F1 2004 ideas

[John]

Haven't seen many ideas about changing the F1 regs for next year (well compared to all the ones mooted this time last year) so here's a few I thought up - some are reasonably straight forward, others are a bit more controversial!!

Return to slick tyres

3 cars per team with a system to limit grid size to maximum limit (eg bottom 5 teams in championship this year allowed to run 3 cars)

Allow F3000/F2 cars as a second class with the best 5ish from their race allowed to take part in the GP (and get TV coverage)

Top 8 score points but winner gets 8points down to 1 for 8th, bonus point for pole and fastest lap (thus max of 10 still available) and keep the race fuel in qualifying idea.

Maximum of 4 years for any given driver at any team, no return within a further two years (therefore Schumacher would have had to go elsewhere after 4 years at Ferrari) - attempt to get back to the situation where top drivers alternate between the top teams (eg Alain Prost with Williams/Ferrari/McLaren).

Comments and other suggestions..... ;)

[Alan]

Well John (as no one else seems to be interested) - on the one hand I do think they should be able to refuel the cars after qualifying and put new tyres on.

However, more drastically I think that unless they introduce some control parts F1 will continue to be an arena for those with most money to demonstrate their superiority. Whether those parts should be engines, brakes, transmission or what I am not sure.

Maybe that is what F1 has to be though! I did note the popularity of the pitlane walkabout at the USA GP and think this is one way they might have to change. I have to say that at my first visit to a GP meeting this year at Silverstone this was one area which amazed me. You hear stories of inaccessibility but I hadn't realised it was that bad!!:(

Of course there is always the idea of swapping drivers between teams!!!:D

[Peter]

Originally posted by John
Return to slick tyres

The problem with doing that is the braking zone would be reduced, thus further hurting the chance of overtaking.


3 cars per team with a system to limit grid size to maximum limit (eg bottom 5 teams in championship this year allowed to run 3 cars)

Teams like Jordan and Minardi can barely afford to run two cars, so there is no chance of that happening. However, next year all teams apart from the top 4 are allowed to run three cars in both Friday sessions.

If the car count were to fall as low as sixteen, McLaren, Williams and Ferrari would have to run 3 cars.


Allow F3000/F2 cars as a second class with the best 5ish from their race allowed to take part in the GP (and get TV coverage)

Formula 1 is all about excellence and perfection. Low budget Formula 3000 teams would return Formula 1 to the situation it was in 25 years ago when you would have 40 cars qualifying for a race and being 10 seconds a lap off the pace- that would reflect badly.


Top 8 score points but winner gets 8points down to 1 for 8th, bonus point for pole and fastest lap (thus max of 10 still available) and keep the race fuel in qualifying idea.

Pole position already gives you an advantage. If you rewarded pole with a point, the top drivers would concentrate too much ojn qualifying and thus you wouldn't get drivers starting far back and having to pass during the race.


Maximum of 4 years for any given driver at any team, no return within a further two years (therefore Schumacher would have had to go elsewhere after 4 years at Ferrari) - attempt to get back to the situation where top drivers alternate between the top teams (eg Alain Prost with Williams/Ferrari/McLaren).

Interesting idea.