Does F-1 rule changes risk dumbing down the sport?

[vectorclub]

Closer races and saving money are two nice goals, but this is supposed to be the ultimate racing series. Telling teams which technologies they can or cannot use seems wrong. This is not NASCAR or the IRL. If teams can develop superior launch control systems, more power to them.

The type of rules I can understand, is the one engine rule or rules that set limits on fuel consumption. This will mean the teams will have to make technology that is not only fast, but reliable and more fuel efficient. That is the kind of technology we can use on the street. Telling teams they cannot use computer aided controls or not allowing teams to tune the cars remotely is wrong. This is supposed to be a show case of technology.

I know many people are going to say the costs are to high. When sponsor dollars dry up, teams will cut costs. Trying to make F-1 cheaper for other teams to get involved does not seem right. Granted, more cars could mean better racing, but should F-1 have to restrict technological development for the sake of more cars in each race. It seems to me that they should come up with better ways to pass around winnings and series sponsorship dollars. Top teams get all the financial perks from the FIA for travel and so on. Teams that could use help with travel costs do not get help.

The FIA soaks in a ton of cash in broadcasting rights and license fees. If they want to boost competition, they should use that money to help smaller teams with travel costs and other fees. Teams like Ferrari, Williams, and McLaren have big sponsorship dollars. Maybe travel dollars should be given to teams who are not in the top five.

There is no simple solution to keeping the use of technology unrestricted while helping teams on smaller budgets to survive. I just fear that the FIA will go crazy with cost cutting rules and cut off the thing that helps F-1 to stand out. If they are not careful they will become just another open wheel series.

Creating rules to help encourage better driver safety, improved fuel efficiency and better reliability is fine. Making rules to limit technology for the sake of lowering costs seems wrong to me.

[endlesskev86]

i totally agree with your point of view...
i am totally sick and tired of all ways seeing Ferrari in first... it would be different and a challenge for the top teams to see the underdogs having a chance...

[vectorclub]

Ferrari has hurt F-1 to some degree. It reminds me of the days when Mike Tyson won every boxing match. I quit watching boxing because Tyson always won.

The FIA has a large challenge in front of them. Find ways to help even the playing field without restircting the technology that makes F-1 so amazing.