Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Ogami musashi
Ogami musashi
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Joined: 13 Jun 2007, 22:57

Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Ciro, with all the respect i have for you, i don't see any point in your post...in which way i missed nick's point?

He say's F1 is boring? Well yes...he then proposed some ideas, i don't agree with him..the next logical step was to discuss it point by point but he then morphed into "harsh conclusions" about myself and you do the same for the entire topic.


And since we're all into the "everything sucks!" topic, i don't find F1 races boring (well some yes)..i'm sorry to say that i do think there're some problems (like overtakings) that need to be solved, but hell i don't watch F1 to see overtakings every two laps, WTCC, A1 or whatever you want makes it.

NOW the real problem in this topic is that, i don't throw it all, there're some problems but some things that are ok.

My grip here is certainly not you disagree, it is the non existence of any argument till now.

And your graphs on overtakings moves, while i appreciate the work, miss a millions of context points like differences in performance that was HUGE in the 80's (some cars even failing to qualify) just because it is an engineer series (that very fact NickT think is damageable), the reliance of the car with forced pit stops (I just watched Race of champions of 81 IRCC, nikki lauda was forced to pit stop after being 2 seconds slower than villeneuve just to get back on track and finish 3rd if i'm not mistaken) and specific areas of performance of some cars.

You can't compare apple and orange and somewhere you or nickT or everyone has to choose a way...either you talk for leveling the field (like nickT suggest by standardization of parts) either you want differences in design so perf.

Not both.

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flynfrog
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Joined: 23 Mar 2006, 22:31

Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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simple solution change the points structure make first place 20 points and second 10 third 5 points 2 for 4th and one for 5th

that way its not worth it to set back and finish second

There is no real motivation for a drive to try to pass until the last race of the year

mx_tifoso
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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I like flynfrog's idea about modifying the points system in order to motivate overtaking. But maybe there should be a smaller gap between 1st and 2nd.

Formula One :arrow: tiddlywinks

^As suggested by Eddie Irvine.

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Ciro Pabón
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Ogami musashi wrote:Ciro, with all the respect i have for you, i don't see any point in your post...in which way i missed nick's point?
Ogami, simple: F1 has not much overtaking. Live with it or leave F1.

I, certainly, can live with F1, as I imagine everybody here does.

I'm not asking for a return to the "good old times". That's the F1 we have, my statistics were not aimed to show a huge difference between the times of old and today: they point to the fact that for the last 7 years there have been all kind of ideas, but overtaking remains constant. I only included pre-1999 data when people asked me for it.

FIA has changed tyres, qualy, engines, freeze development, forbid driver helps, changed the point system, introduce several new tracks and whatnot: NOTHING has came out of it.

C'mon, flyn do you really think drivers do not overtake because they don't want to? For heaven's sake, they are running at 300 kph and 5 Gs... You have raced, man, remember how it is. Were you really thinking about the points?

Just check Räikonnen comments on the possible winners this year: Ferrari and McLaren.

Even simpler, (I apologize in advance for saying this, just in case somebody is offended by the facts): the last 140 GPs have been won by Ferrari, Renault, McLaren or Williams.

Let me repeat it slowly: one... hundred... and ... forty... GPs.

There were only 2 exceptions: one last year (Honda) and one in 2001 (Jordan, I think).

Now, don't make me laugh thinking that changing the brake pads you're gonna change THAT. You have a chance well under 1% of another car maker winning. So, we can wait until, mmmmm.... let's say 2014 to see another manufacturer victory. What that says to all of you? That you should elliminate winglets? :)

C'mon, you guys.

In the name of everything that's decent, the "pinnacle thing" is not killing the competition: it has killed it.

The convoluted arguments we post about how to increase competition in F1 sound sometimes like Microsoft talking about innovation: it does not exist innovation, only a monopoly of four brands (well, more like two, that have varied slowly over the years), which, by the way, own the sport.

Oh, the delights of capitalism: it thrives on confussion. ;)
Ciro

miqi23
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Why not stick a 10 kg ballast in every car that wins a race! Use a similar treatment on cars that finish 2nd and 3rd etc. Leave the technology alone, let it develop with time. It is good for the sport.

This is what they do in DTM. Works fine for me to be honest.

Ogami musashi
Ogami musashi
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Ciro: Well i understand your point, but then well i don't see where i miss the point as your post is fairly a conclusive one.

i don't agree with you that nothing is possible, and yes i do think drivers don't want to overtake when you risk to ruin your second place while it offers you only 2 points less than the winner.

how many times did we hear pilots said "i just backed off holding that position, points are important for the championship?".

But commenting your post, i think there's both a reality and both a non adapted requirement by you.

Being a constructor championship it is highly normal that the one with the longest experience and better means wins.

But i disagree that everything is done, from year to year you have surprises since regulations change can ruin one team's advantage, look at renault last year and maybe this year.

Next year a radical change in regulations occurs, teams already started last year to work on 2009 cars so maybe this is the chance for some;



On the other hands the problem is that FIa made a lot of changes to the regulations but not methodically.

You would need to start on a basis and change one thing at a time, that a scientific way of doing it but fia did not.

why? because either they lack the bigger picture either the picture is too complex, but also pay attention that they react to fans demands which are contradictory sometimes.

Things should be tackled once by once.

As such, there's change now. The teams have offered a change in regulations, that as been accepted. FIA as ruled out TC and EBS for this year.

I think next year, provided the teams don't make up for the loss of downforce too much, you'll see more overtaking.

PNSD
PNSD
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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miqi23 wrote:Why not stick a 10 kg ballast in every car that wins a race! Use a similar treatment on cars that finish 2nd and 3rd etc. Leave the technology alone, let it develop with time. It is good for the sport.

This is what they do in DTM. Works fine for me to be honest.
nope, more momentum in a crash... more dangerous.

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Ciro Pabón
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Ogami musashi wrote:Ciro: Well i understand your point, but then well i don't see where i miss the point as your post is fairly a conclusive one.

i don't agree with you that nothing is possible, and yes i do think drivers don't want to overtake when you risk to ruin your second place while it offers you only 2 points less than the winner.
Well, Ogami, I don't think that "nothing is possible". I've just said "nothing has worked". On the other hand, I enjoy, as much as you, our speculations about what to do.

You must have heard me saying that "there are not impossible things, only unable men". :)

So, please, keep it flowing. Something can be done, I agree with you. Many of your ideas (and the ideas of others) are really good. It's just that some days I think some people complains too much about F1 (not you). I love it since the 60's, I will follow it until I'm dead. As Hemingway said:

"There are only three sports: bull fighting, racing and mountaineering. The rest are games."
Ciro

Conceptual
Conceptual
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Joined: 15 Nov 2007, 03:33

Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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PNSD wrote:
miqi23 wrote:Why not stick a 10 kg ballast in every car that wins a race! Use a similar treatment on cars that finish 2nd and 3rd etc. Leave the technology alone, let it develop with time. It is good for the sport.

This is what they do in DTM. Works fine for me to be honest.
nope, more momentum in a crash... more dangerous.
I think 10kg would be equivalent to a 1/2 tank of fuel in an F1 car...

I think that just upping the min weight of the winning TEAM may level the field much quicker than screwing endlessly with the rules.

Chris

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NickT
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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One of the biggest problems here with the current regulations is that the rule makers and top teams have vested interests in keeping the status quo and the way the Concord agreement works makes making radical change very difficult as it requires all the teams agreement.

F1 is killing itself at the moment as it is a boring manufactures championship that rewards consistent points finishes. Ogami correctly points out "Being a constructor championship it is highly normal that the one with the longest experience and better means wins." This highlights the problem.

Why? If you're a good driver with a top team its almost signed sealed and delivered, provided you can beat your team mate. However, if you are the greatest driver in the world in a mid field team then your are shafted, the only way to score points is to hope the leaders fall over each other or the weather intervenes. As Ciro pointed out "the last 140 GPs have been won by Ferrari, Renault, McLaren or Williams." this single statistic really says it all.

IMHO massively reducing F1s stupid dependence on aero grip, aero performance and money will go a long way to helping. We must, absolutely must, increase the contribution the driver's ability has on the results if we truly want to have a meaningful drivers championship and to see these gladiators fighting for real.

Successful sports depend on the public's perception and their ability to relate to the competitors. Why do you think F1 fails to attract an American audience? Look at how close the racing is in their home series, where drivers contribute as much as the manufactures to the success of the team and how closely the fans can relate to their drivers.

Ogami musashi I am sorry if I offended you, I am simply an ex-racer who loves to see real racing something that is sadly missing in F1, unless we see rain. I will be [-o< for rain at every GP this season :wink:

Finally Ogami musashi I am sure with your karting experience you understand what it is like to battle your way forward and the thrill of taking the position away from the driver in front. Now imagine being a second a lap faster than the guy in front, but every time you get within 10 lengths of the guy you start to slide all over the place never getting closer then 7 lengths. Tell me how would you get past? Would you be happy or frustrated? Does the track position reflect your abilities? Please think about this last paragraph carefully because this is reality most F1 drivers face today.
NickT

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flynfrog
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Ciro Pabón wrote:
C'mon, flyn do you really think drivers do not overtake because they don't want to? For heaven's sake, they are running at 300 kph and 5 Gs... You have raced, man, remember how it is. Were you really thinking about the points?


Oh, the delights of capitalism: it thrives on confussion. ;)
Of course I had points in mind (once it came down to the last race and it was between of good friend of mine and me who ever finished ahead of the other won the championship) and hell know I didnt let him beat me he got last and I got third to last. I took us both out with a lap to go he couldn't get restarted :twisted:

how many f1 races do you see the guy in second who is leading points make a move on first place.

If you want to make f1 have more overtaking make that position worth more.

There is also a lot of work to be done to the cars. OPEN UP THE REGS give them more power and front wings closer to the ground. As it is now its like watching a brigs kart class nobody has enough power so there is one line around the track the only way to pass is when they guy in front makes a mistake

If you have more power you can take an off line and put a move on a guy its not rocket science

racing was never meant to be fair speed cost money how fast do you want to spend.

Ogami musashi
Ogami musashi
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Hello Nick, I'm not offended, i simply think that to have really interesting and usefull discussion we have to challenge our arguments deep.

I have evolved my mind on many subjects by accepting that i can be wrong but the only way to know it is to go down to the basics. This takes times but helps. That's why when someone refuses to go there (this is his right) while still claiming he's right (this is where it starts to go wrong) i'm disappointed.

However as your above post proves it, it is always a matter a mis communication, and i should have learned it since long but still i posting again and again while we're not employing the same terms for the same things.
I still need to improve.

With your last post i can see better what you mean. And there's three main points.
NickT wrote:One of the biggest problems here with the current regulations is that the rule makers and top teams have vested interests in keeping the status quo and the way the Concord agreement works makes making radical change very difficult as it requires all the teams agreement.

F1 is killing itself at the moment as it is a boring manufactures championship that rewards consistent points finishes. Ogami correctly points out "Being a constructor championship it is highly normal that the one with the longest experience and better means wins." This highlights the problem.

Why? If you're a good driver with a top team its almost signed sealed and delivered, provided you can beat your team mate. However, if you are the greatest driver in the world in a mid field team then your are shafted, the only way to score points is to hope the leaders fall over each other or the weather intervenes. As Ciro pointed out "the last 140 GPs have been won by Ferrari, Renault, McLaren or Williams." this single statistic really says it all.
I agree on the status quo..indeed the concord agreement has a motto: Stable rules.

Yes more radical shake ups of rules would be great.
This were i start to disagree in that i don't think we should have a constructor championship where a manufacturer entering for the first year would win.

On good thing for me in F1 is that you need to built up knowledge, deep knowledge in order to win, that prevent anyone with big budget but no "skills" (toyota or honda) to win by money.
IMHO massively reducing F1s stupid dependence on aero grip, aero performance and money will go a long way to helping. We must, absolutely must, increase the contribution the driver's ability has on the results if we truly want to have a meaningful drivers championship and to see these gladiators fighting for real.
Maybe there's a misunderstanding here, what do you mean by "stupid dependance on aero grip.."?

If you mean that sensitivity to aero has to be fixed, i can just agree with you, that's for sure.

But it seems you suggest that aero grip is a driver skill mitigation. I disagree strongly here (if this is want you mean, the purpose of communication :)).
Mechanical grip is in several case easier to handle than aero grip, more predictable and less fine.

I think we should make F1 stay with the current aero grip dependance because that makes the driving more difficult.
There's maybe an interesting option both for you and me coming in 2011 with adaptive aeros.

the max downforce will be limited (tyre grip increased) so more mechanical grip, but, because aerodynamic surfaces will be adaptive downforce will grow at lower speeds.

So at lower speed the ratio of aero grip to mechanical will be higher yet at high speed the mechanical grip will be greater.

Successful sports depend on the public's perception and their ability to relate to the competitors. Why do you think F1 fails to attract an American audience? Look at how close the racing is in their home series, where drivers contribute as much as the manufactures to the success of the team and how closely the fans can relate to their drivers.
You touch a strong point here, the problem with F1, it is that it is quite complex and no 10% of the audience is aware of the specificities.

There's a world between nascar communication and F1 one.
where nascar explains a lot of the technical specificities of the series F1 just bring you with who is driving where.

you have to watch ITV's martin brundle's "F1 insight" to know that Schumacher, Button and Alonso cornering style are just the opposite of each other.

Who knows how alonso take corners? Who knows how raikkonnen adapted his driving style to ferrari? Schumarcher to Traction control? who knows the difference in cornering and braking technics between 98 F1's and 91's ones?

Who knows that Traction control used to have 3 different settings for corner entry, mid and exit?

who knows that the drivers change the brake bias during race etc etc..

When you are aware of those things, races get far less boring (even if yes, i'd like to see a faster guy not being struck behind another for the rest of the race).

So what nascar does, is putting spectacle on (but spectacle on the general meaning, not especially on races, nascar races are sometimes boring also) but also explains to people.

And, nascar is far from being as simple as it seems.
Ogami musashi I am sorry if I offended you, I am simply an ex-racer who loves to see real racing something that is sadly missing in F1, unless we see rain. I will be [-o< for rain at every GP this season :wink:
What is "real racing"? I do see where's racing is hampered in F1, but i don't think there's one way of racing.

I was watching formula ford race the other day, and thought there were too many overtakings, it was due to the level of drivers (not consistent) but that was boring, somehow it seemed there was no reason for overtakings but rather a random error coefficient.

what i mean is that i don't trust in the "root racing"; I love karting but if all motorsport races where like that that would be boring to death.

I reckon though that we have now a problem in F1 mostly the fact that you can "prevented" to overtake, which is contradictory to the "racing" theme yes.
Finally Ogami musashi I am sure with your karting experience you understand what it is like to battle your way forward and the thrill of taking the position away from the driver in front. Now imagine being a second a lap faster than the guy in front, but every time you get within 10 lengths of the guy you start to slide all over the place never getting closer then 7 lengths. Tell me how would you get past? Would you be happy or frustrated? Does the track position reflect your abilities? Please think about this last paragraph carefully because this is reality most F1 drivers face today.
I agree 100%, and from the start, we simply disagree on the way of doing that, and that's where i try to discuss.

dumrick
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Patrick Head suggests the starting grid to be defined according to championship position, in reversed order.
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_ ... t_id=34070

Something that wouldn't take any tech regulations changes, would be straightforward to understand, would balance the field, would force drivers to try harder to climb up the field and could provide some interesting tactics from the teams, whose position wouldn't be anymore correlated with their speed but could give radically different agendas to different teams (nowadays, the last qualifiers aren't planning their strategy to win, naturally, so everyone follows the simulator's "optimal" strategy with some tweaks...).

Conceptual
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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+1

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NickT
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Re: Improving the ability of F1 cars to overtake ontrack

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Well that really would upset the Status Quo and the top teams really would start to push for rules that allowed overtaking
NickT