I browse a couple of other car enthusiast forums and they show a high interest in Forumla 1 so I figured I'd start a thread here. Who's keeping up with the race schedule this season?

The season kicked off last night in Melbourne with a commemoration to the victims in Japan's natural disaster. The rules have been altered this season as they brought back the 107% rule, KERS, as well as a new tire supplier being Pirelli. Needless to say, Sebastian Vettel won last night without the use of KERS. Teams also implemented the use of DRS, a drag reduction system which takes advantage of a moveable, driver-controlled panel on the rear spoiler. All of these systems are said to enhance audience excitement as it encourages more overtaking attempts during a race.

 

I watched the beginning of the race. Hadn't cared too much since the USGP was gone but the "new" tech is interesting. Also, preview for Cars 2 was an added bonus for staying up till 1:30 in the morning.

 

I heard they're going to bring back the USGP in 2012, pending on the completion of the FIA regulated racetrack in Texas. I'd like to see Toyota back in F1 as well.

 

I remember reading about that too. I'm waiting to see it before I'll believe it.

 

Malaysia GP this weekend.

 

If Button does not win at Suzuka and/or Vettel comes in 10th or better - he is World Champion...again!

 

Vettel has it pretty much locked-in, it was pretty close in Singapore between Button and Vettel though. I'm surprised Schumi hasn't been on the podium this season.

 

I think he'll make regular visits there next season...

 

Circuit of the Americas looks pretty serious...
I respect F1, but I'm more of a World Challenge and Grand Am fan. I like cars with steel doors and fenders...
I wouldn't mind seeing the US Grand Prix in Austin though!

 

I can't wait for the USGP to start in November '12, I think I'm gonna make that trip. But I also enjoy watching a few other series like the American LeMans and the 24 Heures du Mans but after watching an F1 race, other series look like they're going around the track really slow.

 

The cornering of those cars IS amazing!

 

Man I missed this thread. I'm a HUGE F1 fan, have been since '96. Past few seasons I've watched all of every race. Love, love, love the sport!

I think last season was a bit more excitement, with all the contenders for the championship. Vettel is winning too many of them haha, I like to see more variation in winners.

And yeah the TF110 (I think?) they had built for 2010 was supposed to be very competitive, according to magazines and articles. They had many podiums and a couple second place finishes in 2009, I thought for sure they'd win a couple of those. I think with the new car they may have been able to pull a win off in 2010, they were who I was rooting for in 2009.

 

Yeah, it was disappointing to see the Japanese teams pull out, maybe that's why Sauber keeps Kobayashi. Do you have any solid information regarding Toyota's possible return?

 

Kobayashi is pretty fun to watch! I love his courage to attempt a ton of overtakes and he pulls off quite a few of them. Hope he stays.

Hmm, are they planning to possibly return? Are there recent speculations? I haven't heard anything, last time anything was when they withdrew from F1. And it was about them not planning to return.

 

I don’t think that Toyota will ever go to F1 because they don’t make an F1 engine. Honda used to make very good F1 engines…back in the ‘60s. The last couple of years they were in F1 (early 2000s), their engines couldn’t make enough juice to compete. I think they have been out of it too long to be up on the current engine technology. I seriously doubt that Honda is working on an F1 engine right now, because of the global economy; therefore I doubt that they will come back to F1. Honda is an engine company – no engine; no F1. Don’t get me wrong! I would love to see Honda back in F1…I’m just being realistic about it.

 

I've read articles that the first couple years Toyota was in F1 they had the most powerful engines ('02-'03). It just seemed like their aero and chassis was lacking.

You're right though, after that, their last few seasons in F1 their engine was lacking in power. '09 they seemed to struggle on the courses with straights (Monza, Spa, etc.).

 

Anyone watch the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka? I've yet to watch it as it's on my DVR.

 

I DVRed it too…Button 1, Alonso 2, and Vettel 3…good enough for the championship.

 

Anyone see this article? It's a proposal to add an aircraft canopy onto Formula 1 race cars or any open wheel, open cockpit (eg. Indy) race car in order to protect drivers from flying debris or in cases of roll-over.

This immediately brought back memories of the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix practice round in which Massa was struck by a coil spring at around 200KPH directly in the head, shattering his helmet and leaving him with a large bruise and black eye. Thoughts?

Article & Video

 

Hmm, I think it could go either way. Honestly, it would take away some of the excitement from driving an open-wheel car.

Good: More safety and protection. Debris like that Massa incident can be pretty scary.

Bad: Would need windshield wipers for rain, would be harder to get out of the car in an accident (fire and such), would change the aerodynamics of open wheel racecars significantly. Could also hinder visibility and glare could be an issue.