2008 Formula1 discussion
^09 rules for aero are completely different. Huge front, very small rear. Also the front wings will have active aero, meaning the driver can change the setting to allow for more or less downforce. All this to help encourage overtaking.
Huge blow but a smart move on Honda's part. Hopefully other teams will follow suit. The sport is retarded expensive as it is and the higher ups are out of touch with reality and drunk with power. I just don't see the ROI for the teams to continue participating in this sport, especially those that aren't auto manufacturers. It's just a money pit with the winner getting bragging rights. The impacts the sales on the sale products and services may be minimum at best since you are dealing with a niche' audience ...
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 328
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From: Infineon Raceway
I'm conflicted on the subject of cost. I always felt that one of the best things about F1 was how it advanced technology. Using cutting edge technology to make race cars faster is both cool and extremely expensive. But making the series cheaper by freezing technological advances seems like a bad direction for the sport. I don't want to see a series with only two manufacturers competing, but I also (and even more so) don't want to watch a series where everything is spec from the motors to the tires. The combination of technology, drivers and team support is what makes F1 great. Hopefully they will be able to strike a good balance between cost and innovation.
The big problem with F1 is that the things they've tended to take the innovation out are the wrong things. Make a body template, take the 1000s of hours of wind tunnel out. Let them innovate with suspension, braking, propulsion, electronics, etc. And, dare I say, make it so a superior driver can overcome an inferior car and win occasionally (something highly unlikely in today's F1). 
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 61
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From: Wausau, WI
Save cost in other areas. What would be wrong with making the drivers manually shift the gears? Brings a little bit back to the drivers, and more importantly, saves a lot of developement costs.
I'm a little conflicted too. Paddle shift gearboxes are filtering down into our street car world, and that's pretty cool. Wouldn't be there if not for F1, but the need to save costs to save the sports is important too.
I'm a little conflicted too. Paddle shift gearboxes are filtering down into our street car world, and that's pretty cool. Wouldn't be there if not for F1, but the need to save costs to save the sports is important too.
The last thing I want to see in this sport is all the manufacturers pull out! This news is horrible for the future of F1 racing.
I do agree they need to cut cost but going to a standardized engine supplied by Cosworth (did you guys see that they won the bid) is the absolute worst idea EVER. I hope Bernie crokes one of these days and finally someone can come in with the sports best interest in mind, not just trying to fatten his/her wallet.
Honda you suck for doing this, I wish BAR had never sold out to you!
I do agree they need to cut cost but going to a standardized engine supplied by Cosworth (did you guys see that they won the bid) is the absolute worst idea EVER. I hope Bernie crokes one of these days and finally someone can come in with the sports best interest in mind, not just trying to fatten his/her wallet.
Honda you suck for doing this, I wish BAR had never sold out to you!
I do agree they need to cut cost but going to a standardized engine supplied by Cosworth (did you guys see that they won the bid) is the absolute worst idea EVER. I hope Bernie crokes one of these days and finally someone can come in with the sports best interest in mind, not just trying to fatten his/her wallet.
While Honda pulling out is a bad thing for the sport, it shows how this sport has been spiraling out of control, both in terms of rule making and cost control. Let's face it unless you want a few of the richest teams racing against each other costs associated with the sport will have to come down. While we all talk about how the cutting edge technology is cool, it also constantly gets more complicated and costly to implement. The days of gurney flaps being the cutting edge in technology is long gone.
Sponsors and teams involved in this sport are looking for some sort of return on their investment, bottom line is they're in it to improve brand image and recognition and hopefully make money. If the cost to implement this cutting edge technology is significantly more than the projected return, then it's not worth it to them. SOME of the technology does filter down to the commercial product offering from the manufacturers but only if it can be cost effectively mass produced and it is easy to implement. Economies of scale can then take over ....
Evolving Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 398
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From: Dubai
I'm conflicted on the subject of cost. I always felt that one of the best things about F1 was how it advanced technology. Using cutting edge technology to make race cars faster is both cool and extremely expensive. But making the series cheaper by freezing technological advances seems like a bad direction for the sport. I don't want to see a series with only two manufacturers competing, but I also (and even more so) don't want to watch a series where everything is spec from the motors to the tires. The combination of technology, drivers and team support is what makes F1 great. Hopefully they will be able to strike a good balance between cost and innovation.
Perhaps they should change the tracks and not the cars - throw in more street circuits, or imperfect surfaces, or different layouts, or change the format?