F1 Chatter (Spoilers abound)

[Mike]

Anyone watch F1? I've not historically, but I'm going to give it a go this year. Just finished watching the first race. Thoughts?

Seemed like the new cars have quite a few kinks they need to work out.

I can't say I fully understand the boost stuff. Is it a boost (PSI) increase at a push of a button? Or adjustable aero to allow a higher speed? I suppose I could Google it.

Anyway, pretty boring first race aside from like a one lap battle for second. First took off at the start and was untouchable the rest of the way.

[DavidM]

Yea, I've been watching and casually following for several years now. The new cars definitely have some kinks to work out, especially the Renault powered entries. There were some massive rule changes for this season (all new engines, major aero changes, new ECUs, new tire compounds) so everyone is trying to cope with that. By and large it seems to look like the faster cars break a lot and the more reliable cars aren't as fast. Except that Mercedes seems to be fast and reliable (Hamilton's issues notwithstanding) and Lotus seems to drive around really slowly for a few laps and then break.

When you say boost I think you're talking about the Energy Recovery System (ERS). My understanding is that is captures and stores energy from braking and from exhaust heat and then there is effectively a need for speed style turbo button that allows the driver to direct that energy through the drivetrain for a certain amount of time per lap. There is also the Drag Reduction System (DRS) that lets the driver effectively remove the rear wing to increase top speed when they are within a second of another car in certain sections of the track. Both are meant to improve passing opportunities.

Yea, unfortunately the races can turn into parades sometime, but I actually thought Oz was fairly interesting. The Mercs are going to be the favorites each week, but it looks like there are a handful of teams that could compete for podiums each race, which will make the season a lot more interested than when its two teams running away with it.

[Goodspeed]

You poor SOB - getting in on it just as the sound of the cars turns to shite. Oh well, youtube some earlier seasons and take in the V8/V10 gloriousness that once was, and hopefully will be again.

I can't say I fully understand the boost stuff. Is it a boost (PSI) increase at a push of a button? Or adjustable aero to allow a higher speed? I suppose I could Google it.

http://www.formula1.com/inside_f1/unders.../8763.html

And

http://www.formula1blog.com/f1-news/how-...k-in-2014/

Basically, it was a push-to-pass system that has now morphed into a more complex system allowing greater energy storing and usage on acceleration. And DRS (slot in the wing that opens for drag reduction) is something else and still in use.

Things should be more interesting though, with lower downforce and greater mechanical grip in the '14 cars, combined with turbos in the mix. You didn't miss too much the last, oh, 4 years with RB eating everyone's lunch. :lol:

[Mike]

i was slightly into it way back when the cars sounded awesome. i even went to suzuka with gerald about a billion years ago. i think my ears are still ringing. somewhat crappy old pics: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.iammike.org/gallery/?dir=vacations%2F2006_10_Japan%2FDay%2004%20-%20Suzuka">http://www.iammike.org/gallery/?dir=vac ... -%20Suzuka</a><!-- m -->

thanks for the links. will dig into them this evening. the explanations pretty much suffice, though... i get it now.

and... the cars need giant BOVs. pshew! pshew!

[Apoc]

People complain about the sound; I think it's a bit whiny. Yes, they're different... but people complain every time Facebook's news feed is changed too. I find the amount of technology and the ways they've interpreted the rules somewhat fascinating. I also appreciate that the cars seems to be really unreliable and unstable. Given people have complained for years there's no racing in F1, I'd think they'd like mixing things up.

and... the cars need giant BOVs. pshew! pshew!

They use some of the recovered electrical power to keep the turbo spooled and avoid lag, so you'd never get the sound. I think this is an example of some of the cool stuff they're doing.

[Senor_Taylor]

I love to watch F1, but the times are too inconvenient to watch the races half of the time.

[.RJ]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFHmYFlbFn8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFHmYFlbFn8</a><!-- m -->

[Senor_Taylor]

I actually don't mind the changes. These new restrictions will lead to some great technology.

[BLINGMW]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFHmYFlbFn8

wow they spent some time on that video, pretty cool

Good comparison of 2013 vs 2014 sound, I can see how some might complain:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS4Dh_EAfJI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS4Dh_EAfJI</a><!-- m -->
Seems like people are making a bit too much of it though :dunno: Turbo is where it's at.

[Senor_Taylor]

I don't think that video does the new cars much justice.

[.RJ]

V12 Ferrari > Turbo 4 wings n' things

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWZqb_PX12A">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWZqb_PX12A</a><!-- m -->

[Evan]

Personally I think the last f1 cars sounded like shit too. Not much of a change, just different smelling poo.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Senor_Taylor]

Sounds good to me

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNdvF4Dptfs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNdvF4Dptfs</a><!-- m -->

[ScottyB]

bah, i've been mourning how awful modern WRC cars sound for decades. F1? went better than expected.

[D_Eclipse9916]

F1? You mean the go-karts that never pass each other and just do laps then get hit with BS regulations and penalties? No thanks.

V8 Supercars/Continental Tire series/BTCC, yes please.

[Senor_Taylor]

Tell us how you really feel, DJ.

Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk

[G.Irish]

To be fair there's a lot more passing these days in F1 due to the DRS and the lack of traction control. It used to be that passes were made in the pits, now there's a ton more action on track. Even with Vettel dominating in the second half of last season there were 5 different winners, with the rules shake up there should be a lot of different guys on the top step of the podium.

[Evan]

I feel like drs isn't *real* passing though. Its better than nothing, but I don't want to see pushbutton passing (but only when pushing the button is allowed)
I want to see somebody make a run, get side by side and try to outbrake, then the other guy over-under him back etc etc

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[G.Irish]

Yeah DRS is a contrived solution, but they've adjusting the aero rules to promote passing for years and failed every time. DRS has been a lot more effective than what they did before so I'll take it.

Maybe if they made the rear wing the size of a sheet of paper the dirty air problem would go away and with it the need for DRS. Cars would be a lot slower but I'd imagine they'd still be faster than any other racecar (unless Le Mans prototypes went buckwild).

[Senor_Taylor]

Well, the wings are significantly smaller this year, so there's that.