Editor’s Note: Periodically we offer an editorial from one of our readers in a series we call Marbles. It’s a chance for our readers to share their thoughts on F1. This installment is from our reader, Tim Covington (aka Mustang Guy), and we hope you enjoy the post.
We are seven races into this current season and I’ve about had enough. I’m not talking about the dominance of Mercedes. They did their homework and created a fantastic car and engine (oops . . . power unit). The rest of the field just needs to find a way to catch-up. Sure, it’s not going to be easy, but Ferrari is certainly headed in the right direction. So, it can be done.
No, what I’m talking about are some of the rules that have been implemented over the last two seasons. I certainly understand the need for a comprehensive rules package that teams can work within. Without rules there would be chaos. But there are some specific rules that I just don’t get.
For example, I don’t understand why there is a need to limit the amount of fuel being used during a race. I am tired of hearing the pit wall tell a driver you have to conserve fuel to make it to the end of the race. If we had re-fueling and the team didn’t get the car full of fuel then bad on them. But this is different. Give these guys enough fuel to go racing. Lifting 50 meters or 100 meters to conserve fuel . . . that’s not racing. Fill those cars up, remove that fuel flow meter, and let these guys have at it. If you want to show what these power units are really capable of, then turn them loose. In the real world, your definitely want the best fuel mileage you can get from your car. But I highly doubt anyone is setting at the fuel station running calculations to see how fast and how far they can go on a specific amount of fuel (or at least I’m not). I want to see these drivers get after each other and limiting the fuel consumption is not going to allow that to happen.
Also, I’m tired of hearing about driver coaching. I doesn’t matter to me what the pit wall tells a driver. If it makes for better/closer racing, have at it. In other forms of motorsport, such as NASCAR and Indycar, you are always hearing the driver and spotter discussing the best possible line around the track to get the best lap time. You hear “try running this line. That what X driver is doing.” If we didn’t hear much about it during the broadcast, no one would even be thinking about driver coaching.
And, what about this helmet rule. This one I really don’t get. When I started watching F1, it wasn’t a driver’s helmet that let me know who was driving what car. If you watch F1 for any length of time, I think you will be able to figure out what driver is driving what car. This rule just limits a driver’s personality. Wouldn’t it be cool to see something really neat on a driver’s helmet and then have the broadcast team interview him to get the story behind the paint scheme. We might actually learn something interesting about that driver. Don’t we want these drivers to be more human and approachable?
And, what about the DRS rule. Just find a podcast with Paul, Todd and Mark discussing DRS. Maybe the famous “rantcast” from a while back. They said it all, there’s nothing else I can add to it.
As previously stated . . . I’ve about had enough. In the comments section, lists the rules that drive you crazy and why. I’m interested to see what things drive others “up-the-wall”.
