Niki Lauda's view of Formula 1

[ECW Dan Selby]

On a slightly off-topic comment, how realistic is the concept of Lauda taking over from Bernie? Or is Horner a shoe-in?

Selby

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by ECW Dan Selby

On a slightly off-topic comment, how realistic is the concept of Lauda taking over from Bernie? Or is Horner a shoe-in?

Selby

I'd take Lauda. Not sure I'd be bothered about Horner. He's just a manager-type that lacks imagination.

But regardless of who is at the top; CVC needs to be replaced by someone...less parasitical..for this sport to stand a chance from emerging from the doldrums. Dunno how likely that is.

[jmlima]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

...
A couple of weeks ago Autosport did a research to how stressful the driving currently is and unsurprisingly they concluded 'Ayrton Senna's era' was more stressful both physically and mentally. The cars in that era were physically hard to drive because of the simple reason they generated an awful amount of downforce and lacked driver aids - apart from the Ferrari's, all cars were still fitted with manual gearboxes. ....

Certainly not true at the time of his death...

[JeremySmith]

Originally Posted by Paradise City

I'd take Lauda. Not sure I'd be bothered about Horner. He's just a manager-type that lacks imagination.

But regardless of who is at the top; CVC needs to be replaced by someone...less parasitical..for this sport to stand a chance from emerging from the doldrums. Dunno how likely that is.

Lauda is too old...

[Casper]

Wings aren't going anywhere as they are a valuable source of advertising income. Lose them and the advertising area on the car is reduced by a substantial amount.

[djinvicta]

Lauda is too old...

Must be a year or so younger than BE

[chillibowl]

lol.

Lauda is only mid 60s no? provided FOM evolves into a more modern operational structure, much as how Merc F1 have divvied up roles and responsibilities, then i dont see why he would be too old.

[chunterer]

Toto Vooooolf!!!

He'd be a great pr figurehead, knows motorsport and allegedly has enough commercial acumen to run a big operation.

Or do we need a clichéd Corporate turnaround specialist to take the helm of F1?

[bella]

now john booth's twiddling his thumbs and drinking tea, he'd make a superb figurehead for the sport. get it done yorkshire style, no faffing about

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by bella

now john booth's twiddling his thumbs and drinking tea, he'd make a superb figurehead for the sport. get it done yorkshire style, no faffing about

Yes! Haha love it

Can you imagine how the negotiating would go at team managers and circuit meetings?!

[Purist]

That's debatable, Casper. With how much of the main body that is knackered by extra appendages, and how much of the existing wings that are these smaller, curving, stacked bits, there's an awful lot of that space that is useless because of how small and distorted any image/logo on those sections is going to be. The body and wings on a 1980s turbo F1 car, in a number of respects, were better for plastering on a large logo. As for the small logos, I kind of fail to see their value, with the cars flashing by so fast that you don't have a prayer of really seeing them, much less recognizing what they are.

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by Purist

That's debatable, Casper. With how much of the main body that is knackered by extra appendages, and how much of the existing wings that are these smaller, curving, stacked bits, there's an awful lot of that space that is useless because of how small and distorted any image/logo on those sections is going to be. The body and wings on a 1980s turbo F1 car, in a number of respects, were better for plastering on a large logo. As for the small logos, I kind of fail to see their value, with the cars flashing by so fast that you don't have a prayer of really seeing them, much less recognizing what they are.

Cars simply stationary with logos featured on the wings has commercial value. They appear in promotional shots and all that kind of thing.

[Purist]

Even sitting still, you can't tell what they are if the surface is too curved/sculpted, or the area in question is just too small.

Also, too many of the cars, unless they're under very bright light, just look too much alike, which further diminishes any identity recognition. I mean, am I looking at a McLaren, Sauber, or Mercedes, a Williams or a Force India, a Red Bull or a Toro Rosso? Trying to identify the cars from the front or the rear is the hardest, but even from the side, the first three I listed, unless there is an intense light source, all have a rather dull/dim appearance and tone.

[cerdic]

The intricate sculpted surfaces certainly do the cars no favours on TV. From most camera angles it is impossible to tell the cars apart. The liveries all seem to turn into a dark blob these days!

[Paradise City]

Originally Posted by Purist

Even sitting still, you can't tell what they are if the surface is too curved/sculpted, or the area in question is just too small.

Also, too many of the cars, unless they're under very bright light, just look too much alike, which further diminishes any identity recognition. I mean, am I looking at a McLaren, Sauber, or Mercedes, a Williams or a Force India, a Red Bull or a Toro Rosso? Trying to identify the cars from the front or the rear is the hardest, but even from the side, the first three I listed, unless there is an intense light source, all have a rather dull/dim appearance and tone.

I have trouble telling the difference between the Mercedes and the Mclarens and clearly the RBR and STR are very similar. The rest are fairly distinctive I think?

But I suppose it isn't as stark as the cars from 1995 say - to throw out an example. Then the big sponsors were a community of cigarette manufacturers.

[Pingguest]

Originally Posted by miatanut

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX3xa8MaHqU

That doesn't look very glued-down. Check out the yaw.

That footage shows Jean Alesi overdriving a Ferrari that handled poorly because of massive design flaws and mid-season rule changes as a consequence of the tragedies on Imola earlier that very year. Compare that footage with the following.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHdUqGF6U6c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGoXnQ4kx9w

Originally Posted by miatanut

The wings are a lot smaller now, but the current cars probably have more downforce than the 1994 cars. In any case, they are more planted now. But, if true, that would partly support your comment that the current cars require less from the driver.

Eliminating most of the downforce would make it a much better show for the fans, and the reduction in wings would improve passing. Win/win.

Except for the people who obsess about lap time in an era when all cars are limited for safety.

The history of Formula One has three 'high-downforce era's', namely: the 1980-1982 ground effect era, the pre-Imola 1994 era and the 2004 season. Since the 2004 season the downforce levels have gradually been reduced, most recently for this year's season. Lewis Hamilton stated that this made the cars easier to drive. They generate more wheelspin as consequence, but drivers easily cope with that by shifting up gears more rapidly.

I agree a low-downforce car will require more from a driver technically, but in mid-2000s the high-downforce undoubtedly put huge stress on the drivers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVVITJ8Zfe8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnWio8_E2J4

[miatanut]

Originally Posted by Pingguest

Compare that footage with the following.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHdUqGF6U6c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGoXnQ4kx9w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVVITJ8Zfe8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnWio8_E2J4

A very nicely-done comparison of the cars over a decade of development, and all using the same driver, for consistency!

I'm going to take more time with it later to extract the meaning from it.

My immediate impression is that the cars become quicker handling and the corner speeds seem to be increasing regardless of what the rules-makers were trying to do with downforce.

Unless they aren't all playing at the same rate. I want to check them with a stopwatch to make sure I'm not getting faked-out.

[S griffin]

You're unlikely to find someone with more sensible views than Lauda. If he was in charge, we might actually get good non artificial with a full grid of cars too

[ECW Dan Selby]

His no BS approach would be remarkably refreshing after the reign of Bernie.

Selby

[Razor]

A bit off topic but that Mike Schumacher lap that was posted up made me realize how much I miss the V10 sound.