120 replies to this topic

[DeKnyff]

Reading this made me think "There's not a single thing left that connects modern F1 with the gold years, its been completely wrecked"

 

And then I thought "That means there's room for a new series that resurrects the spirit of the 60s and 70s, wouldn't that be awesome"

 

There is an obvious connection between the 1960s and 1970s and present-day F1: the best drivers in the fastest cars, designed by the best engineers. Which is what F1 is and has been all about.

 

"There is room for a new series that resurrects the spirit of the 1960s and 1970s": No, there isn't.

 

To start with, safety is a must nowadays. Neither the sport promoters, nor the sponsors, nor the broadcasters are interested in a sport with deaths or even seriously injured drivers. So, the old "classical" tracks like the old Nürburgring, the old Spa, Rouen-les-Essarts and many others, which were an integral part of the F1 experience of yesteryears, could not be used. Same goes for many of current car regulations, which are dictated by safety and for many rules, like safety cars or wet race conditions.

 

And don't even think about going back to non-hybrid engines: there wouldn't be one dollar/euro/pound/yen for non environment-friendly engines and you can't change that.

 

Also, if you want a world coverage of an event, you have to involve sponsors and all the corporate stuff which goes with them.

 

So, all in all, I'm afraid that any new alternative F1 series would be extremely similar to what we have now (which, contrary to what many say, I do not think is that bad).

 

What you can't change is that we are living in 2023, not 1970. Formula 1, just like everything else, has to adapt to a changing world, not the other way round.

[PayasYouRace]

And there are series that cover older stuff. Historic racing is a thing. BOSS still exists as far as I’m aware. That throwback to old school racing does exist for those that want it. But it’s not what gets bums in seats.

[Zmeej]

There is an obvious connection between the 1960s and 1970s and present-day F1: the best drivers in the fastest cars, designed by the best engineers. Which is what F1 is and has been all about.

 

"There is room for a new series that resurrects the spirit of the 1960s and 1970s": No, there isn't.

 

To start with, safety is a must nowadays. Neither the sport promoters, nor the sponsors, nor the broadcasters are interested in a sport with deaths or even seriously injured drivers. So, the old "classical" tracks like the old Nürburgring, the old Spa, Rouen-les-Essarts and many others, which were an integral part of the F1 experience of yesteryears, could not be used. Same goes for many of current car regulations, which are dictated by safety and for many rules, like safety cars or wet race conditions.

 

 

Well said.

 

The deaths of the years until the 1980s were a regular taint on any golden period preceding, and the shock of 1994's San Marino and the fact that Mika almost died in Adelaide in 1995 finally prompted everyone to address this fact.

 

 

Apart from all of that, it's a bit of a miracle that Zandvoort is back on the calendar, and quite enjoyably so.

Edited by Zmeej, 02 July 2023 - 17:56.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Overall, it’s been god awful since the turn of the century.

[masa90]

Not really sure. I loved the late nineties and 2000s apart from few seasons. After the turboregulations the sport seemed broken and almost "rigged" in a way that basically there is no competition. Along with other problems. Especially annoying with the "too much of it"-era going on with races pretty much most of weekends it feel like. Currently the sport feels extremely hollow for me.

[ConsiderAndGo]

Not really sure. I loved the late nineties and 2000s apart from few seasons. After the turboregulations the sport seemed broken and almost "rigged" in a way that basically there is no competition. Along with other problems. Especially annoying with the "too much of it"-era going on with races pretty much most of weekends it feel like. Currently the sport feels extremely hollow for me.

I know what you mean. It does feel completely soulless.

[noikeee]

1939-1945.

[realracer200]

It's good to see most fans recognize 1983-1993 as the golden era.

Edited by realracer200, 02 July 2023 - 19:28.

[Zmeej]

Hard (if not impossible) not to recognize it as one of them…

[PayasYouRace]

The poll annoys me because my golden era is 1989-1997. NA engines and slicks, and mature aerodynamics which produced beautiful cars. Picked the 80s option as it covers more of my choice, and I’d rather the chunky turbo cars over anything on grooved tyres.

[Ashley89H]

I think 2006-2013 gets somewhat underrated due to Vettel’s dominance (especially 2013) and winning the last 4 championships. Of the 8 seasons, we had 5 last race championship deciders with drivers from different teams, one season (2009) where many teams fortunes changed throughout the year and 2011/2013 which whilst the championship was clear early on, delivered some decent racing.

I think the V8 engines obviously weren’t as popular as the V10 previously, but it was a lot better than what followed!!

[PayasYouRace]

Anyone who thinks torqueless, flat sounding V8s and 1.8 m wide cars is a golden era should probably watch more old races.

[George Costanza]

1995, 1997 and 1999 were probably the absolute best years for me....all the odd numbered years. Looking across the motorsport categories, they were all epic and I'd struggle to choose between them.

Best for F1 - 1997
Best for WRC - 1995
Best for BTCC - 1995
Best for CART - 1999
Best for sportscars - 1999
Best for WSBK/MotoGP - 1999

So that edges 1999 but I'd still say 1997.

WRC IMHO is 1998.

Edited by George Costanza, 03 July 2023 - 00:00.

[Checkmate]

From 2005 to 2010, we had five new champions in six seasons, and not a single year was dominated by one driver/team combination, and yet everyone was still complaining about the quality of the racing. We really didn’t appreciate how good we had it back then.

[PayasYouRace]

From 2005 to 2010, we had five new champions in six seasons, and not a single year was dominated by one driver/team combination, and yet everyone was still complaining about the quality of the racing. We really didn’t appreciate how good we had it back then.

 

The racing was crap. It was just different guys leading the processions each year, or sometimes from race to race. Not bad from a championship point of view, but it was frustrating to watch the races.

[Sterzo]

I'm sure people at the very first Grand Prix in 1906 turned to each other and said, "This isn't as good as the old Gordon Bennett, you know."

[F1 Mike]

1995, 1997 and 1999 were probably the absolute best years for me....all the odd numbered years. Looking across the motorsport categories, they were all epic and I'd struggle to choose between them.

Best for F1 - 1997
Best for WRC - 1995
Best for BTCC - 1995
Best for CART - 1999
Best for sportscars - 1999
Best for WSBK/MotoGP - 1999

So that edges 1999 but I'd still say 1997.

Mostly agree although I didn't follow BTCC back then.
I'd also suggest 2004 as a strong contender for MotoGP - so many close finishes

[FirstnameLastname]

I'm sure people at the very first Grand Prix in 1906 turned to each other and said, "This isn't as good as the old Gordon Bennett, you know."

And if you’d have been able to jump them forward and show them modern F1 they’d have thought it amazing no doubt

Times change, F1 changes. Gotta move with the times. The world is getting shittier, F1 gets shittier. Twas ever thus.

[Checkmate]

The racing was crap. It was just different guys leading the processions each year, or sometimes from race to race. Not bad from a championship point of view, but it was frustrating to watch the races.

Not bad is an understatement, 2006 to 2010 is the most competitive era in F1 history. 5 different champions in 5 years with 4/5 of the titles being decided in the final race of the season (and 2009 in the penultimate race). F1 has been dying for that level of competitiveness ever since.

The racing was mostly crap, but on the bright side, the few good races we did have were unforgettable.

[PlatenGlass]

Not bad is an understatement, 2006 to 2010 is the most competitive era in F1 history. 5 different champions in 5 years with 4/5 of the titles being decided in the final race of the season (and 2009 in the penultimate race). F1 has been dying for that level of competitiveness ever since.

The racing was mostly crap, but on the bright side, the few good races we did have were unforgettable.

Most competitive is subjective though. I have seen most of the races from 1979 onwards on DVD (having not started until later in real life) and I'd say 1979 to 1983 hasn't been beaten since.

[PayasYouRace]

Not bad is an understatement, 2006 to 2010 is the most competitive era in F1 history. 5 different champions in 5 years with 4/5 of the titles being decided in the final race of the season (and 2009 in the penultimate race). F1 has been dying for that level of competitiveness ever since.

The racing was mostly crap, but on the bright side, the few good races we did have were unforgettable.

I think 1960-1985 with not a single champion being able to defend their title rates higher. And the racing was better too, and more race winner from outside the top couple of teams.