FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

The brakes should stay the way as they are, I agree 100% with what DD said. Formula One isn't about taking the easy way out. In the past drivers had to slow their cars down with brakes which were far less advanced compared to now.

Races also should not be shortened. That is like asking cricket to shorten their test series.
Formula One should not subject itself to the media friendly world of time-slots. This is a sport, not a soap opera.

God help us if FOTA are ever allowed to shorten the races.

For me, the width of the brake discs depends on how they hold up to the strain of cars weighing another one hundred kilos. If they are capable of doing the job in 2010 with intelligent usage by the teams and drivers, then I think they should remain the same. If, however, they're going to badly erode to nothing after a dozen laps or something, then making the discs a little bit wider seems fair enough. Yes, it's true that brakes were much less sophisticated in the past, but this does not necessarily mean that modern brakes that will last longer; these über-exotic modern materials might have fine operating margins.

I completely agree about the length of races. They absolutely must not be shortened. It's another useless idea which FOTA have come up with and which the majority of Formula One fans will disagree with.

[EwanM]

The brakes should stay the way as they are, I agree 100% with what DD said. Formula One isn't about taking the easy way out. In the past drivers had to slow their cars down with brakes which were far less advanced compared to now.

Races also should not be shortened. That is like asking cricket to shorten their test series.
Formula One should not subject itself to the media friendly world of time-slots. This is a sport, not a soap opera.

God help us if FOTA are ever allowed to shorten the races.

For me, the width of the brake discs depends on how they hold up to the strain of cars weighing another one hundred kilos. If they are capable of doing the job in 2010 with intelligent usage by the teams and drivers, then I think they should remain the same. If, however, they're going to badly erode to nothing after a dozen laps or something, then making the discs a little bit wider seems fair enough. Yes, it's true that brakes were much less sophisticated in the past, but this does not necessarily mean that modern brakes that will last longer; these über-exotic modern materials might have fine operating margins.

All valid points, but where is the challenge in increasing the size of the brakes? Formula One lacks innovation in most areas these days. Although brakes are merely a small issue, the ability to manage them with considerable weight would pose more of a challenge to drivers. Too many times, drivers appear to be able to lock up their brakes consistently and yet suffer no consequences what so ever.

I realise safety should be paramount, but there is nothing to say that the current brakes can't be improved over time. Yes, it would cost the teams alot of money, but i'm sure they would just spend the same amount on something else anyways. They might as well invest their money in something worthwhile.

[McLaren Fan]

I've not been clear enough. I would like to see drivers have more things to manage in the car, including brakes. So, I've no worries if things turn out that way next year. But if the brakes were barely lasting a stint in Grands Prix, then something will have to be done with the width of the brake discs.

In my view, brakes are pretty fundamental - there is room with innovation there - but Formula One needs to see more innovation in even more fundamental areas, such as engines. I don't really see how any of these things can be squared with cost-cutting. In terms of brakes, carbon fibre is already a fantastically modern material, so how much research and development is going to be required to find material for brake discs which better it!

I forget to mention in my last post, Williams are creating some confusion here. Once again, I question their motives behind refusing to allow the brake discs to be wider. I'm pretty sure they are deliberately trying to be as awkward as possible to cause trouble. I used to have a lot of respect for Williams, but my opinion of them in the past few weeks has fallen through the floor. They're nothing more than duck merchants.

[EwanM]

Unfortunately this is the nature of the beast.

EDIT: I think its sad that the big technical talking point at the moment are the brakes. I mean they shouldn't even be up for discussion.

It shows you how rigid the system is at the moment for Formula One.

We have an ECU system which is standard, same tyres, banning of refuelling...
And potentially a good number of teams running the same engine. Where is the fun in that?

[darwin dali]

They're nothing more than f***-about merchants.

That's a new one...

A bit harsh

[EwanM]

Sorry McLaren supporters.

Moment of the Race: Ant Hamilton's face after Lewis's second pitstop.

I'm sure he wasn't thinking like Lewis was after the race: "we win together, we lose together."

[McLaren Fan]

Sorry McLaren supporters.

Moment of the Race: Ant Hamilton's face after Lewis's second pitstop.

I'm sure he wasn't thinking like Lewis was after the race: "we win together, we lose together."

I noticed Anthony Hamilton's face. Nothing would have given me greater pleasure at that moment to smack it.

[darwin dali]

Sorry McLaren supporters.

Moment of the Race: Ant Hamilton's face after Lewis's second pitstop.

I'm sure he wasn't thinking like Lewis was after the race: "we win together, we lose together."

I noticed Anthony Hamilton's face. Nothing would have given me greater pleasure at that moment to smack it.

Tell us how you REALLY feel!

[Bovvaboy]

When Ant comes on screen we call it "Daddy Cam" and we decided last night that when Lewis's girl comes on we will call it "cat Cam" ( being that she is a cat Cat Doll of course!)

[darwin dali]

When Ant comes on screen we call it "Daddy Cam" and we decided last night that when Lewis's girl comes on we will call it "cat Cam" ( being that she is a cat Cat Doll of course!)

[Jensonb]

Great drive by Rubens, he deserved the win. Hamilton had no chance to get past Rubens in last stint, and even if he didn`t have the pit problem it would have been really tight about who would win - Lewis or Rubens. But what goes around, comes around. Rubens had a pit stop problem in Germany and lost some places, so this time he got lucky and someone else had problems.

But in the end of the day the winner is the driver to cross the finish line first, not the one who led most laps. And in the end we saw that Brawn has the pace once again to win.
If Button keeps being stuck somewhere in 6th-8th place like he has for the past 4 races, he could be in trouble.

Button won't keep getting stuck there. Spa is the last track where Brawn will definitely struggle, and Jenson knows what must be done. I reckon he'll be back on the Podium no later than Monza and winning again no later than Suzuka.

[ivey]

Yesterday I was so damn pissed about mclaren, today i realise even though Hamilton also would have deserved the victory, Rubens does too. I don't know if you heard the radio speak between Rubens and the team when he was said "McLaren made an error, make 5 qualifying laps - COMEONNN RUBENSSS!!" And then he started to fly. That was a great moment, although i'm not a Brawn fan. 2nd place is still very nice. I'm looking forward for hamilton to score a podium in belgium.

[vaptin]

I'd like it if the teams wanted to research new brake materials, but then again i want to study materials science and engineering at university.

[EwanM]

I'd like it if the teams wanted to research new brake materials, but then again i want to study materials science and engineering at university.

Let's hope they do then.

[billindenver]

Brakes are a very simple system. You use friction to slow the car down and the enemy of that process is heat. The teams are saying that they have a heavier car to stop, so they want more brake material to stop it with or it will be unsafe. That is complete BS. If the existing rotors can't take the heat of stopping the heavier car, there are two options. You can increase the size of the rotors etc OR you can make them generate less heat by changing the materials/size of pad etc. Don't fall for the line of crap that there is only one way to make brakes work.

In my mind, the reason F1 is somewhat boring to watch at times is because of how good the brakes are. Great brakes means smaller braking zones which is where the majority of passing is done in racing. To me, they should DECREASE the size of the brake pads and rotors for next year. Force the drivers to brake earlier and give the fans some overtaking to watch. Huge, hand of God brakes do not make the racing any more fun to watch. I would far rather see the braking points come far earlier and give more chances for drivers to out brake each other.