I know I’m plenty ahead of the 2009 season start, but I have recently developed a fascination with Formula 1 racing (grown from watching loads of Top Gear on BBCA). I’m impressed by the level of science and technology that goes into the cars and the amazing physical effort required to control one. So I’ve been reading the Official Formula 1 site to get the basics of the sport. But reading about it can’t pass on the infectious enthusiasm of fans.
I’m sure there are some F1 fans here. Tell me what you like about it, don’t like about it, and what teams and/or drivers you like to follow. Does anything in the 2009 season stand out as exciting or noteworthy? I’m interested in seeing the application of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) that’s on some of the cars. It’s “speed boost” sounds sort of video game-ish and might make for some awesome moments on the track.
Fan since 2003 here. I’m not a fan of any particular team or driver, although there are personalities and rivalries I enjoy seeing. The recent Ferrari/McLaren rivalry has made for two very close seasons, with championships being decided in the final race. I’m hoping to see this close fight continue, and to see further development from BMW Sauber, and especially from Scuderia Toro Rosso, who performed very well towards the end of the 2008 season.
Technical stuff for 2009 that I’m looking forward too:
A return to slick tires, and some restrictions on bodywork will hopefully shift the dependence on aerodynamic grip towards mechanical grip, which hopefully will make more passing opportunities available.
Engines are now expected to last three race-weekends. Requiring an extra 50% lifetime will certainly raise the difficulty level of the engineering side of the sport. You can probably also bet on seeing more “Ka-blammo” moments, too.
I’m ambivalent about more testing limitations and the new team budget caps. I can see the benefit of spending restrictions, as that tends to even the field and gives us closer races, which are always more exciting. However, I consider F1 to be the pinnacle of motor sports engineering and driving, and part of me wants as few restrictions as possible to let the genius and abilities of the drivers, engineers and mechanics to really show.
Formula 1 is great, and I’m happy you discovered it. I make a point to never miss a race, or even a qualifying session. (Thank you DVR.) I haven’t made it to a race, but it’s definitely something I would like to do one day.
Two races – there were a couple of attenuating circumstances where you were allowed a spare without penalty. Haven’t yet gone over all the regs for this season…thus not sure how they’ll apply to the three race rule.
As for more “Ka-blammo” moments, I agree with Phatlewt. With the new reg aero packages you only need look at the new front wings – hard to get pass in tight quarters without taking a piece with you. Oh, the return to slicks should be interesting as well…we’ll see which drivers adjust better/faster to them.
As for being a fan…well, wat5ched my first couple of races at the old Jarama circuit in Madrid – early 70’s or thereabout. But lost interest until Alonso came along.
I don’t believe I’ve missed a race since he originally made the move from Minardi to Renault. Spectacular end of the '08 season has me hopeful for a three way battle this season – Ferrari, McLaren, Renault…don’t think BMW is there yet though Kubica is tough as nails. Vettel is also someone to keep an eye on.
In the first year of the two-weekend per engine rule, blowups were fairly common. The teams have improved a lot since then. I remember more mechanical retirements due to transmissions and hydraulics than to engine failures in 2008.
So, not very common in 2008, but probably a lot more common in 2009.
To the OP: The last few seasons post-schumacher have been excellent, particularly 2007 IMHO.What an amazing season. And the last lap of the last race of last season was absolutely astounding. You can download many of the recent races via torrents (this is the only way I watch races) if you want to do some hard-core cram sessions to catch up.
I used to be a fan, and I went to every U.S. Grand Prix while they had it (I still hate Michelin tires for that one race), but I don’t follow it much anymore, except to see who’s champion.
I’ll have to check that out, thanks. I still haven’t looked into what channels carry F1 racing here (I suspect the Speed Channel will, if any), so knowing they’re available other places is handy.
Used to be, when it was actually racing. Then came the Indy fiasco, and later the increasing homogenization of cars, which continues today. What’s left for a Yank to be interested in?
Its getting better. I applaude the infusion of new blood (would like to see some of the old guard get the boot) and the new rule changes should shake stuff up a bit, but I’m afraid of a impending stagnation if they get too strict and limit teams without the financial backing to keep up. Honda already pulled the plug (imagine that! Honda?) with the soft excuse of wanting to focus on “other priorities”.
Anyway! Welcome to the Wonderful World of F1! You will notice threads you start on the subject will sink like Mafia informants! But don’t let that that discourage you! I’ll always pop in!
The new 2009-spec cars are, to put it bluntly, ugly. But somehow they are still more attractive than the current-spec IndyCars we’re stuck with here in the States. I’m glad they did away with the endless vanes and winglets but the oddly narrow rear wings and gigantic front wings make for a lumpy mess.
Did Bernie get his plan to junk the points system in favor of a gold-silver-bronze award through because that was a load of crap as well…
The cars have been getting steadily uglier since the '93 Benetton with the upturned nose and '93 Williams with the weird sort of Roman nose.
I haven’t really been able to watch F1 since Senna died in 1994. I didn’t miss a race from my seventh birthday in 1989until the last week of the 1994 season… but now, it’s like an old friend I can look up when I feel like it.
Just a quick update for any US fans or proto-fans like myself: Fox Sports and the Speed channel are listed as official broadcasters for Formula 1 racing here in the States.
And why hadn’t anyone mentioned Grid Girls? Even in passing? Damn. Come for the cars, stay for the attractive young foreign women.
BTW, fiddlesticks: The points system is still in use.
If you want top-notch coverage, I would go with coverage out of the UK. I find it to be vastly superior to the stuff put out by the North American networks (Speed, TSN, etc…) I always downloaded ITV’s coverage off of the internet, commercial free. Of course, the BBC has the rights now, don’t they? We’ll see how that goes…
Yes, the BBC has regained the rights starting next season. That means the race coverage won’t be interrupted for commercials any more, a definite plus.
What I want to know is, will the BBC restore unto us the heavy bassline of the theme music they used to use before ITV won the contract?
