2021 Formula 1 Season Thread

[pachyderm]

Absolutely they are! Your still going round a corner at 150mph! That's the whole thing about F1, it's not the straight line speed and acceleration but it's the aerodynamics and how fast they go round a track that makes them special, because they go round corners so fast.
I remember rules were changed allowing the drivers to build more muscle and they were incredibly grateful for it due to the stresses they get.
Under breaking alone an F1 car pulls 5G, your raid car pulls about 0.5g. So that's about 33kg of force on your neck muscles. And you can't go too slowly for too long either as the car will turn off because the hydraulics are drive off the engine, so if you go too slowly you lose pressure and can't change gears etc.
I've seen drivers step pit of the cars even this year dripping on sweat. Make no bones about it driving an F1 car is as difficult today as it was before.

I also don't think Lewis will retire, that's just the media kicking up a fuss, Lewis hasn't mentioned it. He'll be back next year.

...And probably win the title. He's not old, or too old, by any stretch. Plus I'm in love with his personal trainer and I'd miss her too much if he retired.

Fluke title, or one and done title, for Max I do believe. I could be wrong. We'll see what the cars are like next year.

And I'm not 100% saying Max won't win more titles but look what it took to win just one!

Also, I'd love to see them return to just one tire compound. I'm tired of pit strategy winning races. I know it puts even more pressure on the teams to make a competitive car but that's what they should be doing anyway. That is my "simpleton's take" on F1. Mock me if you will.

 

[laptech]

...And probably win the title. He's not old, or too old, by any stretch. Plus I'm in love with his personal trainer and I'd miss her too much if he retired.

Fluke title, or one and done title, for Max I do believe. I could be wrong. We'll see what the cars are like next year.

And I'm not 100% saying Max won't win more titles but look what it took to win just one!

Also, I'd love to see them return to just one tire compound. I'm tired of pit strategy winning races. I know it puts even more pressure on the teams to make a competitive car but that's what they should be doing anyway. That is my "simpleton's take" on F1. Mock me if you will.

Find the right combination of driver and car and one team will always dominate, McLaren (Prost & Senna), Williams (multiple drivers), Ferrari (Schumacher) , Red Bull (Vettel) and Mercedes (Hamilton).

Seeing one driver and team dominate does make the season boring in my opinion so it is nice to see when someone else wins for a change (not this season for obvious reasons) and as for pit strategy, I prefer it because it adds an extra challenge to the race. Many times we have seen pit crews screw up which has caused the driver to lose a race which has resulted in the driver losing the championship.

I do not want F1 to be like the game scalextric, where cars just go round and round with the one who can control the throttle better and not falling off the track being the winner. This is why I like pit strategies because it adds an extra dimension to the race.

 

[pachyderm]

I do not want F1 to be like the game scalextric, where cars just go round and round with the one who can control the throttle better and not falling off the track being the winner. This is why I like pit strategies because it adds an extra dimension to the race.

I feel it takes it out of the driver's hands.

But all valid points. Well put, well said.

 

[laptech]

I feel it takes it out of the driver's hands.

But all valid points. Well put, well said.

Does this mean your more the scalextric approach, you want cars to go round and round the race track and who ever is the one that crosses the line first is the winner with cars only being allowed to pit when they are running out of fuel or when their tyres are worn out, yes?

 

[pachyderm]

Does this mean your more the scalextric approach, you want cars to go round and round the race track and who ever is the one that crosses the line first is the winner with cars only being allowed to pit when they are running out of fuel or when their tyres are worn out, yes?

Sure, go with that.

Though no refueling. Tire changes, sure.

 

[ericwn]

Sure, go with that.

Though no refueling. Tire changes, sure.

I’d prefer that as well. It should be as much in the hands of the driver as possible. One tyre compound, no refueling, as few pit interactions as possible.

 

[Phil77354]

I like having pit stops. You guys are right in that it introduces a factor into the outcome of the race that is outside of the hands of the driver, but my feeling is that it makes the race more of a team event plus it makes the teams develop a strategy for the race to make the best use of the tires and car performance.

One of the very interesting skills that Schumacher had, if I am remembering correctly, was his ability to produce a very hot lap just before pitting, and to get down the pit entrance as quickly as possible before reaching the speed limited area. Hamilton is good at this as well, I think.

I don't miss refueling, but pitting for tires is good for the sport and makes the races more interesting, I think.

edit: corrected 'pit exit' to 'pit entrance' which is what I meant to say.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I like having pit stops. You guys are right in that it introduces a factor into the outcome of the race that is outside of the hands of the driver, but my feeling is that it makes the race more of a team event plus it makes the teams develop a strategy for the race to make the best use of the tires and car performance.

One of the very interesting skills that Schumacher had, if I am remembering correctly, was his ability to produce a very hot lap just before pitting, and to get down the pit exit as quickly as possible before reaching the speed limited area. Hamilton is good at this as well, I think.

I don't miss refueling, but pitting for tires is good for the sport and makes the races more interesting, I think.

Pit stops should be random. The race director should get to choose when you come in and what tyres you get....

 

[Tommy66]

Post 2,015 - anyone?

 

[pachyderm]

Any way to watch the races online without cable or is it all pay to view?

...

 

[zhenya]

Post 2,015 - anyone?

What country are you in?

 

[Tommy66]

USA

 

[zhenya]

USA

So no, you need ESPN or you need to pay for F1 streaming access through their site.

 

[Tommy66]

So no, you need ESPN or you need to pay for F1 streaming access through their site.

Ok thanks. I'll do without.

 

[pachyderm]

Post 2,015 - anyone?

Ok thanks. I'll do without.

You don't already have espn?

If you already pay for espn you get the races.

 

[laptech]

I’d prefer that as well. It should be as much in the hands of the driver as possible. One tyre compound, no refueling, as few pit interactions as possible.

F1 is already in the hands of the drivers. If they are too aggressive on the accelator, they use up too much fuel, if they are too aggressive on the brakes they wear out the brakes, if they are too aggressive on the steering they wear out the tyres. Every race track is analyzed to find the perfect racing line for every straight, corner and chicane and it is upto the driver to find the perfect racing line so they can get the maximum performance out of the car.

F1 is not just about the driver or only about the driver because you have those behind the scenes who design and build the car. You've got fitness instructors and nutritionists who get the driver into peak physical condition. The race analysts who calculate optimum racing conditions not just for the perfect lap but also valuate conditions under various weather conditions. Race engineers who work one on one with the driver on setting up the car. Then you have the pit crew who have to change the cars tyres and refuel or change a damaged part.

There is so much they goes on behind the scenes to be able to get the driver to do what they do and as such I feel these people should somehow be involved in the sport because with out them the driver cannot do what they do, hence why F1 should be a team sport.

Having pit strategies make the sport more exciting. There has been countless times I've watch F1 and shouted at the television because the teams pit strategy has spectacularly failed or when the pit crew make a mistake and it adds seconds on to the drivers time, watching a driver who is 1st, pit, pit crew messes up and the driver comes out in 8th or 9th position then your on the edge of your seat biting your nails hoping to see if your driver can regain 1st position again.

Having F1 be all about the driver would be boring for me. Sitting there watching them go round and round, hoping that one of them makes a mistake. In a sense, it would a bit like watching the Monaco GP every time because the Monoco GP has so little overtaking opportunities all you mainly see if cars going round and round and round. It's boring and I would not want that for every GP.

 

[ericwn]

F1 is already in the hands of the drivers. If they are too aggressive on the accelator, they use up too much fuel, if they are too aggressive on the brakes they wear out the brakes, if they are too aggressive on the steering they wear out the tyres. Every race track is analyzed to find the perfect racing line for every straight, corner and chicane and it is upto the driver to find the perfect racing line so they can get the maximum performance out of the car.

F1 is not just about the driver or only about the driver because you have those behind the scenes who design and build the car. You've got fitness instructors and nutritionists who get the driver into peak physical condition. The race analysts who calculate optimum racing conditions not just for the perfect lap but also valuate conditions under various weather conditions. Race engineers who work one on one with the driver on setting up the car. Then you have the pit crew who have to change the cars tyres and refuel or change a damaged part.

There is so much they goes on behind the scenes to be able to get the driver to do what they do and as such I feel these people should somehow be involved in the sport because with out them the driver cannot do what they do, hence why F1 should be a team sport.

Having pit strategies make the sport more exciting. There has been countless times I've watch F1 and shouted at the television because the teams pit strategy has spectacularly failed or when the pit crew make a mistake and it adds seconds on to the drivers time, watching a driver who is 1st, pit, pit crew messes up and the driver comes out in 8th or 9th position then your on the edge of your seat biting your nails hoping to see if your driver can regain 1st position again.

Having F1 be all about the driver would be boring for me. Sitting there watching them go round and round, hoping that one of them makes a mistake. In a sense, it would a bit like watching the Monaco GP every time because the Monoco GP has so little overtaking opportunities all you mainly see if cars going round and round and round. It's boring and I would not want that for every GP.

Thanks for sharing but I disagree that pit strategies make the races more exciting. Less immediately predictable sure, but I personally find this stuff boring. We thankfully got rid of the silly refuelling as the cars got more and more efficient and pit stops should now be reduced to just repairs and penalties. I don’t have an interest anymore in seeing a wheel not come off or on or hear about tyre strategy- this is supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport, make the damn tyres last a full race.

 

[pachyderm]

Thanks for sharing but I disagree that pit strategies make the races more exciting. Less immediately predictable sure, but I personally find this stuff boring. We thankfully got rid of the silly refuelling as the cars got more and more efficient and pit stops should now be reduced to just repairs and penalties. I don’t have an interest anymore in seeing a wheel not come off or on or hear about tyre strategy- this is supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport, make the damn tyres last a full race.

Agreed.

 

[laptech]

Thanks for sharing but I disagree that pit strategies make the races more exciting. Less immediately predictable sure, but I personally find this stuff boring. We thankfully got rid of the silly refuelling as the cars got more and more efficient and pit stops should now be reduced to just repairs and penalties. I don’t have an interest anymore in seeing a wheel not come off or on or hear about tyre strategy- this is supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport, make the damn tyres last a full race.

So you want F1 to be like Nascar, cars going round and round. How boring.

We both have difference of opinions on how F1 should and there is going to be millions of F1 fans with the same difference of opinions. Question is how does F1 accomadate both of us so both of us is happy?, they can't in my opinion. One of use has to lose out.

 

[ericwn]

So you want F1 to be like Nascar, cars going round and round. How boring.

We both have difference of opinions on how F1 should and there is going to be millions of F1 fans with the same difference of opinions. Question is how does F1 accomadate both of us so both of us is happy?, they can't in my opinion. One of use has to lose out.

Race cars on circuits have the tendency of going around and around in circles. I’m personally tired of having a driver’s success or failure be influenced by pit stops. Doing mechanical work on the car happens in NASCAR too last I checked but I find it boring regardless.

 

[laptech]

Race cars on circuits have the tendency of going around and around in circles. I’m personally tired of having a driver’s success or failure be influenced by pit stops. Doing mechanical work on the car happens in NASCAR too last I checked but I find it boring regardless.

But don't you think the drivers success or failure should be a team affair rather than it all coming down to one person, that person being the driver?

 

[ericwn]

But don't you think the drivers success or failure should be a team affair rather than it all coming down to one person, that person being the driver?

It’s a team effort as in the vehicle needs to hold up. Once it’s “lights out” the focus should be the driver and the car on the track.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Thanks for sharing but I disagree that pit strategies make the races more exciting. Less immediately predictable sure, but I personally find this stuff boring. We thankfully got rid of the silly refuelling as the cars got more and more efficient and pit stops should now be reduced to just repairs and penalties. I don’t have an interest anymore in seeing a wheel not come off or on or hear about tyre strategy- this is supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport, make the damn tyres last a full race.

Exactly. People forget that the racing can be just as boring once teams work out the perfect pit strategy like Ferrari did between 2000-04.

 

[laptech]

Exactly. People forget that the racing can be just as boring once teams work out the perfect pit strategy like Ferrari did between 2000-04.

But do you not think racing is just as boring if one driver dominates the race from start to finish where you end up hoping the driver is going to make a mistake in the hope it will make the race more interesting? because it is what will happen in my opinion if pit strategies were removed.

We have seen it many many times in F1, a driver on pole or a driver who takes first place on the first lap and they just go round and round and round never challenged then end up winning the race. Is that the kind of F1 you really want to see more of? because remove pit strategies and that is what you will get in my opinion.

 

[pachyderm]

Longest post season discussion in an F1 thread ever? Maybe.