- 30 Mar 12, 21:28#297439
Finally got to watch of of the 'year reviews' on Sky F1. Reviewing Damon Hill's winning year of 1996. At that time I had been watching F1 for about maybe 5 or 6 years. After watching, there are some very interesting things to note (I think anyway). Some I knew, but had forgotten, but some things I dont think I ever realised.
1. Its amazing how unstable the cars seem to be - the drivers really have to fight the car, all the way round the track. If modern day drivers had to cope with that, they would moan the car is a dog.
2. Back then, they could race in the rain. The rain at one of the races (think it was Nürburgring) was hammering it down, and they couldnt see the end of the car nose - but they just got on with it - no running under safety car, or Red Flags.
3. How much lapping went on - the top drivers often lapped WELL into the top 10 by the end of the race.
4. How unbelievably unreliable all the cars are. You didnt get a race without at least half the grid retiring - which obviously is what causes point 3.
5. The amount of times cars crashed into each other, or nudged each other off the track, Felipe Massa would be crying for the entire 16 races. And all without what seems very few penalties! All put down to good old 'racing incidents'
6. The safety car was a Renault Clio (well in San Marino it was)..... (aah - in Spa its a Merc AMG)
7. Eddie Jordan looks weird without a goatee.
8. Spare car. Should that be brought back?
9. When they Red Flagged the Australian race after Martin Brundles crash, they restarted the race. From the original starting line-up. This mean Damon got a do-over on his original awful start. Very unfair. Glad they dont do that anymore.
10. Man the cars seem sooooo wide and soooo low. And kinda sexy.
11. The cars give off a lot of oil off. The white of the williams cars are BROWN by the end of the races.
12. Didnt remember how tight that year was for Hill - right to the last race at Suzuka.
13. McLarens were still the sexiest cars on the track.....
I think the point I'm trying to make with all the above - I forgot how exciting F1 used to be, and as much as I still love it, its certainly lost some of its excitement. Everything seems so raw, and basic - even the car design.
Id love to see some modern day drivers race back then - Hamilton, Button, Vettel - I just dont know if they would of cut the mustard.
Anyway - your thoughts? If you have any........
(yes, I know, I should find something better to do on a Friday night!)
1. Its amazing how unstable the cars seem to be - the drivers really have to fight the car, all the way round the track. If modern day drivers had to cope with that, they would moan the car is a dog.
2. Back then, they could race in the rain. The rain at one of the races (think it was Nürburgring) was hammering it down, and they couldnt see the end of the car nose - but they just got on with it - no running under safety car, or Red Flags.
3. How much lapping went on - the top drivers often lapped WELL into the top 10 by the end of the race.
4. How unbelievably unreliable all the cars are. You didnt get a race without at least half the grid retiring - which obviously is what causes point 3.
5. The amount of times cars crashed into each other, or nudged each other off the track, Felipe Massa would be crying for the entire 16 races. And all without what seems very few penalties! All put down to good old 'racing incidents'
6. The safety car was a Renault Clio (well in San Marino it was)..... (aah - in Spa its a Merc AMG)
7. Eddie Jordan looks weird without a goatee.
8. Spare car. Should that be brought back?
9. When they Red Flagged the Australian race after Martin Brundles crash, they restarted the race. From the original starting line-up. This mean Damon got a do-over on his original awful start. Very unfair. Glad they dont do that anymore.
10. Man the cars seem sooooo wide and soooo low. And kinda sexy.
11. The cars give off a lot of oil off. The white of the williams cars are BROWN by the end of the races.
12. Didnt remember how tight that year was for Hill - right to the last race at Suzuka.
13. McLarens were still the sexiest cars on the track.....
I think the point I'm trying to make with all the above - I forgot how exciting F1 used to be, and as much as I still love it, its certainly lost some of its excitement. Everything seems so raw, and basic - even the car design.
Id love to see some modern day drivers race back then - Hamilton, Button, Vettel - I just dont know if they would of cut the mustard.
Anyway - your thoughts? If you have any........
(yes, I know, I should find something better to do on a Friday night!)