If there were no FIA rules or technical limits
Discussion
What do we think would happen?
Other than rules for racing - teams can spend what they want and build what they want with perhaps a few very small limits (open cockpit etc).
Do we think that would move on motor tech and have a grid full of machines that can exploit the full range of technical solutions. Unlimited power for engines (whatever form they took - battery, IC or whatever).
Do we think manufacturers would scarper or would they double down and build machines that really are cutting edge?
Would it still be an interesting sport still or would we likely see years of dominance?
Just a thought experiment - how do we think that would play out and what rules would you want to have included in the flimsy pamphlet of guidelines.
Other than rules for racing - teams can spend what they want and build what they want with perhaps a few very small limits (open cockpit etc).
Do we think that would move on motor tech and have a grid full of machines that can exploit the full range of technical solutions. Unlimited power for engines (whatever form they took - battery, IC or whatever).
Do we think manufacturers would scarper or would they double down and build machines that really are cutting edge?
Would it still be an interesting sport still or would we likely see years of dominance?
Just a thought experiment - how do we think that would play out and what rules would you want to have included in the flimsy pamphlet of guidelines.
Eric Mc said:
That was Can Am in the mid to late 1960s - and even then the cars became too powerful.
There was a limit then, though, to the amount of power you could put down. With modern aerodynamics and no rules, you could put down massive amounts of power as well savage cornering and braking forces.The absolute limit of what we can do technically is probably 2 to 3MW for power (ICE or electric) and likely in excess of seven tonnes of downforce. 3 minute Nurburgring laptimes should be achievable assuming that you could find a Human able to drive the thing.
A fascinating idea to think through would be to have two rules:
1. Vehicles limited on energy/lap and total energy usage
2. The driver must be able to walk away from any foreseeable accident (including ones that have taken place)
A fascinating idea to think through would be to have two rules:
1. Vehicles limited on energy/lap and total energy usage
2. The driver must be able to walk away from any foreseeable accident (including ones that have taken place)
Edited by ...... on Wednesday 30th November 19:25
JoelH said:
What would happen is a grid that very quickly dropped to two or three teams. If there are no limits it comes down to who has the biggest chequebook and, in the early days, existing resources.
LMH/LMDh has proven that manufacturers and teams just don't want crazy classes anymore. F1 cost cap too, but there are additional barriers to entry such as "proving your worth" ...... said:
The absolute limit of what we can do technically is probably 2 to 3MW for power (ICE or electric) and likely in excess of seven tonnes of downforce. 3 minute Nurburgring laptimes should be achievable assuming that you could find a Human able to drive the thing.
A fascinating idea to think through would be to have two rules:
1. Vehicles limited on energy/lap and total energy usage
2. The driver must be able to walk away from any foreseeable accident (including ones that have taken place)
I wonder if eventually they could get an AI Driven 3 minute Nurburgring time.. Would be pretty impressive to see. A fascinating idea to think through would be to have two rules:
1. Vehicles limited on energy/lap and total energy usage
2. The driver must be able to walk away from any foreseeable accident (including ones that have taken place)
Edited by ...... on Wednesday 30th November 19:25
Lots of people say this sort of thing over the years. I doubt its anyone that really watches the races.
They are ruined now by the speed and everything is played back in slow motion so you can get an idea what happened. Camera operators struggle to get a decent shot of the race.
Look at goodwood,t he vintage racing always looks spectacular but they are going quite slow and the cameras can follow it really well. No need for slo motion replays of the action.
No rules but £20 million budget would be worth a look for a while as I enjoyed wacky races when I was a child.
They are ruined now by the speed and everything is played back in slow motion so you can get an idea what happened. Camera operators struggle to get a decent shot of the race.
Look at goodwood,t he vintage racing always looks spectacular but they are going quite slow and the cameras can follow it really well. No need for slo motion replays of the action.
No rules but £20 million budget would be worth a look for a while as I enjoyed wacky races when I was a child.
All but one or two teams would disappear as spending got ridiculous
Lap times would tumble, and drivers would be killed as they couldn't physically drive the cars anymore (assuming that they still needed to be in the cars at all, or if the cars became remotely controlled)
Spectators would be killed, unless tracks were redesigned to cope with the new cars and their potential for aircraft wreckage sized crashes
Racing would be terrible, as the cars would not be able to follow, let alone overtake, unless one of the above crashes happened
It's an interesting engineering thought experiment, however little more than that.
Lap times would tumble, and drivers would be killed as they couldn't physically drive the cars anymore (assuming that they still needed to be in the cars at all, or if the cars became remotely controlled)
Spectators would be killed, unless tracks were redesigned to cope with the new cars and their potential for aircraft wreckage sized crashes
Racing would be terrible, as the cars would not be able to follow, let alone overtake, unless one of the above crashes happened
It's an interesting engineering thought experiment, however little more than that.
satfinal said:
LMH/LMDh has proven that manufacturers and teams just don't want crazy classes anymore. F1 cost cap too, but there are additional barriers to entry such as "proving your worth"
They do and they like their fill until costs becomes an issue. We've seen this time and time again when categories and regulations come and go. 10 years ago it was the push for hybrid powertrains in F1 and LM but manufacturers in recent years have cottoned on to simplifying the technology and being affordable in the long run. It is likely something else will come along which will get the manufacturers juices flowing and another boom and bust cycle to go with it.
otolith said:
There was a limit then, though, to the amount of power you could put down. With modern aerodynamics and no rules, you could put down massive amounts of power as well savage cornering and braking forces.
I'm currently reading 'The History of the Turbocharged Racing Cars' which I recently found in a charity shop. There's no mention of power limits. The Porsche 917s were able to push over 1000+bhp but required larger fuel tanks to go with it. The 70s fuel crisis and fuel rationing strangled performance and Porsche quickly pulled out of Can Am.Kawasicki said:
Megaflow said:
Easy. The drivers and circuits wouldn’t be able to handle the speed of the cars. Which renders the exercise pointless IMO.
Er… don’t drivers currently have to slow down at certain points?
entropy said:
I'm currently reading 'The History of the Turbocharged Racing Cars' which I recently found in a charity shop. There's no mention of power limits. The Porsche 917s were able to push over 1000+bhp but required larger fuel tanks to go with it. The 70s fuel crisis and fuel rationing strangled performance and Porsche quickly pulled out of Can Am.
I don't think he meant an actual limit on the horsepower number...rather how much of that power you could actually put to the roadGassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff