Is Formula One Getting Too Boring

[Rodgers]

Apart from the first lap (with actual OVERTAKING - whoo!) of the Grand Prix this weekend it was pretty much same as usual in terms of results. OK it was Barichello not Schumaker but it's still a Ferrari and Schumaker is now even further ahead in the Championship, as are Ferrari.

Is this sport getting too dull to watch? I'm a real fan and LOVE Formula One, but when is it going to become a contest again? ie WHERE is Hakkinen?

 

[Hitro]

I also consider myself a real fan of Formula One but I have to say I won't stay that for much longer if it goes on like this.
It's not that Ferrari (who I don't like) are dominant right now, that will most likely change again sooner or later.

The problems are more fundamental than that:
- very very few overtaking maneuveurs due to modern aerodynamics composed with outdated tracks
- most driver mistakes (which should be part of it, as long as it wants to be called a sport) are corrected by the electronic systems
- overall the technology aspect has become too dominant, drivers don't seem to have much influence today

So I think it is indeed getting too dull to watch. At every race day I hope this one could be a good one just to be disappointed afterwards. No overtaking, no excitement, no turns, no crashes, not even many technical failures.
All that's left is comparing numbers, which is what I already do the whole day (in a sense), so they could just do the qualification.

 

[Sodak]

Getting boring? Was it ever not?

 

[Irish Caesar]

The race cars are just too well-developed and fine tuned for great racing. Even though they have a car manufacturer's name on them, they are not stock enough.

If aerodynamics were not so important, there would be more close racing.

I hate to say slow the cars down, but that's what has to be done.

I think NASCAR has its own problems, but I like the close racing it has. Open wheel cars just don't offer the opportunity for trading paint and exciting passes.

As for the fine tuning, when a slight dent destroys the aerodynamics and chance to win, the drivers are too cautious to get close and pass, and there is no excitement.

The best race I have seen was at a pace of only about a hundred miles an hour for an average lap on an oval, but the drivers were not afraid to get side by side, pass, wreck, etc.

 

[Beam]

I think Formula 1 could pick some ideas from Americain racing series.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Originally posted by Sodak
Getting boring? Was it ever not?

I wasn't going to go there.

From what I've heard, Alex Zanardi made it quite interesting while he raced. However, I don't watch F1 regularly enough to know all about it.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Originally posted by Beammeuppy
I think Formula 1 could pick some ideas from Americain racing series.

Agreed. However, what I would like to see is a true stock car race. Nascar cars say "Ford" or "Chevrolet" on them, but I would like to see a car go straight from the dealer's lot to the speedway.

 

[Flatlander Fox]

I agree on the dealers lot thing... But it's tough enough for those guys to keep things balanced as it is.

F1 used to be exciting, but it's just not racing anymore. I say give them a few more ovals, even though it's boring, at least they can pass somebody.

No doubt we'll see a change soon though, as it seems more fans are clamoring for something a little more exciting.

 

[stationery2]

I recently got two tickets to racing tingy, but I don't know, I've never really watched racing stuff, although I enjoy playing racing games like Gran Turismo and sorts. What's really fun about racing? Someone enlighten me here!!

 

[Rodgers]

"What's really fun about racing? Someone enlighten me here!!"

Try a day out at your local go-kart track - even this scholboy level of racing gives you a buzz once you're out on the track.

"I would like to see a car go straight from the dealer's lot to the speedway"

I read a great article in a car mag where two journalists did just that. Except, they each had to buy a car for less than £200 and race it from London to Edinburgh. One day I will recreate that myself - would make a great "stag do"

 

[Sodak]

Originally posted by Rodgers
Try a day out at your local go-kart track - even this scholboy level of racing gives you a buzz once you're out on the track.

That's a gas! Really, tho, I stand by my original post. Watching other people drive fast just doesn't row my boat. A bit like golf and bowling. Fun to do, dreadful to watch.

I enjoy watching cycling, tho. It seems very different from auto racing, despite the similar premise behind it. The riders pass, crash, fade, sprint - but it's all leg power and balance. For some reason that seems more sporting.

 

[oryx]

They ought to get rid of all those chicanes that they put in after Senna's death. That's just one of the things that make overtaking so hard.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Originally posted by Flatlander Fox
I agree on the dealers lot thing... But it's tough enough for those guys to keep things balanced as it is.

Racing doesn't have to be balanced, as long as there isn't one guy who always leads. What any sport needs is more than one superstar. Someone needs to compete with Schumacher every race. A few years back, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were both hitting tons of home runs, and it was good for baseball. If two or three or even more drivers were consistently good enough to watch, that would be a good thing for F1.

Originally posted by oryx
They ought to get rid of all those chicanes that they put in after Senna's death. That's just one of the things that make overtaking so hard.

I like watching an oval race more than a road course simply because there is much more passing and excitement. I agree that chicanes are not a good thing.

 

[Silence]

Originally posted by Irish Caesar
From what I've heard, Alex Zanardi made it quite interesting while he raced. However, I don't watch F1 regularly enough to know all about it.

I don't know where you heard this, but Alessandro Zanardi had a generally unimpressive Formula One career, in his first stint from 91-93, he drove briefly for Jordan, Minardi and Lotus, as well as testing for Benetton.
On his return in 1999 he proved unable to handle the transition to Formula One from Indy, despite Williams efforts.
His teammate Ralf Schumacher had seven podium finishes in 1999, finishing sixth in the championship, while Zanardi did not score a single point. Unsurprisingly, he was not retained for the 2000 season.

 

[Pggar]

Originally posted by Sodak
Getting boring? Was it ever not?

Ditto!
It has been boring for a long time now.
Since Senna left I can't see much fun in it.
However, I can't see how any ideas from American racing series could improve formula one. American racing are even more boring than formula one!

 

[Irish Caesar]

Originally posted by Silence


I don't know where you heard this, but Alessandro Zanardi had a generally unimpressive Formula One career, in his first stint from 91-93, he drove briefly for Jordan, Minardi and Lotus, as well as testing for Benetton.
On his return in 1999 he proved unable to handle the transition to Formula One from Indy, despite Williams efforts.
His teammate Ralf Schumacher had seven podium finishes in 1999, finishing sixth in the championship, while Zanardi did not score a single point. Unsurprisingly, he was not retained for the 2000 season.

It must be IRL or CART that I'm thinking of. Like I said, I don't follow it regularly.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Originally posted by Pggar
However, I can't see how any ideas from American racing series could improve formula one. American racing are even more boring than formula one!

Explain.
If you have an opinion, at least back it up.

 

[Zwelgje]

F1 has become boring real quick in the past few years. Many of the old guys just quit and only one stayed and that's Schumacher who can win every race if he really wants to and his car doesn't break down. Another thing is that at the moment there are only a few teams that have cars that are capable of winning the rest is just filling up the starting grid.....

 

[Magnus]

Watching any kind of auto racing on TV is boring as golf. But if you GO to the track - its a whole different story. They could make the Formula-1 tracks into figure-8's - seeing those babies smack into each other at around at 200 MPH would be rather lively indeed!

 

[Irish Caesar]

Originally posted by Magnus
They could make the Formula-1 tracks into figure-8's - seeing those babies smack into each other at around at 200 MPH would be rather lively indeed!

Wow, you're a sick person.