Kubica: New rules reward clever driving

[SennaMan]

Sennaman quote : "Race craft is a skill in itself which you really did not need under modern F1 rules".....   Sorry with respect Sennaman I don't argee - think about what a top F1 driver has to contend with nowadays with all the high tech stuff contained in the Cockpit, the increased speed, the more demanding tracks the info via the radio from the pits, etc etc, and if you refer to the large sums of money they get paid, well the same goes for footballers, and what do they do to earn their money? 

fair enough mark, just my opinion....

However, I think you have touched on the essential difference being all the electronic aids which in my opinion we trust too much instead of our intrinsic human abilities which we hone with practise and experience.

a most recent example occured during the Chinese GP when teams trusted the weather radar displays which were wrong, rather than sticking their heads outside to see for themselves.

....and please do not tell me the tracks are more demanding. Have you looked at a film or video lately and witnessed the apalling safety standards of tracks and their bumps even up to the 1990's? Trees and walls often within 12 feet from the track. Contrast that with the 'danger-sanitized' tracks of today, especially the 'yawn-fests' from Herr Hermann TILKE. Hell even my Grandmother could pilot a modern F1 car around those!

....and as for football players, whose game lasts the same 90 minutes as most GPs, they have superb artistry and skills perfected over years of effort and maintained by rigorous coaching and training. When they are on the pitch there are no electronic aids just their amazing skill and physicality playing the worlds most 'beautiful game"....

[written with a fair dollop of  mark - thanks for the debate mate]   

[Warmwater]

Race craft is a skill in itself which you really did not need under modern F1 rules and regulations. F1 GPs became little more than 12 to 25 lap mad 'dashes and fangs' to the next pitstop for fuel and four new 'grippy' tyres.

Tyre management? What was that?

Now, for better or worse, drivers have to manage their tyres and with stops for fuel banned, have to adjust as the fuel load weight penalty lessens.

This has not fully impacted on the teams but give them a year and it just might.

I am showing my age, but in the 1950's most GP's were 100 to 300 laps and took three to six hours to finish. Couple that with driving in 'death traps' on very dangerous roads or tracks for very little prizemoney and you can sense my almost complete disdain for modern F1 driver problems.

Today, the driver is surrounded by a 'state of the art' safety cell on the most technological chassis with incredible brakes and superb tyres. [light years ahead of the drum brakes and skinny thin cross plys on the cars of his predecessors] 

He performs at 'danger sanitized' tracks and completes a GP in around 90 minutes with a maximum limit of two hours. He is paid staggering sums and now the new rules require him to think a little more.

Oh the poor darlings - give me a break!   

Right on! 
Eliminating downforce and gumball tires would improve the show and give the drivers something to really think about.... imho anyway.... 

[lkjohnson1950]

Total agreement there, back to the '60s.

Lonny

[markb]

[written with a fair dollop of  Tease mark - thanks for the debate mate]     ...from Sennaman above.....
             
Hi Sennaman, thank you for the debate as well mate.