Monaco was a good example?
Discussion
Watching the Monaco Grand Prix was a good example of the F1 cars being too big for the circuit. I regularly went to the race in the 70s and 80s and the cars raced each other. That rarely happens now.
Some will say that the cars need to be as big for safety reasons but with the modern materials now available for construction surely the safety factors can still be built in.
A couple of weeks earlier the circuit hosted the Historic races and the leading drivers drove their cars hard despite those designs being decades old.
It would be good to see smaller cars where cars can be three abreast without accidents happening.
Some will say that the cars need to be as big for safety reasons but with the modern materials now available for construction surely the safety factors can still be built in.
A couple of weeks earlier the circuit hosted the Historic races and the leading drivers drove their cars hard despite those designs being decades old.
It would be good to see smaller cars where cars can be three abreast without accidents happening.
Yeah, 'cos F1 cars have always been narrow previously..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Formula_O...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Formula_O...
Article said:
1993
Rear tyre width reduced from 18 inches (457 mm) to 15 inches (381 mm) to reduce the grip and so the speed of the cars, overall car width reduced from 220 cm to 200 cm.
Rear tyre width reduced from 18 inches (457 mm) to 15 inches (381 mm) to reduce the grip and so the speed of the cars, overall car width reduced from 220 cm to 200 cm.
I do wonder what are the practical issues with going back to the 2008 era of cars size, the new cars are simply massive and even though they are very fast they seem once combined with the lack of noise to be going slower than before, the races "looked" so much more dramatic back in the 2000's the noise, the darting agile nature of the cars it really came through on the footage, they look and sound lumpen these days no matter what the stop watch says.
Jimjimhim said:
They all look the same width? So they've got longer but not fatter?
The maximum width of the car has always been in the regulations, the length of the car and wheelbase haven’t been regulated until the current reg set, which specifies a maximum wheelbase of 3,700mm. A longer car also has a bigger floor and diffuser, and inherently produces more downforce - so they’re faster around a more traditional circuit, and more of a pain on a tight street circuit.
I think this year's Monaco race was particularly uneventful due to an unusual event (the lap 1 red flag) and there doesn't need to be massive knee jerk rule changes off the back of it.
A relatively minor tweak like Pirelli only bringing the 2 softest tyre compounds might fix things as there wouldn't be a tyre that could easily run the full race distance.
A relatively minor tweak like Pirelli only bringing the 2 softest tyre compounds might fix things as there wouldn't be a tyre that could easily run the full race distance.
Sandpit Steve said:
Jimjimhim said:
They all look the same width? So they've got longer but not fatter?
The maximum width of the car has always been in the regulations, the length of the car and wheelbase haven’t been regulated until the current reg set, which specifies a maximum wheelbase of 3,700mm. A longer car also has a bigger floor and diffuser, and inherently produces more downforce - so they’re faster around a more traditional circuit, and more of a pain on a tight street circuit.
I'm irritated by the amount of negativity in the wake of the Monaco GP.
Monaco is a gem of an event. It must never be taken away, because it will be replaced by some dictators sports washing event with no history, soul, or character.
Yes there wasn't much overtaking. But if you actually physically go there and watch cars hurtling through the confines of the track, lap after lap, millimetre perfect, brushing the armco, it certainly was a sporting competition. It would be like watching a tightrope walking competition and being annoyed that no one fell off. Just appreciate the immense skill you witnessed.
Sure, I think we should investigate how to make overtaking easier in general, that's been an ongoing mission by the authorities for years now. I think rather than making the cars smaller, which will undoubtably help, F1 should focus on the tyres so that drivers can race to the limit without worrying about managing their tyres, that in my opinion was the cause of much of the procession complaints.
But guys, we had a race where Mclaren and Ferrari looked to be actually close to Red Bull on merit. We might finally have a bit of competition in formula 1 and Monaco should be seen as a tribute to talent, precision, reliabilty rather than focus on the negatives. Plus who could be mad at the end result? well done Charles.
Monaco is a gem of an event. It must never be taken away, because it will be replaced by some dictators sports washing event with no history, soul, or character.
Yes there wasn't much overtaking. But if you actually physically go there and watch cars hurtling through the confines of the track, lap after lap, millimetre perfect, brushing the armco, it certainly was a sporting competition. It would be like watching a tightrope walking competition and being annoyed that no one fell off. Just appreciate the immense skill you witnessed.
Sure, I think we should investigate how to make overtaking easier in general, that's been an ongoing mission by the authorities for years now. I think rather than making the cars smaller, which will undoubtably help, F1 should focus on the tyres so that drivers can race to the limit without worrying about managing their tyres, that in my opinion was the cause of much of the procession complaints.
But guys, we had a race where Mclaren and Ferrari looked to be actually close to Red Bull on merit. We might finally have a bit of competition in formula 1 and Monaco should be seen as a tribute to talent, precision, reliabilty rather than focus on the negatives. Plus who could be mad at the end result? well done Charles.
Wills2 said:
I do wonder what are the practical issues with going back to the 2008 era of cars size, the new cars are simply massive and even though they are very fast they seem once combined with the lack of noise to be going slower than before, the races "looked" so much more dramatic back in the 2000's the noise, the darting agile nature of the cars it really came through on the footage, they look and sound lumpen these days no matter what the stop watch says.
Agree. Current lardy lumps look pretty ponderous..We're at the TT this week and they look spectacularly fast.
Bo_apex said:
Jimjimhim said:
They all look the same width? So they've got longer but not fatter?
fatter in terms of their total linear square footage of tarmac they consumeSandpit Steve said:
Jimjimhim said:
They all look the same width? So they've got longer but not fatter?
The maximum width of the car has always been in the regulations, the length of the car and wheelbase haven’t been regulated until the current reg set, which specifies a maximum wheelbase of 3,700mm. A longer car also has a bigger floor and diffuser, and inherently produces more downforce - so they’re faster around a more traditional circuit, and more of a pain on a tight street circuit.
I dont really see the issue with just reducing the maximum wheelbase in the rules. I guess manufactures push back against it as they will struggle to fit all of the hybrid crap in. If the scale is correct in that earlier picture also the length from the nose tip to cockpit is ridiculous: not far off the overall wheelbase of the mp4/4/!
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