This is not an article to put down F1 or say it is over, just to look at some future downfalls, a bit of a spur of the moment idea, so bear with my thoughts !. F1 has never been in as good of a position as it finds itself now, compared to the low viewing days of the schumacher dominance era of the early 2000's. This year we had the introduction of Pirelli , DRS and new rules ect, as discussed hundreds of times on here (including myself). Even with a runaway title it still has been one of the best action packed seasons we have ever had, but will F1 ever come to an end or what are the future alternatives ?. The BBC / Sky deal : Is the most publicized f1 news for the last week, as the BBC opt out of the full contract from FOM in a bid to save money. The effect of moving F1 to pay per view television is not a good move, with the BBC getting views of over 6 million, something sky will find hard to match. Although the move to sky will not be the downfall of F1, it could well lose a lot of casual (and some hardcore) f1 fans. Electric F1 : With the new technical regulations in 2014 stating that electric energy must solely be used in the pit lane, it suggest that F1 are moving towards greener engines, even though Bernie Ecclestone has said That electric motors shouldnt be used in F1. This moves onto another problem which fans are worried about, the loosing of engine noises. The noises of the engines are a crucial part of the image of F1, and to lose it for a soothing humming noise would be the ending of F1 in my view. Breakaway Formula : A few years ago, some F1 teams threatened to break away and make their own group, with the Changing of rules and moves to pay tv, will the idea come up fresh again, as the teams barter to get what they want. Over to you, what are your thoughts on the future F1, where is it going, and what will become of our beloved sport ?. Thanks for reading, please leave your thoughts !.
As ever, a great article dan. I'm not going to discuss the TV rights, because i'm bored of it. The thing that worries me is this electric only in the pitlane. What happens if a car has an issue with the kers system. Surely it becomes a hazard to the whole pitlane. Also, i read somewhere (i think it might have been James Allen's blog) that they have to start the race on the kers. That'll be a touch anti climatic wouldn't it? "And it's go go go" (with the sound of multiple milk floats in the background)
Lol @ Cowboy... Just make em start the race in a Prius, pull in to the pits at the end of the first lap and make them jog to their cars. No bonus cash for winning the championship but less distance to run from the Prius.
I'm pretty sure that any attempt to start the race on KERS, or ERS, or ., or what ever its called this week would not make it into the rules for the next 20 years. Not until electric cars outsell combustion ones anyway.
I just don't understand all the meddling. Why try to make the pinnacle of motorsport eco friendly? Cows damage the evironment more than f1 cars.
I would also like to apologise for some of my posts over the last couple of days. I've just been in a rotten mood, and needed to let off some steam.
Very true point cowboy, i think in the future we will see lower formulas being less Eco friendly than F1, which if it did happen would be a joke. Why cant F1 be a bit eco friendly, but not too much, electric engines shouldnt be near F1. Leave that to Eco F1 , or whatever they call it .
I think that they are correct to try to adapt to environmental concerns and greener technologies. If the electric proposals don't work out well, they will adapt that until it works. I think they'd be foolish to ignore the environmental issue because it is such a popular one and being such very public gas-guzzlers, they are an obvious target for attack or criticism. In the coming years these issues are likely to become more acute with increasing famines of food and, crucially, drinking water, melting ice-caps, rising seas levels and floods. These aren't myths, they are already happening and it's important to be seen to be addressing these things. As for TV coverage, well, less sponsorship money could well be a big issue, especially for the smaller teams who are more dependent on it yet who will also receive less exposure on mainstream TV during Highlights shows. People want to see the fight at the front, not the struggling stragglers at the back. They will perhaps be seen as two cars fighting for the lead come up to lap a slower car and that's it. The only way around this would be to edit the highlights to include shots of all teams but this would look odd and evidently artificial. Will the additional TV revenue compensate for the decrease in sponsorship money for the small teams? I doubt it myself.
We are in an inter-glacial period which means we are in a warmer stage through the ice age, the thing is most people are strangers to the glacial period, and all believe and frighten themselves into thinking it't their way of life that is causing this, which it isn't.
Be that as it may, there is a very powerful movement to reduce emissions or at least to be seen to be doing so.
if they don't switch to some other form of energy supply then F1 is definitley doomed. The Earth isn't a part of some computer game where resources respawn after a while, once the oil is gone it is gone for good. How much is left anyway? and consumption is on an upward curve (along with the price and the wars to get hold of it). And for those that don't know, F1 is just as good with the sound off.
As with most forms of transport, if they can sort out a way to efficiently extract and manugacture it, Hydrogen is the way forward. If F1 could embrace this fuel then the rest of the world can too. With all teh F1 boffins working on the best ways to use it and how to get hold of it, the costs of it and the everyday use elements for the ordinary joe can only benefit.
True points Miggins, but i dont know if i could look at F1 in the same light if there was no noise, it just take an extra buzz from the whole experience.
