FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[formula1man]

I started watching F1 in 2002 and really since then the sport really hasn't changed. If you ignore all the changes over the seasons that have been altered or removed and actually just looked at what has changed from 2002-2009 it really isn't that much. The changes they have made have made for a better spectacle. The cars also look much the same, but are now easier to overtake with (not hugely, but still easier)

Here is a summary, some of which have been implemented before
Cost Cutting
• 14 sets of tyres aloud only per race
• Engines reduced to V8s, 18,000 rpm, freeze on development, to last 4 races
• Ban on in season testing
• Tyre warmers banned (never used to exist)
• Refuelling banned (done before)

Spectacle
• Team Orders banned
• Points System change (better)
• Qualifying changed to 3 period session (better)
• Banning of Driver aids, traction and launch control (done before)
• Control tyre
• Removing most aero parts and changing wing dimensions to improve overtaking (done before, looks wise)
• Slick tyres again introduced (done before)
• Refuelling ban (done before)
Safety
• HANS introduced
• Pit lane speed limit to 100 km/h
• Strengthening of rear diffusers
• Slower return to pits when there is a safety car

and really if they introduce a budget cap all those cost cutting initiatives can be scrapped. That way budgets are capped without the fans noticing (on track, not in the media lol)

Have I missed anything?

[bud]

you dont call the reg changes this year much?

[formula1man]

you dont call the reg changes this year much?

well compared to 2002 no. People are saying that F1 is no longer the big sport it was, but it was still rich and famous in 02 and still is.

[bud]

the slicks the aero these are massive changes compared to last year let alone 02. Just ask McLaren and Ferrari. if they werent such drastic changes they would still be at the front of the pecking order.

[EwanM]

Even if old rules are being brought back that doesn't mean that they will effect the sport in the same way as previous.

Slicks, as bud has rightly pointed out, are just one of the many additions for this season which have had a dramatic impact on the championship order.
Refueling may do the same in terms of weight etc.

The cars look strikingly different era to era to it is all change.

[Jamie]

there are loads there, and then we are left with this peace of for a racing car?

[h-tomek]

The scoring system is just unfair these days. Yes, they introduced it just because difference between Ferrari and the rest of the field was huge, and they just wanted to decrease the gap in points. And now, it's just stupid system. Winner gets just to points more than the second and this difference is too small.

And, changes for this season aren't so small, or meaningless. As others have already written, team who's been almost the worst for couple of years is now the best. So, I think, rules have changed pretty much.

[EwanM]

The scoring system is just unfair these days. Yes, they introduced it just because difference between Ferrari and the rest of the field was huge, and they just wanted to decrease the gap in points. And now, it's just stupid system. Winner gets just to points more than the second and this difference is too small.

And, changes for this season aren't so small, or meaningless. As others have already written, team who's been almost the worst for couple of years is now the best. So, I think, rules have changed pretty much.

I agree with that.
I was thinking wouldn't it be weird as hell if Webber or Barrichello won the world title without winning a single race.
Not impossible given the current rules, but highly unlikely.

I suppose though that is the nature of the beast - those are the rules to play to.

[PlayDog]

If refueling ban is implemented in circuit , we couldn't see pit tactics for cars to overtake the rival.

[7UpJordan]

If refueling ban is implemented in circuit , we couldn't see pit tactics for cars to overtake the rival.

In the pre-refueling days the tactic was to come in for fresh rubber if you were struggling, go back out and pass everybody who's on worn rubber.

[texasmr2]

If refueling ban is implemented in circuit , we couldn't see pit tactics for cars to overtake the rival.

In the pre-refueling days the tactic was to come in for fresh rubber if you were struggling, go back out and pass everybody who's on worn rubber.

[cap-dude]

If refueling ban is implemented in circuit , we couldn't see pit tactics for cars to overtake the rival.

In the pre-refueling days the tactic was to come in for fresh rubber if you were struggling, go back out and pass everybody who's on worn rubber.

One problem with that strategy. Overtaking

The rules have changed very much. Mainly in the aerodynamic department this year. Most series stay very stable with their rules for years upon years. But F1 has had rules hurled at it, like an angry cat. To say the rules haven't changed that much.... Are you sure your watching the right sport here

[7UpJordan]

If refueling ban is implemented in circuit , we couldn't see pit tactics for cars to overtake the rival.

In the pre-refueling days the tactic was to come in for fresh rubber if you were struggling, go back out and pass everybody who's on worn rubber.

One problem with that strategy. Overtaking

The rules have changed very much. Mainly in the aerodynamic department this year. Most series stay very stable with their rules for years upon years. But F1 has had rules hurled at it, like an angry cat. To say the rules haven't changed that much.... Are you sure your watching the right sport here

Today it is definately a problem, but back then overtaking was a piece of cake.

[Denthúl]

If refueling ban is implemented in circuit , we couldn't see pit tactics for cars to overtake the rival.

In the pre-refueling days the tactic was to come in for fresh rubber if you were struggling, go back out and pass everybody who's on worn rubber.

One problem with that strategy. Overtaking

The rules have changed very much. Mainly in the aerodynamic department this year. Most series stay very stable with their rules for years upon years. But F1 has had rules hurled at it, like an angry cat. To say the rules haven't changed that much.... Are you sure your watching the right sport here

I think, however, that the kind of tyre differences seen back then would be enough to create overtaking opportunities now. Look back to the Vettel/Kubica incident at Melbourne. Vettel was on softs that he had wrecked, whereas Kubica was on hards that were fresh and in good condition. The Red Bull is the second-best car, the BMW Sauber arguably the second-worst, and yet Kubica was massively faster than Vettel and could have challenged for (though likely not taken) the win.

If we saw those kinds of differences, then regardless of aero interference, we would see more overtaking.

[NateDawg80126]

I think, however, that the kind of tyre differences seen back then would be enough to create overtaking opportunities now. Look back to the Vettel/Kubica incident at Melbourne. Vettel was on softs that he had wrecked, whereas Kubica was on hards that were fresh and in good condition. The Red Bull is the second-best car, the BMW Sauber arguably the second-worst, and yet Kubica was massively faster than Vettel and could have challenged for (though likely not taken) the win.

If we saw those kinds of differences, then regardless of aero interference, we would see more overtaking.

The BMW Sauber is one of the worst cars at this point in the season, I wont argue that, but Kubica qualified 4th at OZ, they were strong there and I would have considered them to have the third strongest car, right behind Red Bull during that race... not a sound argument but I agree with what you are saying.

But seriously, to say that F1 has not changed much compared to where it was in 2002 is naive, look at the two best teams this year and the two best teams last year, nuff said.