Very interesting to read:
http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/the-game-changer/
http://willthef1journo.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/the-game-changer/
exactly..at the end of the season. i think we now have so many talented drivers who are on a similar level, it would be really nice to see them race to see who is consistently faster. when alan prost, senna and mansell raced, there was still strategy but they were driving far closer to 100%. the drivers don't understand what's happening to the tyres. it's become about the engineering race to understand. there was already a debate about f1 being too much about the car rather than the driver...but now we have the tyre, the engineers and the driver last in that order of importance.
no doubt you will tell me that the driver is most important but he is relying too much on others finding the answers. no driver understands these tyres. if it's not thermal degredation it's graining. everyone is hyping up the engine changes for next year ..saying mercedes will be strong etc. however, at this rate, the engine will be secondary.
next year the teams need to analyse the race calendar, study track surfaces and decide which will have the greater impact over the season - thermal deg or graining (there's is still weather/temp changes due to "chance" to consider) and then design a car which will suit the tyres rather than just make it the most powerful. millions will be spent researching how to make a tyre friendly car. thats fine if the majority are happy with that. in my opinion, i've always loved f1 for strategy and to see which cars and drivers can go fastest the most consistently over the course of a race - pushing the limits as far as are humanly possible.
I have to agree with both statements but I sincerely doubt Mercedes will get their car fixed in time for Monaco.was a great race and a well deserved win for Alonso, was expecting Mercedes to drop down the grid but not by that many slots, they really have their work cut out for monaco.
reading this post made me dizzy!....what ru rambling on about son!!!!
It's simple! The Bridgestone days where any yahoo can lean on them tires all race long and get away with it are long gone.
And the biggest "leaners" are the one ones that struggle the most with the Pirelli compounds
Not really. Back then they had to be extremely careful about fuel, something that has become an exception rather than the rule these days. Additionally, the cars were much more fragile so they always had to mind the gearbox, the engine, the suspension, etc. Most of these components were built to last only one race (or in some cases even only one qualifying lap), so they were quite likely to fail prematurely if the driver went flat out all the time.when alan prost, senna and mansell raced, there was still strategy but they were driving far closer to 100%.
F1 has always been all about engineering, that hasn't changed one bit. The drivers might be the stars because they serve as figureheads for their teams and the sponsors, but the difference they are able to make has always been tiny.it's become about the engineering race to understand. there was already a debate about f1 being too much about the car rather than the driver...but now we have the tyre, the engineers and the driver last in that order of importance.
I honestly don´t think they have to considering the layout of the circuit.I have to agree with both statements but I sincerely doubt Mercedes will get their car fixed in time for Monaco.
100% spot on. Monaco is essentially all like the last sector of Catalunya and they were unbeatable through there. And it doesn't really matter if the race pace isn't good because nobody can overtake. Webber definitely wasn't the fastest last year but nobody got by him. The only possibility is to jump them in the pits, but then they just need to do one fast lap which they should be capable of. Plus, the soft and supersoft are completely different beasts, we have no idea how they work. On some tracks (Monaco being one of them) they might actually be more durable than the harder compounds (because of less wheelspin due to more grip).I honestly don´t think they have to considering the layout of the circuit.
I expect and 1-2 Quali possibly upset by the red bull splitting the two cars.
but for the race i think they can definitely win the race.
The car has brilliant mechanical grip and there´s not much energy put through tires in Monaco.
Not really. Back then they had to be extremely careful about fuel, something that has become an exception rather than the rule these days. Additionally, the cars were much more fragile so they always had to mind the gearbox, the engine, the suspension, etc. Most of these components were built to last only one race (or in some cases even only one qualifying lap), so they were quite likely to fail prematurely if the driver went flat out all the time.
F1 has always been all about engineering, that hasn't changed one bit. The drivers might be the stars because they serve as figureheads for their teams and the sponsors, but the difference they are able to make has always been tiny.
Why do you think did Piquet win just as many championships as Senna even though the latter was far more talented? Or why did Jim Clark win only two WDCs and Gilles Villeneuve none at all even though the two were far better than anyone else of their generations? F1 is and has always been about the car, not the driver, period.