan.
It seems to be a common theme that if you're a fan of XYZ (team or driver) then this season has been crap, yet the neutrals have seemed to enjoy it so far.Having a car dominate the field can make for a brilliant season - McLaren winning all but one race, the Mansel/Piquet years - but it needs the team to allow the drives to race, and the drivers being of similar ability, something we didn't get in the RB and, most depressingly, the Ferrari years.
Further, down the field things are exciting, with races going on between teams and between team mates.
I can't say I'm a fan of the new formula but then, for some reason that the F1 historians will discuss for years, no one asked me my opinion.
Given that the sport merely follows the money, or rather, the bloke who runs it does, then we've not done too badly.
PW said:
Do you not read any of the threads here?
Every season is the worst season ever. The last race was the worst race ever. Everything is horrible because it's not the 50s/60s'/70s/80's/90s/00s (delete as appropriate with respect to age).
You heard it hear first - next season will be the worst season ever, according to PH's unique brand of "enthusiasts".
True. I still think there should be an age limit on PH and also a fee to dissuade casual commentors/ trolls.Every season is the worst season ever. The last race was the worst race ever. Everything is horrible because it's not the 50s/60s'/70s/80's/90s/00s (delete as appropriate with respect to age).
You heard it hear first - next season will be the worst season ever, according to PH's unique brand of "enthusiasts".
I feel precisely the opposite to the OP.
The 2014 season is much more interesting than the 2012/2013 seasons, by far.
This is basically because the cars are more interesting. They are more ragged, harder to drive.
I was getting very, very bored with the "corner on rails" era of blown diffusers and the V8's. While the dominance of Mercedes is a shame, the battles everywhere else are very interesting.
I was thinking of giving up on F1 last year. Now I am much happier.
The 2014 season is much more interesting than the 2012/2013 seasons, by far.
This is basically because the cars are more interesting. They are more ragged, harder to drive.
I was getting very, very bored with the "corner on rails" era of blown diffusers and the V8's. While the dominance of Mercedes is a shame, the battles everywhere else are very interesting.
I was thinking of giving up on F1 last year. Now I am much happier.
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