NASCAR has the Fix for F1

[BillyBobSenna]

NASCAR has "Stage Racing." For a typical race, championship points are given at the end of 3 stages in a race. The number of points is different for each stage. The problem with NASCAR's approach is that they have a yellow flag at the end of the first 2 stages. I think NASCAR is considering dropping the yellow flags.

I think this would be great for F1. Can you image if the cars were racing to score points at three different stages? I would love it and think it would make the races much more entertaining.

 

[Durge Driven]

I have said many times here I would go for 3 races @ 1/2 GP distance.
1. 50% smaller fuel cell which means cars race harder and faster from 1st lap .
2. 3 races 3 starts 3 times excitement.
3. Driver punted out 1st race 1st corner no fault of their own gets 2 more bites of cherry.
4. 50% more racing , you would not need sprints at all.
5. 50% more primetime streaming and advertising.
6. Tyre that will go distance, no need for pits or mistakes they breed.
7. Triple points.

 

[jgf]

LOL! For many years I've said, somewhat in jest, that NASCAR has never run any 200 mile races, they have never run any 100 lap races ... every NASCAR event is nothing but a series of 20-30 lap sprint races between yellow flags. Now they have actually formalized that joke into reality with this "stage" nonsense. Add to that the imbecilic "chase" points system, all their "nanny rules", and contracts which state no one may say anything negative about any aspect of NASCARE, and you have a system which I sincerely hope no other series in the world would ever want to emulate. NASCARE is a joke, and a shameful devolution of what once was a serious racing series. NASCARE "fix" F1? It can't even fix itself.

If you want to improve F1, bring more "racing" back to the series. Most current races are high speed processionals where most advancement is accomplished from attrition and pit strategy rather than on track passing. Make the cars less technical; less downforce, less specialized setups, relax the rules, so airflow over the car is not such a dictating force that drivers are loathe to pull out to pass because it upsets the car too much. Or go to the other extreme and make the cars more elaborately technical - allow active aero and active suspension, allow full "fly-by-wire" so the driver just steers and hits the pedals and the onboard computer controls all else. And stop letting FIA have so much control over track design; let's again see GP races at Mosport or Brands Hatch, let's see the USGP at Watkins Glen or Road America or Laguna Seca.

 

[jgf]

I have said many times here I would go for 3 races @ 1/2 GP distance.
1. 50% smaller fuel cell which means cars race harder and faster from 1st lap .
2. 3 races 3 starts 3 times excitement.
3. Driver punted out 1st race 1st corner no fault of their own gets 2 more bites of cherry.
4. 50% more racing , you would not need sprints at all.
5. 50% more primetime streaming and advertising.
6. Tyre that will go distance, no need for pits or mistakes they breed.
7. Triple points.

"more advertising" ????

I've long proposed that auto racing on TV should have no commercial breaks at all. Every car, no matter the series, is a rolling billboard for a dozen companies; every track is surrounded by advertising signs and posters; the entire time you are watching a race you are seeing commercials.

 

[Bram Hengeveld]

Bring back the sounds of the V10 or V12 engines and a F1 race can't last long enough for me.

If not, a staged race might be nice every now and then.

 

[jgf]

18k rpm may be technologically impressive but it sounds like a hornet in a tin can.

I miss when race cars sounded like race cars (here's 700+hp from a supercharged 3L V8)

 

[Ruttman98]

"more advertising" ????

I've long proposed that auto racing on TV should have no commercial breaks at all. Every car, no matter the series, is a rolling billboard for a dozen companies; every track is surrounded by advertising signs and posters; the entire time you are watching a race you are seeing commercials.

We are fortunate here in the U.S. that ESPN broadcasts the Sky broadcast.

I believe the reference to "more advertising" would potentially equate more track time on camera for more entries rather than more commercials as drivers jostled for position. But of course, three races would permit the insertion of more commercials between them.

 

[Antony Snook]

As a fan of NASCAR i don't think this format will run in F1. NASCAR races are 300-600 miles long. So drivers would make car heavy for qualifying at the back, loosen the chassis suspension by pulling out rubber wedges in springs and Alter body displacement (Ie raise or lower rear deck to alter drag) And the big names would work forwards as the track gained grip. It's just to long to run up front all day. F1 is a sprint and equal to the final segment

 

[jgf]

Actually I would like to see some longer F1 races. Most other series are primarily 2-3 hour races, but all have at least one longer event, from 4 hours to 24hours. F1 caters to TV coverage (which is sparse in most countries, if lucky I can see 3-4 races a year here) with 2 hour races, lets have one 4 hour race per year.

 

[Durge Driven]

Actually I would like to see some longer F1 races. Most other series are primarily 2-3 hour races, but all have at least one longer event, from 4 hours to 24hours. F1 caters to TV coverage (which is sparse in most countries, if lucky I can see 3-4 races a year here) with 2 hour races, lets have one 4 hour race per year.

For some reason GP distances are set in stone which meant over time races have got shorter.

F1 are the pinnacle of technology and speed, I can't see them as endurance cars.

It is not a bad idea, why not open wheel endurance championship, less tech, stronger cars.
Look at Indycar they could drive all day.

 

[jgf]

Well, if a car cannot last a four hour race, it isn't very impressive. I'm not saying endurance racing for F1, the limitation there would not be the cars themselves but driver swapping; rules state no longer than a four hour stint at the wheel, but F1 cars are set up so specifically to each driver that the setup would have to be a compromise for each (that in itself could be interesting).

I think every major series should have at least one road course, one street course, one oval, and one four hour, or longer, race on its schedule. F1 is getting boring in that regard since all they want to run are those modern cookie cutter circuits which are virtually designed for the cars by the FIA (and I'm convinced F1 is not going to any track not within walking distance of a five star hotel/casino complex).

 

[Antony Snook]

Actually I would like to see some longer F1 races. Most other series are primarily 2-3 hour races, but all have at least one longer event, from 4 hours to 24hours. F1 caters to TV coverage (which is sparse in most countries, if lucky I can see 3-4 races a year here) with 2 hour races, lets have one 4 hour race per year.

Races are 200 miles rounded up or down to nearest lap. This is better for the sport as races are a standard lengh. A longer race will be harder and need more development, a shorter one will be easyer so you have to alter points Les for shorter and more for longer based on the effort required to endure to the finish. The rules are a race can not exeed 2 hours. Thogh a Red flag or pace car can push it to 3 hours it's not racing its a parade or a break to sit in car or garage waiting for weather or track to be clear.

 

[Durge Driven]

I would have triple points every weekend which totally mixes things up.
Where a driver punted off track turn 1 gets nothing he would have 2 more chances to score assuming the car was fixable in time.
So 3 x 100 mile would take 50KG+ weight off the cars which is the main issue imo, they are just too heavy. At start of races it is like they make passes in slow motion.
Look at Indycar, if they had huge tanks for full race it would turn into tugboats.
Since FIA will never go back to fueling the only way things will change is smaller fuel cells. Next gen car is going to be just as heavy ? 800KG for the fastest cars on planet is a laugh imo. The other benefit would be tyre wear and that is where the strategy would be how hard they push to make the tyre last 100 miles.
Billion dollar sport and you throw the dice that there will be a yellow flag is ridiculous to me. Strategy should be solely in the hands of the driver.

P.S.
On advertising most have some sort. So I meant if you increase prime viewing time by 50% ( 200 miles to 300 miles ) you generate more income, you would have companies lined up to get a slice and a percentage of that windfall could go back to the sport.

 

[ThomasGreece]

Please no.
This is the problem, people keep trying to reinvent racing. Theres so many regulations and penalties for everything nowadays. Just make the cars smaller and lighter and let them race, thats it.

 

[Durge Driven]

This isn't Indycar

 

[Durge Driven]

Sorry, wrong thread.