Is new battleground in F1 'super clipping', & is it safer than lift n coast?

[John S]

Looks like yet another 26 season rule may be ready for U turn. 

Safety fears could spur action to make 'super clipping' de-rigueur this year.

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/super-clipping-how-it-works-why-controversial-key-f1-2026/

[lkjohnson1950]

Instead of the WDC being won by the best driver, it will be won by the driver who "harvests" best. Stupid. Max says it's like driving a zformula E car, not an F1 car. 

[Jericoke]

Max says it's like driving a formula E car, not an F1 car. 

Um, what's an F1 car?  Downforce?  Not if you're Fangio!  Turbocharged engines?  Naturally aspirated all day for Stewart!  Ground effects?  Michael Shumacher never touched it.

Launch control, sequential transmissions, tires that last a half dozen laps, pit stops in the blink of an eye, cars plastered in ads, safety devices that let drivers walk away from crashes that would have turned drivers into pulp a decade ago.

F1 evolves, yes, drivers need to adapt as the sport evolves, but what makes F1 special is that it DOES evolve.  It it always better?  No.  How do we know what isn't better?  By trying stuff.  Otherwise we'd still be reading magazine articles about Alfa 158s crawling around hay bales on country roads.

[lkjohnson1950]

An F1 car is one designed to go FAST for the entire race.

[cosworth151]

I agree with Jeri to a point. Most of the changes she mentioned were either instigated by one or more teams (downforce, ground effects, etc) or for the general good of the sport (safety advances and the like). This is just a gimmick, like Formula E's dreaded "Fan Boost." 

[Jericoke]

An F1 car is one designed to go FAST for the entire race.

You're thinking of a top fuel dragster*. 

Or maybe an oval racer*. 

We all know that the perfect F1 car only has to go slightly faster than all the other F1 cars. 

We also know that if you give Adrian Newey a blank sheet of paper and no limits, he'll create a monster that drive 400 kph through any corner, ditto Honda F1 will create a fuel sipper that creates an ungodly amount of power (and an incredible sound). Creating a car without any limits almost isn't a challenge at all.  Like playing soccer/football without goalkeepers.  The challenge needs to be in there.  It would be nice if everyone got it perfect day 1, but it would also be dull to take the arms race out of the sport.

*Oval and drag racing are plenty of fun to watch!  I wanted to be Shirley Muldowney or an Andretti!

[lkjohnson1950]

When I first started watching F1, the rule book was little more than a pamphlet. A few minimums and maximums and go for it. We got 1500cc 4s, 6s, 8s, and 12s. Colin Chapman had 2 mechanics and drove the transporter himself. I realize it had to change over the years, and it was mostly for the better. A few things were always the same. Keep the rules to a minimum, and go as fast as physics would allow within the rules. I feel that's no longer true. Recent rules changes have restricted the creativity and attempted to "Go Green".  Lifting and coasting, or sacrificing top speed in favor of harvesting during qually is not what I signed up for. WEC has done a much better job of integrating hybrid systems without handicapping the cars. Give them a battery and an ERS that charges it during normal racing. I haven't signed up for Apple yet and I continue to waffle.