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[Trypt]

This is what Alonso said after the race:

The start was good. I think on the clean here there is a difference. There is a bit of sun close to the walls, so the start was more or less okay and the first corner was also good and I was lucky to overtake Felipe and then with the problem for Vettel, overtake Vettel as well and finish first. Obviously the qualifying and the starts are maybe the two key points this year. Unfortunately with no refuelling in terms of strategy or in terms of overtaking it will be very difficult to see any. After the first corner more or less the positions will be settled.

This must be a hard slap in the face to the FIA. Aren't they always crying about the reason for all their rules (ridiculous rules) is to encourage passing?

Anyhow, I love the new points system, I've been a proponent of more points to the winner and more difference between top and bottom in points for a while. It's not perfect (I'd prefer 20/15/11/8/6/5/4/3/2/1), but it'll do, and it's a huge improvement.

Besides that, I don't mind the full-tank rule, but FIA is drunk with power, and all these limitations on testing, tire rules, it is totally ridiculous, and eventually F1 will become just another Indy or Nascar, with every car pretty much the same and not about companies and technology, which is how it should be, and always has been. Any rule limiting companies developing their cars and tech should be completely discouraged, and eliminated.

Any comments?

BTW, hi to everyone, it's my first post on this forum. I've been a F1 fan for about 25 years, since I was a kid. My fav drivers at the time were Nelson Piquet, and I loved watching old races with Nikki Lauda. I'm very glad to see Michael Schumacher back!

[f1ea]

He wasn't the only driver frustrated with the new rules. Schumacher was extremely dissapointed, and I'm sure everyone stuck behind a slower car for laps on end was too. Not sure if increased concern for the tires made everyone avoid any risks or if after a few races they will just start making passes out of desperation and need...... but when the drivers themselves are voicing their boredom, its time to worry.

Maybe they can drop a hardness step on all tires for the rest of the season.... or mandatory 2-stops (but still it would be the same strategy for everyone). The problems is, anything they do will be an act of desperation. And desperation ussualy ends in failure.

Melbourne is nicer than Bahrain though...

[headless]

Button dint like them eitehr

[Trypt]

I may be the only one, but I didn't mind a tire manufacturers war from the past, where tire makers would compete for contracts from car companies. I know it was only Michelin and Bridgestone, but I still liked it.

I don't understand why there is a tire rule at all. Focusing on just this one rule (I dislike pretty much any limiting rule by the FIA), what is the reasoning behind it? Why not leave it up to teams to decide which tire to run when, whether to run the same tires through the race or change them mid-race, etc. I just don't get it.

[racechick]

I may be the only one, but I didn't mind a tire manufacturers war from the past, where tire makers would compete for contracts from car companies. I know it was only Michelin and Bridgestone, but I still liked it.

I don't understand why there is a tire rule at all. Focusing on just this one rule (I dislike pretty much any limiting rule by the FIA), what is the reasoning behind it? Why not leave it up to teams to decide which tire to run when, whether to run the same tires through the race or change them mid-race, etc. I just don't get it.

I agree they should have left the tyre war. Now they have the tyre rule i guess to try to artificially spice things up. Well it ain't working. Every driver who has spoken out has said the new rules are boring and overtaking impossible. Not good. I dont often agree with Alonso or Michael Schumacher but on this occassion I agree with both of them.

[Jensonb]

I may be the only one, but I didn't mind a tire manufacturers war from the past, where tire makers would compete for contracts from car companies. I know it was only Michelin and Bridgestone, but I still liked it.

I don't understand why there is a tire rule at all. Focusing on just this one rule (I dislike pretty much any limiting rule by the FIA), what is the reasoning behind it? Why not leave it up to teams to decide which tire to run when, whether to run the same tires through the race or change them mid-race, etc. I just don't get it.

I agree they should have left the tyre war. Now they have the tyre rule i guess to try to artificially spice things up. Well it ain't working. Every driver who has spoken out has said the new rules are boring and overtaking impossible. Not good. I dont often agree with Alonso or Michael Schumacher but on this occassion I agree with both of them.

The Tyre War would solve the problem with the tyres lasting too long like that -Snaps Fingers-. When a tyre maker gets the contract for a control tyre, they inevitably produce a nice, safe, conservative harder compound and sit back and watch the cars not have tyre failures. Bridgestone did the same thing in Karting once to the detriment of Button. Without a tyre war, there's no incentive to go for performance from the rubber and tonnes of incentive to avoid taking risks, because they don't want to get a reputation for tyre failures.

So my solution is, let any company that wants to make an F1 Tyre...Make and sell an F1 Tyre. Result? At least 4 different tyres, all of them marginal. THAT is racing.

Unfortunately, it's too late for that this season. And I guarantee the FiA is going to continue with its idiotic control tyre plan.

[grant977]

Here is what they need to do before Bahrain.
1. Get rid of the terrible start on the tyres you qualify on rule.
2. Get rid of the manditory use of both compunds rule.

[Jamie]

Wait for Oz

[Mark_Jones]

Wait for Oz

Indeed, I can't see why everyone is making such a big deal of it... we've only seen 1 race so far. How can you judge on that? I don't even think the race was that boring.. we have seen quite some overtakings although it weren't always the cars in front.

Don't get me wrong, I also think it wasn't the greatest race ever, but it certainly wasnt the worst either. We should wait untill we've had 3 or 4 races.. Then I think we can draw (better) conclusions...

[The Oz]

yeah Oz is da best, Im lucky as I get to live here!!!!! But Melboune should be sweet as normal heaps of retirements and action!!!! besides if it gets boring you could always watch the v8's there instead this weekend

[vaptin]

I agree with Alonso about the clean air, I think thats the fundamental issue.

The Fia seem to have screwed up with the tires, all the top teams just went with one stragety. The problem is the lack of overtaking and getting stuck behind a car with dirty air means the cars don't want to pit for tires (as they don't have to due to tires being so long lasting) as they'll then drop down the field and have to hope the people in front of them also go for an extra stop otherwise they'll be stuck behind them.

Tires should be more marginal - forcing teams to take risky decisions.

[f1ea]

Maybe go 1 step softer on all tires? this gives more mech grip and less durability
(Although, what would hapen to the hundreds of harder tires already made?)

I dont think they will bring refuelling back.. and mandatory 2 stops is going to make it the same as the 1 stop, except having 2 chances to pass at pits (which is what they didnt want in the first place!)

Perhaps drivers will puch harder next race. They know the tires wont disintegrate.... so they will give them their work. It was the first race, everyone was just trying to see what's up........ now would Jenson/Webber just sit behind Michael, or Michael behind Nico knowing they'll get away with the championship pts?
They'll start racing soon enough. I hope.

[vaptin]

Overtaking in the pits is better than no overtaking, the fia need to get it into their heads, the drivers can't overtake at the tracks becuase of the dirty air, banning refuelling or changing the points system doesn't make that go away.

[Trypt]

Indeed, I can't see why everyone is making such a big deal of it... we've only seen 1 race so far. How can you judge on that? I don't even think the race was that boring.. we have seen quite some overtakings although it weren't always the cars in front.

Just to be clear, I wasn't talking about this race in particular, I only wanted to point out what Alonso said and what FIA wanted, and how it bit them in the rear end, the exact opposite happened to what they wanted, which is what usually happens when you try to control everything.

I actually enjoyed the race immensely, but I still hate all the rules and hope they get rid of half of them.

[nolaquest]

I have to say it was just another procession of a race. Had Vettel's car not failed Alonso doesn't overtake. So aside from some new faces and new teams and one shorter pit stop the race was a procession from years past. I watched the INDY race in Sao Paulo and I wouldn't call it the greatest race either but there was overtaking. This seemed to be a result of inferior product, tires, cars and track. While the tires and cars are mandated by INDY they are not the greatest machines and when put on a track as poorly constructed as that one was some pretty good drivers were forced into making mistakes by others taking risks. Challenging drivers were always present and able to put pressure on and or be there to take advantage of a mistake by the car in front. I am definitely not advocating controlling the tires and cars, I prefer the technical spectacle, though I do think the drivers are good enough to control their equipment as to make it all about the equipment rather than forcing others into mistakes and taking risks to get ahead. So something needs to give and if your going to get more driver challenges and driver error, thus passing, I think the equipment needs to change so that the when a threshold is found the error is compounded and the challenging driver can actually put the pressure on. As for the track, it has been stated here many a time, that the purpose built formula one tracks create processions as they have no quirks or anomalies that put drivers in a position to really have to protect there position from behind.
Just my 2cents.