I agree with you Manny with regard to balance. But the point I'm putting across is that the Balance here, are the current regulations in F1 we have today. These Pirelli's don't favour anybody, these guys have to adapt or fail trying, that's the only balance I see here. More and more modern F1 drivers say they have no driving style that is set in stone, Perez was very outspoken saying a F1 driver needs to be flexible as things keep changing every year for them. It's no different to a Doctor having to learn new skills every 5 years as the stuff he/she used to know is now useless, things change. The same has been applied to F1 drivers since dot up to today.
Why does anyone really care what Senna would do now? F1 isn't all about the most overrated driver of all time. It changes over time. I'm sure if someone went 100% on these tyres all the time they could win. If anything needs changing, it's bringing back refuelling. It's because of the teams underfuelling the cars why they go "70%" Nothing to do with the tyres.
No but I understand the reaction to the effects of the tyres at the moment. Do you remember the outcry after the 2010 Bahrain GP, when F1 was roundly panned for being irredeemably boring? It was followed by a sequence of wet races after which everyone was aghast at how exciting it all was. In fact, 2010 was a very average season for racing, despite the championship being fascinating. We've just had four extreme races that have prevented the teams getting on top of the tyres. By the time F1 comes to Britain (assuming we have typical conditions at races between now and then), the tyres will not be the talking point some of you are making them now because the teams and drivers will understand them better. The purpose of the 2012 Pirellis is to enable the kind of racing you naysayers claim to want, which is to offer competing strategies and give teams and drivers the opportunity to think through races and play to their strengths instead of being forced to do what everyone else is doing because there's only one way. A knee jerk reaction to the fact that four extreme races have curbed the learning curve is shortsighted and hysterical, in my opinion. We get this kind of outcry over something or other at the start of every season but it always dies down once the very clever people in F1 adapt to the circumstances. It's really not a big deal, despite the headless chickens running round like it is.
Ernie, this is not aimed at you, your quote just happens to be convenient to my differing view point F1 has NEVER been about 100% racing. It's only since 1994 when refuelling was re-introduced that '100% racing' became the norm. F1 is about the world's BEST drivers slugging it out to see who is BEST, not necessarily the FASTEST. The BEST goflers in the world do not hit the ball the furthest. there is more to the game than smacking a drive 400yrds as if you can't then chip it and putt the ball you're screwed. Is the same in every sport. My only gripe at the moment is that you have to have a mandatory stop. Why not let the Saubers try and go non-stop if they want to? Adds another dimension. Facts are, we still have 2/3/4 stop races, just like when there was refuelling, but now the tyres are not Bridgsetone rocks, they are now made out of rubber so Sdrivers have to think a bit ahead to decide if they want to trash their tyres early in a stint or keep some life in them for when others may have trashed them. Far more interesting IMO. Schuey is moaning his arse off as Pirelli no longer make the tyre for him and his team like Bridgestone did, so he has no competitive advantage on that front anymore. He should shut up and drive and show, if he can, why he won 7 WDC's, or was it beacuse everyting was stacked in his favour that he did and now it is clear how 'great' he really is?
Now that I would love to see! Saubers not stopping for the whole race and having Seb trying to catch them a second a lap on a 2 stopper and behind him the likes of Kimi and Lewis on a 3 stopper gaining 2 seconds a lap on the saubers with 5 laps to go!
Refuelling just gives us 56 parade laps (or whatever). Grid positions are maintained throughout the race except for pit stop passes, which are based entirely on who can afford to put in a few litres more fuel at the start of the race because their car's faster: the race becomes irrelevant because it's determined on a Saturday afternoon. In-race refuelling is a horrible blight on racing and should never have been introduced. Managing the fuel usage in a race is a good thing for two reasons. Firstly, because it ensures tactical racing instead of headbanging sprints and, secondly, because it rewards efficient engines. Regardless of your opinions on ecology, efficiency is always good: doing more for less is always good because it's harder than doing more for more. I agree with you, though, that fuel management is being overlooked in the hysterical screeching over new tyres.
Got moved back a year as the original plan was for a V4 turbo was scrapped as VW decided to not bother entering or something.
Not really fair to make an assumption yet this season, 3/4 very good starting positions turned into nothing due to mechanical or pit-crew issues. And the 4th, well we all know.
Fuel management is being overlooked for one simple reason, with having to look after the tyres, fuel consumption is virtually irrelevant. Not much screeching being heard from these Pirellis.
I have to agree, although some of his issues were brought upon himself in situations, he hasn't done anything wrong on his part this season, and it is unlucky that a large amount of points could not be gained.
I thought Vettel pulled over at the end of the pit lane after the Bahrain GP because he was marginal on fuel, having pushed harder than the team would have liked to get the win. His tyres seemed to hold on, though. McLaren struggled with fuel management in Australia, too, when they won. Mercedes had it under control in China, I accept - they must have to go quick enough to win the race on a two-stop strategy. Quite. I certainly can't hear them over the screeching of real fans telling the rest of us "what F1 is".
I would post further in this thread, but the lack of civility in it is astonishing to be honest. It's a discussion board for people to express their opinion, not be dismissed with superior tones, insults or hyperbole. Every driver has to cope with the same regs, so they just have to deal with it. But I still maintain the overtaking aids, tyres and pretty much none existent defending are masking the problems of the sport. Some like it, some don't... but there's no need for rudeness on the matter.
Hey, Bahji it's only motor racing mate. its not important, its not real, its an irrelevance in the scheme of things. Although it can be taken far too seriously, I almost wish I hadn't started this thread, but then again we wouldn't be talking.
It's about time we had a thread that created a bit of debate again. Got a couple weeks before the next GP to fill!!
