Hamilton on the Current Engine Rules.

[cosworth151]

Current WDC Lewis Hamilton thinks most fans don't care about the current, complex engine regulations.

"What do I think to the actual rule? The fact we have six components of an engine and mismatch [of component usage], I don't think it's great," said Hamilton. "People watching don't care about that.

"It's far too technical, far too complicated. Most people watching don't know what an MGU-H is and don't bloody care."

Amen to that! It's just another case of high tech gone wild.

http://www.racer.com/f1/item/133725-hamilton-fans-don-t-care-about-high-tech-pus

[Warmwater]

Other than churning out and burning up vast sums of money, I don't really know what F1 is supposed to be.
There was a time that a few dedicated fellows would sketch some ideas on a paper napkin,  drag out the welding equipment, and try to build a faster car than the other guys. Some were quite sophisticated and some were more daring with new ideas. Not many rules to interfere with their imaginations and unique creations.
We now seem to be at the opposite end of the rainbow. Hundreds of engineers, mechanics, and lawyers seem to be needed to create cars that look identical and lap at virtually equal speeds. A maximum of 20 employees per team would be great!
Danger has been mostly eliminated for drivers, pit crews, and spectators. This is probably a good thing but excitement has also been eliminated. The tracks have also been tamed to the point of boredom.
Having said all that, F1 probably (with the possible exception of fighter jets) is the epitome of technology and should stay that way. But most of the rules should be relaxed or eliminated, far too much restrictive interference.

[Jericoke]

I'm sure fans don't care about angles of attack, diffuser configurations, carbon brake thickness etc.

It's not just the engines.

However, while fans don't care about these things, they are what makes the sport tick.  There was a serious danger of deep pocketed teams running away with everything, and strangling anyone who doesn't own a car factory out of the sport entirely.  The rules had to change, and given how many new investors we've had in F1, I think the rules are working.

[Monty]

Money is the route to all evil - so I'm told! Something had to be done to reduce costs and where there are rules people will always find ways around them. To be fair I think there are signs that from a technical point of view F1 is improving (although it was at a very low base!). In my opinion the remaining and biggest problems are still the promoter and the FIA. The continuous threats hanging over circuit owners must restrict progress, the absurd decisions to give races to the tracks with the most money (irrespective of if the track is really suitable for F1), the lack of respect they show us the spectators, bad rules and then, even worse, the inconsistency of how those rules are applied. All of these things are stopping F1 from reaching the popularity it used to have.
Assuming they do not reduce the access of TV coverage still further I will continue to watch and keep hoping things improve - I am currently cautiously optimistic about next years cars.

[Scott]

Ted Kravitz had a great idea at Spa.  Instead of stopping the grid penalties at the back of the grid, keep measuring back. If there are more penalties, keep measuring back the distance of more spots.  Paint a line and there you go Lewis/Jenson/Fernando...that is your grid box 100m or so behind the field. 

[Steve A.]

That would be a good idea, they will get clean air and will be on the pack quickly. At least the penalties will mean something and give the fans something to watch.

[John S]

  Paint a line and there you go Lewis/Jenson/Fernando...that is your grid box 100m or so behind the field. 

Just how do you and Ted propose they see the lights for the start?

It's hard enough at some circuits for guys at the back with the lights - need to add a drive thru to their penalties as well because they'll probably jump the start, I'm pretty sure there's no sensors that far back.    

[Scott]

Audible tone on lights out...pretty simple.  Like DH said, it would be an extra bonus for the fans to see them scream by trying to catch the pack.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Merc were the team practically demanding the current engine regs as a condition of them returning to the sport.  So why are they the ones to completely and blatantly abuse those rules, at leads in spirit?  Swapping out three engines over a race weekend so they could be used for the rest of the season penalty free?  Geez...

[J.Clark]

In a few words, it bothers me with the system that allows penalties that, while they may add up to a significant number, they are "erased" at the end of the race weekend during which they were incurred.

If they were truly enforced, and in the way I believe they were most likely intended, it would mean that the number 55 would be significant.  If they were cumulative, Hamilton would be starting P-22 in this race (again) and from P-11 in Singapore.

As it is, they are essentially meaningless; although, it does make for at least one interesting race - sort of.  Spa wasn't that exciting because of the Red Flag that bunched up the field, making Hamilton's job of catching the front of the pack much easier.