# Formula 1 Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** racing-auto-boat\ **Created:** [July 6, 2020, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544 "2020-07-06T22:39:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/521 "2021-12-30T03:01:34Z")
It’s Formula 1, not a demolition derby. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/522 "2021-12-30T09:35:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > It’s Formula 1… In name only (my opinion). I really miss the ‘glory days’ of unlimited budgets, unlimited designs (remember the crazy shit they came up with? Six wheels, fans that would suck the car down on the track, sliding skirts). Every team had some kind of wild shit, and none of the cars looked alike. Tire Wars, refueling. Massive attrition and totally unpredictable. A lot more entertaining in my book. But, hey. Nothing is as good as it used to be. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/523 "2021-12-30T11:07:58Z")
One of the most extreme examples of those days was the [BMW “quali engines”](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M12) of the turbo era in the mid 80’s. A piddly little 1500cc engine that put out an estimated 1500bhp in maximum boost qualifying mode. It could last, realistically, for one lap before a re-build. Like the group B insanity of rallying (which I was privileged and petrified to see at close quarters) it was never going to be sustainable but it was fascinating to see. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/524 "2021-12-30T15:52:30Z")
I’ve got a BMW e10 with that M10 engine those were based on. I’d love to wedge one, de-tuned to a mere, say 500 hp, into that beast. Then promptly kill myself in it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/525 "2022-01-01T01:07:26Z")
I mean, both the fan car and the Tyrell six-wheeler were banned after like one race. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/526 "2022-01-01T02:07:04Z")
The fan car was banned after one race. The 6 wheeler did something like 2 full seasons but just wasn’t any good. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/527 "2022-01-01T02:30:52Z")
The fan car was never technically banned. Bernie Eccleston (who was team principal of Brabham at the time) withdrew it in order to curry favor with the other teams during the early years of his power grab to take over all of F1. Or something like that…I’ll have to find a link to refresh my memory. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/528 "2022-01-01T02:35:11Z")
And the Tyrrell P34 ran for two full seasons. At some point after that, F1 rules were changed to only allow cars with four wheels. I’ve read about other teams that had six-wheel designs in development, but I don’t think any of them raced. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/529 "2022-01-01T03:01:56Z")
Ok, I stand corrected. Fan car was indeed banned, but for mostly political reasons. > **[Banned: Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46B 'Fan Car' · RaceFans](https://www.racefans.net/2007/02/22/banned-brabham-alfa-romeo-bt46b-fan-car/)** > > The Brabham-Alfa Romeo BT46B 'Fan Car' achieved an incredible 100% victory rate: It started one race, won it, and was banned. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/530 "2022-01-03T07:12:29Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > The 6 wheeler did something like 2 full seasons but just wasn’t any good. Hold on now… _" The P34’s golden moment came in the [Swedish Grand Prix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1976_Swedish_Grand_Prix). Scheckter and Depailler finished first and second…"_ While it only scored one win, it did manage 14 podiums. Something many, many cars never have/will. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/531 "2022-01-09T04:17:46Z")
The concept was later banned for “movable aerodynamic devices”, but the car was withdrawn after its only race by Ecclestone, so the car itself was never banned. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/532 "2022-01-09T04:22:36Z")
Its failure was a refusal by Goodyear to further develop the 10-inch tires. The car and the concept were sound, and competitive, even with inferior front tires. Then cars with more than 4 wheels were banned, mostly because March and Ferrari wanted to drive 4 wheels instead of using them for steering and reducing frontal area, and that wouldn’t do. Can you imagine 4 drive wheels putting power down? If they had made that work they’d have never lost. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2022, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/533 "2022-01-09T04:56:54Z")
> [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](#): > > Its failure was a refusal by Goodyear to further develop the 10-inch tires. The car and the concept were sound, and competitive, even with inferior front tires. Ironically, the 6-wheel March had all six wheels the same size. If that design had caught on, the tire manufacturers could have focused all their effort on a single tire. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/534 "2022-03-20T19:25:37Z")
I don’t feel like I’ve been a fan long enough to start the conversation about this season/first race of the season! I’ve been saying for a couple years to whomever would listen: Any single weekend of F1 has more sporting drama than any month of baseball, or even any season of American football possibly excluding the playoffs. I certainly enjoyed the race this morning (evening, whatever) more than I enjoyed the Super Bowl. The Ferrari finish, Magnussen, Zhou, and Bottas’ drives and finishes, whatever is going on with with Red Bull power unit… Also, after being really stoked for the Netflix show, I was really disappointed. There were so many things from last season I wish they had time (or chose) to cover. All in all it was a pretty flat season of the show as far I I’m concerned. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/535 "2022-03-20T19:59:00Z")
FYI, we’re over here now: > [@Formula 1 2022](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-2022/961292/12): > > Well, previously we hardly saw any passing even on wide open tracks. This one race saw plenty of passing, not just in front but also in the back. The cars this year are about the same size, if not a bit larger than previously, so some other factor than size must be responsible. It’s likely the new aerodynamic configuration, unless you want to give credit to Pirelli. So my question is: Will this continue to hold throughout the season, especially in the cozy confines of Monaco? ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/536 "2022-03-26T16:01:45Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > Also, after being really stoked for the Netflix show, I was really disappointed. There were so many things from last season I wish they had time (or chose) to cover. All in all it was a pretty flat season of the show as far I I’m concerned. I’m only a couple of episodes in but yeah it’s a real bore. WAY too many long monologues about how important the season is, this may be the season, driver X has everything to prove etc… it’s like watching an hour long post-game interview from any American sport. Lots of platitudes and generic shit. It’s a shame because the actual season ends in a very dramatic fashion so hopefully the last episode lives up to it. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/537 "2022-03-26T19:58:52Z")
Whew, glad Mick was ok. What a big crash. Saudi Arabia seems needlessly dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2022, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/538 "2022-03-26T21:40:08Z")
It does. Especially with missle attacks nearby! What an exciting track otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2022, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/539 "2022-03-27T00:30:43Z")
Glad I’m not the only one who missed the transition! For anyone else to happens along, there is a separate F1 2022 thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544/540 "2022-04-04T21:04:53Z")
Closed on April 4, 2022, 9:04pm UTC [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/formula-1-thread/914544.md?page=26)