The golden era of Formula 1

[coppice]

Oh they have , undoubtedly , and I agree that the F3s sounded absolutely glorious . How I'd love to see a UK series of F3 . The F1s sounded weedy on overrun but pretty feisty under power - and the speed ...crikey

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

The F3s earlier in the day (who put on a good show) were about 3-4 times louder.

Certainly, the F3 cars are naturally aspirated (and also without muffler) after all.

Whether F1 went to a naturally aspirated V6, V8, V10 or V12 they would all be considerably louder due to the lack of a turbocharger turbine and lack of MGUH silencing the exhaust. If they didn't have the MGUH then at least they could open the wastegate during the race instead of absorbing the excess energy electrically, but they have it so they don't.

Originally Posted by coppice

How I'd love to see a UK series of F3 .

You have a UK series of "F3" based on spruced-up F4 cars, all the national F3 series are meant to run in that specification according to the FIA.

[coppice]

I know what lukewarm stuff we do have , and the resemblance to 'official' F3 is similar to the difference between alcohol free wine and a beefy claret

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by coppice

I know what lukewarm stuff we do have , and the resemblance to 'official' F3 is similar to the difference between alcohol free wine and a beefy claret

Sadly the FIA was not best pleased about when British F3 was the most prestigious F3 series I suspect. They are funny that way.

I think they want the FIA series to have the faster cars and the greater super license points.

Originally Posted by Casper

I think the golden era for F1 was when drivers began to reasonably expect to get out of the car at the end of a race and not be in hospital or have died in a race incident.

I don't know, a lot of people do consider that 50's & 60's era as captured in the film Grand Prix (1966) to be the golden age or "romantic" age somehow -- at least of the Formula One world championship, if not the previous AIACR European Championship for Grand Prix cars. They are certainly very beautiful cars up to and including the early winged cars, before they went all blocky.



This picture of Graham Hill's Lotus is one of my favourite motorsport snaps!



[Note 15" wheels on both of the above cars, with low-profile front tyres to boot! So the arguments against moving away from " traditional " 13" tyres to " modern " low-profile tyres seem super suss to me: the wheels & tyres only became bulbous 13" affairs in the first place because the rules mandated such.]