127 replies to this topic

[KiloWatt]

I'm sure we all have our limits. Often the topics of "standard this or standard that" comes up and most (it would seem) are against standardisation. So, at what point will you have had enough to call it a day and watch something else? We already have standard ECUs.

What about about standard engines? Standard gearboxes? Standard wings (we already have a standard central FW section, don't we)? Standard diffusor sections? Standard cars (heaven forbid)?

What if a team leaves? Have we lost some BMW fans, for example that doens't watch because they're not here anymore? Or a driver? My brother in law stopped watching when MS retired in 2006 (on an unrelated note, he subsequently regretted starting again).

I guess it depends on your reason for watching. If you lose that, you'll interest. The reason I started watching F1 seriously was because of the Mercedes involvement as I have a passion for the brand. So I'd have to say, if they go I go. Hmmmm....come to think of it, if they even stop making engines I'd go (standard engine related).

Over to you...

[jeze]

Well I really love racing, but if Ferrari would go, then that's it for me.

[Alx09]

If Lewis quit, I'd have to re-consider if I should watch it or not.

As for the teams, I'd be sad to see McLaren or Ferrari go.

Edited by Alx09, 27 April 2010 - 18:10.

[Dan333SP]

If standard engines become the norm, I'm gone. Same for Ferrari leaving the series. Also, if any kind of "performance adjustment" took place like adding success ballast or reversing grid order, I'd lose interest.

[undersquare]

Well I survived the MS era, the Max era, what we have now is sheer bliss. While the races are won on merit, and not all by the same team, I'll be staying. This here right now is a golden era, let's enjoy it.

[BRK]

As a big MS fan I'd been telling myself I would stop watching when he quit for almost a decade and a half: I didn't. To me it felt less involved (F1 did post-2006,I mean),but I remained the crazy addict I've always been. They could change the regs every year or even halfway through a season-and I'd still be watching. Sure,I'd probably complain incessantly about the wings/tyres/engines/nonsensical rules they sometimes come up with,but come Friday I'm hooked and in love all over again. Bit sad,to be honest,how some of us are slaves of Bernie's flying circus...

[Fastcake]

All spec series, the engineering and development has always fascinated me. Also anything that does away with qualifying, random slots or reverse grids, I like qualy as it is and do not want the races to be determined artificially.

[alfa1]

I've already stopped watching a lot of races.
If for whatever reason I miss seeing a race live, then I see in these forums that it was yet another boring race (eg. Bahrain), then I dont bother watching a recording of it later.
Happened a lot in the last few years.

[Lennat]

In all honesty in would take an awful lot for me to stop completely. A breakaway with the majority of the top teams including Ferrari would perhaps do it as i would then rather follow the breakaway. But otherwise, I would get less involved if Ferrari left, as it's something special about those red cars... Especially when I like their drivers, so as an Alonso fan I'm very happy right know, last year I felt a bit torn...

But even if Ferrari left, I would still follow F1, but not support any teams in the same way. Spec cars might just do it though, if it were like a full field of slightly tunes up GP2 cars, as there would then be no proper Ferrari to support.

[BenettonB192]

If a driver that i can't stand dominates F1 for years. I used to be a big Schumacher fan but even as a fan i found some of his Ferrari seasons quite boring when he was just too dominant.

[Clatter]

Teams and drivers come and go. The killer for me is all the spec stuff and attempts to slow the cars down. F1 is barely faster than some of the other series now. It's losing that something special that made it stand out.

[The July Plot]

Death!

[Lights]

Nice thread.

Personally, like Lennat said, it would take an awful lot. Probably every race would be as exciting as Bahrain'10, while my few favorite drivers would quit. And then still... I might keep watching.

[postajegenye]

I've been thinking about this... I was about to write a couple of reasons...

... then I realised I would probably watch it until it ceases to exist or I die. Even if they race lawn mowers around a garden.

[Beatrix]

If Williams go then so do I. I'm finding it hard enough to watch at the moment with their current performance!

Edited by Beatrix, 27 April 2010 - 19:02.

[Bunchies]

Probably the day I stop driving/die. F1 is an infinite opportunity for self improvement.

[philhitchings]

If Ferrari leave. I'd no longer support a team. Though as always, I'd enjoy supporting "my" drivers. As for not watching F1 at all? Let hell freeze over first!

[weston]

There is no such point in my real or imaginary time.

[Disgrace]

Total and utter and complete domination by one driver.

I didn't bother watching any of the 2002 season after the mid-season. Just ridiculous.

2004 was another real test and I watched all of them, whether to the end or not was another thing.

[KiloWatt]

All spec series, the engineering and development has always fascinated me. Also anything that does away with qualifying, random slots or reverse grids, I like qualy as it is and do not want the races to be determined artificially.

Very good point. I didn't think of this, but I would have to agree with you there.

[grunge]

Total and utter and complete domination by one driver.

I didn't bother watching any of the 2002 season after the mid-season. Just ridiculous.

+1.

plus i actually didnt think id be following the 2010 season once kimi announced his sabbatical.as things turned out,i am and its isnt a bad experience at all actually..watching races,supporting no one in particular.

[Willow Rosenberg]

I stopped watching halfway through 2000. F1 seemed to change in the late 90s, with the introduction of the narrow track/grooved tyres, and then the banning of brake-steer and other similar nonsense. I felt F1 had lost sight of what it was, or what I think it ought to be. I still do, but I started watching again around mid-2005, but with nothing like the same interest or passion I had before.

[pippin]

It would be a very sad day for me, if there were no British drivers in F1. I'd probably still watch, but nowhere near as much and it certainly wouldn't be the same.

[Captain Cranckcase]

I already lost interest once during the MS dominance yrs and shambles such as Indy 05 put me off the sport, but the arrival of Hamilton reignited my interest.

I think f1 is at it's most interesting it's been in almost the whole time I've been watching (since early 90's) but the racing is still average too often and the modern flyaway races are doing their best to ruin the sport. I would lose interest again if mickey mouse rules such as reverse grids and that stupid medal idea Bernie came up with were implemented. I think add a few more classic tracks (get rid of china, bahrain etc etc) and lose a bit of aerodynamics and f1 could be in a golden age, so many evenly matched drivers.

Edited by Captain Cranckcase, 27 April 2010 - 19:52.

[fastlegs]

If it ever stops being the "pinnacle" of motorsports.

[skid solo]

The day I die

[VresiBerba]

If it ever stops being the "pinnacle" of motorsports.

So 1980'ish then. Right now the pinnacle of motorsport is NASCAR, but if Montoya retires from a race, or even lapped beyond a possible top-10, I turn off. I just don't see the point. But miss a Formula One race, never!

[vivafroilan!]

I stopped watching after Austria '02. I might start again if Ferrari left, but no one cares about that. But I'd stop following it completely if it became more nationalistic, along the lines of A1 GP.

[Pharazon]

i love the development in f1.. if it became a spec series it would lose all its appeal for me

[Nustang70]

I don't watch most races. I live in the US and don't want to pay for an expensive cable package solely for one race every fortnight. If races were broadcast for free online, I'd watch them all. I'd only stop watching entirely if it became a single chassis series.

[Lights]

A lot of talk here about F1 being 'the pinnacle of motorsport'. Strangely, I couldn't care less. For me personally it's much more about the best drivers in the world competing against each other. The more equal the material, the better for me.

[katmen]

when racing on the track will be dead, very close was that incident with orchestrated victory for shumacher, i hate artificial racing on a green table

[noikeee]

When every race is in a parking lot in the Arabic Peninsula, they introduce reverse grids, points for passing, and there's still no passing.

Actually the last time I stopped watching for a few years, was because a driver I didn't like dominated everything - though I accept that as a natural thing of the sport!

Edited by paranoik0, 27 April 2010 - 21:41.

[Andrew Hope]

Nothing could make me stop getting up at 3am every Sunday to watch the race. Even if Danica Patrick was in F1, I'd grit my teeth, tough it out and soldier on. Yeah, F1 gets pretty shitty from time to time, but I'm flying this Spitfire straight into the ground, I'm not kicking the canopy off and bailing out every time I see a little smoke.

[nordschleife]

I never thought I would lose my enthusiasm for American open-wheel but I have. From being nearly as compelling as F1 to having no hold on me whatsoever - that's quite an achievement. FTG.
So it is possible but what would it take with regard to F1?

Scratch the best tracks in the most exotic settings. They've made a good start, regrettably, on the list of classics below:
Nurburgring Nordschleife
old Spa
new Spa
Monte Carlo
Suzuka
Montjuic Park
Monza
Brands Hatch
Silverstone
Jacarapagua
Interlagos
Zeltweg
A1 Ring
Clermont Ferrand
Imola
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Make it impossible to ignore FIA corruption. It then follows that results have no integrity. Exercise is of no validity or consequence.
I won't cite examples because it would sadden me to to do so.

Create circumstances that make F1 stars leave for NASCAR or WRC.

Give me good reasons for keeping my money out of the pockets of CVC (the organ-grinder) and by extension their accordion-playing monkey.

Give free rein to officious fools intent on making themselves important by interfering with on-track action by calling maddening unnecessary penalties.

I can't go on. The case against watching is becoming convincing.

[Jabo]

The only things that would make me stop watching would be something like penalty weight for the championship leader or reverse grid or some such nonsense. I hate it. I have followed a couple of other motorsport series religiously until they started using such things to "spice up the show" They immidiately lost at least one viewer.

[Zoony]

A difficult one...

However hard one tries to set parameters for 'leaving the sport' or stop watching it, it is amazing how they can become blurred or forgotten.

I think I said at some stage, "If we have standard tyres in F1, I'm out." But I'm still here.

I think I said at some stage, "If we have forced pit stops in F1, I'm out." But I'm still here.

I think I said at some stage, (unbelievably), "If they force tobacco advertising out of F1, I'm out." But I'm still here.

I think I said at some stage, a long time ago, "If Lotus is no longer in F1, I'm out." But I was still here when they came back.

I think I said at some stage, "If we have a pit lane speed limit in F1, like the wimps in Indycar, I'm out." But I'm still here.

I think I said at some stage, "If we have a 'push to pass button' (aka KERS) in F1, like the wimps in Indycar, I'm out." But I'm still here.

Addiction, perhaps...?

Edited by Zoony, 27 April 2010 - 22:32.

[Sausage]

Yeah death, I can roll with everything if it has wheels.

[Mandzipop]

I dunno. F1 has been part of my life since I was a baby in arms (literally). It took a few races for them to understand what was going on, but my parents found a trend. Under the age of 1 if a race was on and I was crying before, as soon as a race was on I shut up. By toddler age if a race was on I was superglued to the race. I climbed on my dad's knees and I was transfixed. They tried buting me dolls but I just wanted to play with matchbox cars. I cant remember life without F1. I've only had a pc since October 2006, so my F1 life has changed since then. More in-depth, for good and bad reasons.

[macoran]

If Lewis quit, I'd have to re-consider if I should watch it or not.

don't be ridiculous !!

[Yorkie]

Like has been mentioned by some other posters i hate artificial racing, i'm glad race fuelled qualifying has gone, things like reverse grids and weight penalties would be a killer for me

[Sakae]

I would stop watching when I have no one or nothing to cheer for.

[pacwest]

Spec engines (any "spec" aspect)
reverse grid is insane
weight penalties are insane
incredulous stewardship (the past few years have been hard - thankfully solved)


This obsession with young talent has simmered a bit. There seemed ot be a point where it was more about age and potential that race craft and the driver line ups were starting to turn me off. I still feel that good drivers are not in F1 solely due to age and the resulting lack of sponsorship. Ease up a bit gents and let some talent in. Or in the case of JPM/JV/et al don't force them out looking for the next best, free driver.

[Andrew Hope]

I must be even more of an addict than I thought. Spec engines, weight penalties, reverse grids etc. would seriously piss me off but ultimately I know, deep down, I'd watch anyway.

[aditya-now]

Never!

And, hey, it's going in the right direction now anyway, with no refuelling, which brings back a stronger need for intelligence, not just bringing down the hammer, thus making F1 again more what it historically was.
Bring back turbo engines and KERS as well, it will only be good for the racing!

[FigJam]

Teams and drivers come and go. The killer for me is all the spec stuff and attempts to slow the cars down. F1 is barely faster than some of the other series now. It's losing that something special that made it stand out.

Couldn't agree more.

[Muz Bee]

I'm optimistic. The fiddling to achieve artificially close racing of the last few years has gone. I was close to packing it in with the stupid qualifying fuel rules and the threats to award gold medals for wins and the count of each year's gold medals would determine champion would have been too far for me. The stupid idea of creating short cuts by Ecclestone would also undermine the great heritage of F1. Track sprinklers while producing unpredictable results would be another artificial intrusions not needed. Martin Brundle made a comment during a race with the use of KERS as being "plastic racing" which resonated with me.

People are very quick to say "RedBull are dominating and it's boring". I was starting to get bored after 5 years of Ferrari domination but last year was a great year even if Brawn dominated the first half. We have excellent prospects for a bumper year this year.

[primer]

Over to you...

I sort of already have stopped watching F1. I do not get worked up if I cannot see a F1 procession any given weekend, and even when I have access to TV I usually watch the start and then spend most of the time watching other channels/programs while the procession goes on.

I will skip most of the European rounds this season unless weather is forecast to be wet. Spending two hours on a Sunday with F1 is waste. I will view the qualifying though, I find it more interesting than the races.

[Madera]

That point to which you refer, does not exist.

There is nothing, no matter how absurd, that would ever prevent me from watching every practise, qualy, race.

As I have done for time imemoriable. (sp)

Other than my own death.

It's in my blood, it was in my Dad's blood. RIP.

Grew up with it, will die with it.

If that's not your POV then you're just a waffler.

F1 rules!

Those guys, those cars, are simply the best.

Speed, braking, beauty, engineering, spectacle, simply unmatched.

[jez6363]

Probably if another series came along that was better, and had good TV coverage. Both A1 and IndyCar were appealing - I followed Indy more than F1 a few years back, and if we had decent TV coverage of it now, I would be tempted. F1 has great TV coverage and buildup (practises, qualifing), other series have better actual races (leaving aside wet races) - its a dilemma...