Sayshina wrote:Formula None: When the 3.5 formula first came out, we had V8's, V10's, V12's, W12's, disk valves, 5 valves, Oh, and even a "big bang" engine (someone posted something about that in this thread many pages ago). Within a couple of years, we had V10's with 4 poppet valves per cylinder. Not because of any rules, that was simply the evolution of competition.
So that covers spark ignited, fuel injected gasoline engines of 3.5L displacement. Many more options beyond that, yeah? Wasn't exactly an open formula in that era. (and I use the term "open" loosely, because I'm not advocating deathtraps, simply a more diverse field that would still have safety regs).
Also, what engine used disc valves? I remember reading on this forum that rotary valves were developed at some point in the late 90s-early 00s but were made illegal before being implemented.
Sayshina wrote:Xpensive: You can't have 1000+ hp cars. Well, specifically, you can't have cars much faster than todays. The tracks are the limiting factor. The reason turbos were banned is because of the "Killer B's", and the fact that they actually killed people. Worse still, they killed fans.
There's a number of ways this could be addressed. Engine development could be offset by reductions in downforce. Or, top speeds could simply be limited to allow current tracks to be used, which could mean acceleration & deceleration rates and fuel efficiency at the max cruising speed would become areas of development. I don't think that 1000+ hp would necessitate dead fans in modern times with constantly improving safety regs. Also, can the turbo era be considered an open formula?
The kind of cars you want would require a radical redesign of every F1 track, which is just not gonna happen. Either that or you eventually have an accident that ends F1 entirely and on the spot. It wasn't all that long ago that the deaths of 2 drivers during a single weekend forced F1 into a massive safety initiative. At the time there was real fear that governments were going to get involved, and there was a real worry that F1 might not survive. Kill 40 or 50 fans and it's game over.
Advocating more diverse car designs does not equal abandoning safety regulations. Improving safety could just be another part of a new formula. Things could be improved upon currently, for example: Windscreens, better roll structure coverage, making cars harder to flip (minimal surface area in plan view, wheel covers, etc).
F1 engines and trans. cases are modular. And it takes a lot less than an hour to remove one. The problem is when you remove a F1 engine you also remove the entire back 1/3 of the car, and even if you swapped over the entire 1/3 as one system, these things are hand fabricated in very low volumes. No matter what, they will always have enough variance that you almost have to start over with setup.
What exactly would be changing so drastically from engine to engine, trans to trans? Linear dimensions? Differing tolerance stackup?