Motorsport is addictive. It’s highly addictive, and like most addictive substances, that first time seemed amazing and wonderful. The more you’re around it, though, the less of a rush you get, and you keep trying different things to recapture that first euphoria. I do not wish to make light of the trap and tragedy of substance addiction, but there are many parallels, although thankfully not the emotional and physical dangers, to what’s happening in motorsports with both fans, teams, and organizers. We’re chasing the dragon.
In Formula 1, it was first the addition of the titanium skid plate, because sparks from the 70s and 80s looked cool. Then, it was going back to a wider stance, fat tires, and a lower, wider rear wing because cars in the 70s and 80s looked cool. In sports car racing, Ford brought back the GT (long story as to why they couldn’t bring back the GT40 name). There was a valid competition and marketing reason for Ford to return to sports car racing, but they revived the GT look and name because the car from the 60s looked cool. Now IndyCar has revealed it’s 2018 chassis with it’s slimmer profile, ditching the rear wheel guards and above-engine air box, because the CART designs from the 80s and 90s looked cool. …see a pattern here?
While, I think the design direction for Formula 1 has improved the appearance and performance of the car, and I desperately want my own FordGT, and I think IndyCar is making a good step forward with their 2018 design, there’s something lurking under all of these decisions that’s unsettling. We seem to collectively be chasing that initial rush we had when we were first hooked on the adrenaline-inducing sport of motor car racing. There’s no doubt that the Formula 1 cars and IndyCars from the 70s, 80s, and even 90s were amazing machines, and that the Ford GT40 was one of the sexiest racing machines ever crafted. However, that was in the past. What about moving and looking forward? Where does physics take our racing machines now? There’s been a lot of technical innovation in the world since those glory days of motorsport, and we see a lot of those innovations in the various control systems for the cars. We’ve also learned a lot about aerodynamics.
Perhaps it’s time to put away our knit ties, parachute pants, and Flock of Seagulls hair cuts, and begin focusing on what the future of motorsport should be, rather than listening to Bruce Springsteen on repeat and pine for the glory days. Let’s open the regulatory framework a bit and allow the extremely talented and clever people that we know are out there such as Adrian Newey and Ben Bowlby to show us what a modern, cutting edge racing machine could be and could do. When Bowlby revealed the Delta Wing, it drew a significant amount of derision because it didn’t look like the type of race cars we were used to seeing. Well, the Lotus 38 that Jim Clark took to Victory Lane at the 1965 Indianapolis 500 was extremely different than the front engine roadsters that people were used to the, too, but after 1965, no front-engined car ever won the 500 again.
Let’s stop looking back, wishing for things to be as they were, and start looking forward to how much better things might be. Chasing after the past is a fool’s errand, and we as fans, drivers, team owners, and series officials are better than this.
Good call Doug, there are lots of series that showcase the old technologies, the pinnacles of motorsports (F1, Indy, WEC) shouldn’t be doing that.
We certainly couldn’t say that the 2018 Formula E concept is ‘retro’ – http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/128081
I agree, I want to know when we’ll seeing F1 akin to the Red Bull X or MP4-X concepts. While this year’s cars are much better looking, you can see the areas where the regulations lock you down to one or two solutions at best, such as the center of the front wing, the button noses (kudos to Merc and Toro Rosso!), and the T-wings.
I love the alternating open dev cycle idea!
If the regulatory framework is opened up the talented and clever people will promptly screw-up the formula, the racing, the sports we follow. these people needs a solid and strict regulatory framework because what they was always after was how to circumvent the rules.
At the same time, we have to wonder: Is this the “right” future? Are the hybrid PUs actually better than the normal engines in terms of “bang-for-the-buck” and/or affordability? Is “HALO” truly the way to go? It’s not just “what is the future”. We have to do this right or it’s going to either mean nothing or make things worse.
I’ve got two responses to that;
1) Liberty Media have been talking about coming up with their ideas about what the future of F1 should be. Trying to decide what the balance between sport, business, r&d tool and entertainment should be. Hopefully they will engage the fans in the discussion, and the outcome is something the majority can buy into.
2) What’s the cause of the overwhelming view on this site that F1 is basically broken? I’m not sure it is, especially now CVC are no longer bleeding all the profit out of it.
I was always convinced that once the onehalfthecancerLEFTINF1 is gone most of the FORMULA 1 problems will follow him out the door.
JAKO, Re the link “NEWS.COM.AU. AUGUST 5 2017 4:12PM. AUSTRALIAN F1 LEGAND ALAN JONES REVEALS UNTOLD STORY.”
Interesting story, young Bernie was quite an operator. It’s clear that as far has he was concerned F1 was all business.
Though Alan J doesn’t come out of the story very well either, if he was prepared to take the cash, and dash rather than race.
Most if not all will go for the cash and dash, always been like that.
Thats a really interesting read Salvu, thanks. Stirling Moss was a very colourful character. There were no multi million dollar contracts to drive in F1 in his era, and he had to use his wits to make a buck. So, I don’t find his morales questionable for splitting the first and second place prize money with Gregory. (His concern about the organisers keeping the first prize money was probably based on actual experience). However, I think he shows a lack of compassion, in grabbing the win and coming up with the plan to split the winnings, when dead and injured… Read more »
“Are motorsports fans and organizers addicted to the Glory Days?”
Looking at that gorgeous Lotus T93 in speedway trim, umm, Yep. Best looking Indycar ever.
First and foremost, the *racing* part of the Formula 1 product needs to be fixed. That is 85% of it for me. Sound and Looks make up the other 15% for me. I’ve come to grips with the loss of the beautiful V8,10,12 *sound* and accept the V-6 sound. It’s not *that* bad. Halo? Whatever. Fix the racing. I bet by fixing the racing, i.e. Closer, more competitive, leaders actually able to pass on merit, not through DRS gimmick (or having your teammate slow down on the track), that the looks of the cars will improve naturally. Here is a… Read more »
Good post Michael, but if you’ve been watching F1 since the 80’s, you’ll know close racing at the front of the field isn’t really an F1 ‘thing’. Finding a specification for the series that would allow close racing but still be the faster than anything else seems to have been beyond the wit of the FIA, Bernie and everyone else. Reliance on Aero certainly won’t deliver it, a very different approach is required, hopefully Ross Brawn and his F1 Ops team can come up with such an approach. I’m 100% with you on the dislike of the bias of commentators… Read more »
I don’t know…just really hope they can pull this thing together.
You’re right there have been different factors contributing to teams being dominant over the decades, though Aero interference has been a factor for a long time.
If we really want close racing, it would probably have to be a ‘spec series’, and that’s not the pinnacle of motor sport.
You are right there…definite no to a spec series, but look at what we do have this year. 2 teams, 4 cars very evenly matched and then Red Bull not far back but with at least one driver somewhat dangerously capable of battling with the leaders. The middle of that pack seems to be generating some potentially interesting racing The point is, It’s close now….if not for the aerodynamics. In Hungary, Hamilton wouldn’t have a go at Max because of the aerodynamics and because he was too aggressive (Hamilton’s words), take away the aerodynamics issue and I’m sure we would… Read more »
You lucky MotoGP fan! Any MotoGP race would be an incredible experience, Suzuka more so, and this year with so many strong teams and riders, anything could happen – I’ll look out for you in the stands, what number will you be wearing? I went to the WSB at phillip island a couple of years back, that was easily 10 times better than F1 at Melbourne – easier to see the bikes and better paddock access, more drunk people too ;-) The close racing at the front this season is a bit of an aboration, and after the last three… Read more »
My partner and I will be in the V5 Grandstand. It’s sort of a gift to her since we are both Valentino Rossi fans and I’m not sure how much longer he will race…I guess you can guess which number we’ll be wearing. It’s through Yamaha so we’ll be traveling with a group of Yamaha (and I’m guessing primarily Rossi) supporters. Japan culture is unique so this should be a real blast!
Thanks for the conversation. Great commentary here on this site overall.
Cheers!
Cheers Michael, it has been good to chat.
Have an incredible time at Suzuka, seeing the GOAT race.
GO VALE!!