F1 2021: New season discussion and chat

Status
Not open for further replies.
caroper

caroper

Executive Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2003
Messages
8,162
Naks said:
*sigh*

No, I'm just pointing out why a lot of people don't understand why F1 is so keen to have street circuits instead of dedicated racetracks.
Click to expand...
Actually you pointed out "That a lot of people don't understand why F1 is so keen to have street circuits" not why and I am sure I am not alone in hoping you will enlighten those of who have not attended a street race us as to the appeal.
 
Naks

Naks

Executive Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Messages
7,783
F1's 'traditional' fan base is getting old, and F1 needs to bring in new fans - street circuits appeal to younger people because they are convenient, cheaper (than traditional circuits), and there's opportunity to put on a bigger show throughout the weekend. A lot of people don't even go watch the racing, they mainly go for the concerts, shows, etc.,. The racing is a side show for them.

On the hosting side, it is cheaper to host a street GP than to build a dedicated multi-million dollar race circuit with all the amenities. A city already has all the facilities that spectators need, so you don't need to truck in supplies, personnel, etc., from far. Transport is already present (in most cities), and there are hotels/restaurants/bars, etc., for the crowds.

Governments have a hard time justifying the construction of race circuits when they can close off a few streets for a couple of weeks and get to host a GP. Sure, it's extremely inconvenient for the locals, but the revenue generation from that one week more than makes up for that.

The reason I asked if he'd been to one, is that IME street circuits have a 'vibe' that you don't get at a dedicated racetrack. Having been to both types of GPs, I'd pick a street race over a circuit one any day.


edit:

I realise that on TV, street circuits can result in boring races - Singapore being the most obvious. But the sheer excitement of a street GP cannot be matched by a race circuit IMHO - the visuals maybe, but not the noise, and definitely not the smells.
 
Last edited:
caroper

caroper

Executive Member
Joined
Aug 5, 2003
Messages
8,162
Naks said:
The reason I asked if he'd been to one, is that IME street circuits have a 'vibe' that you don't get at a dedicated racetrack. Having been to both types of GPs, I'd pick a street race over a circuit one any day.
Click to expand...
Thanks Naks, I have only ever been to kyalami though I narrowly missed an opportunity to go to Monaco.
A mate brought me the T-Shirt as a memento instead :)
 
Naks

Naks

Executive Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Messages
7,783
Technical Insight: The updates Ferrari is pinning its 2021 hopes on: https://www.motorsportweek.com/2021...updates-ferrari-is-pinning-its-2021-hopes-on/

"... The SF21 is a clear evolution of the SF1000, which was of course to be expected because of the technical development freezes put in place by the FIA.

We saw several aerodynamic innovations on the SF21 during the test and became clear that the team did indeed spend its two tokens on a new gearbox. The unknown factor remains the new Power Unit (designation 065/6) and whether it’s the step forward Ferrari and its fans so hope it is, as it proved to be a major factor in the struggles of last years car....


Aerodynamic upgrades
We were finally able to appreciate the aerodynamic upgrades of the Ferrari SF21, which has refinements in every part of the car, even if those solutions aren’t exactly innovative.

The area that certainly appears most divergent from the old SF1000 is the front of the car. Ferrari has worked hard to recover much of the aerodynamic efficiency missing from last season. The SF1000 was very slow on the straights, partly because of the underpowered engine, but also due to the high drag offered by the aerodynamics of the car.

The aerodynamic footprint impressed on the new red single-seater, with the aim of recovering vital km/h on the straights, without losing too much in terms of downforce. ...


No narrow nose
Ferrari opted against transitioning to a new slimmer nose concept, despite the benefits it brings. This is because it would have had to spend its two tokens on this, rather than a near gearbox, and Ferrari clearly saw more benefit in that.

But it has worked on its nose externally in a bid to seek out better airflow up to what the regulations allow, without it needing to change the deformable kevlar structure (or chassis), which is when token spend kicks in, as it would have been required to undergo a crash test.

Ferrari’s chassis manager Enrico Gualtieri recognised that a new narrow nose would bring benefit, but believed focussing development at the rear was more important and would bring a greater benefit. ...


New floor

...The floor of the SF21 in Bahrain was very similar to the one the team tested last year, bar one innovative technical feature which concerns three vertical extension elements in the internal area, between the rear tyre and the diffuser, which control the wake coming from the tyre to ensure it doesn’t upset the airflow. ..."
 
Binary_Bark

Binary_Bark

Forging
Joined
Feb 24, 2016
Messages
38,582
Naks said:
:ROFL:

View attachment 1038576
Click to expand...
a5b6bea54a6050be083372850fd4c4e2.gif
 
CaptainObvious

CaptainObvious

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2015
Messages
213
Naks said:
edit:

I realise that on TV, street circuits can result in boring races - Singapore being the most obvious. But the sheer excitement of a street GP cannot be matched by a race circuit IMHO - the visuals maybe, but not the noise, and definitely not the smells.
Click to expand...

Street circuits result in boring races and the most exciting? Sigh* face palm* shits himself*
 
J

JohnStarr

Executive Member
Joined
May 21, 2018
Messages
9,342
HasThisNameBeenTaken? said:
Street circuits result in boring races and the most exciting? Sigh* face palm* shits himself*
Click to expand...
The last time I was excited about a street circuit was Monaco 2012 (I think it was then!) when Schumacher grabbed pole in the Merc, only to be bumped down to 6th.
Then they became metronomic again...
 
thestaggy

thestaggy

Honorary Master
Joined
May 11, 2011
Messages
21,147
Naks said:
*sigh*

No, I'm just pointing out why a lot of people don't understand why F1 is so keen to have street circuits instead of dedicated racetracks.
Click to expand...

I know why they are racing in Saudi Arabia and why they are at all the other oil circuits (Baku, Abu Dhabi, Singapore): Dollars. And lots of them.

It is the same reason WWE now goes to Saudi Arabia for an annual show and why all the old wrestlers come out of retirement to earn a 7-figure pay check for one night in the desert. Those old wrestlers also put on terrible matches but they don't care and neither does the WWE, because $$$.

The street circuits are some of the most - if not the most - boring races of the year but they are just spectacles that earn F1 a lot of money. Abu Dhabi being the biggest example, as that is essentially a theme park where F1 is just one of the ''attractions''.

You and the young fans are more than welcome to enjoy the weekend festivities at a street circuit. I however don't enjoy what I see on the track and I don't like seeing more of these circuits, and I am allowed to have that opinion.
 
Last edited:
Naks

Naks

Executive Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Messages
7,783
thestaggy said:
I know why they are racing in Saudi Arabia and why they are at all the other oil circuits (Baku, Abu Dhabi, Singapore): Dollars. And lots of them.

It is the same reason WWE now goes to Saudi Arabia for an annual show and why all the old wrestlers come out of retirement to earn a 7-figure pay check for one night in the desert. Those old wrestlers also put on terrible matches but they don't care and neither does the WWE, because $$$.

The street circuits are some of the most - if not the most - boring races of the year but they are just spectacles that earn F1 a lot of money. Abu Dhabi being the biggest example as that is essentially a theme park where F1 is just one of the ''attractions''.

You and the young fans are more than welcome to enjoy the weekend festivities at a street circuit. I however don't enjoy what I see on the track and I don't like seeing more of these circuits, and I am allowed to have that opinion.
Click to expand...
Dude, I never said you're not allowed to have that opinion.

I'm just pointing out that this is not the direction in which F1 is going, and we can expect to see more street circuits in the future.
 
M

Meister-Man

Expert Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2017
Messages
1,734
www.gpblog.com

Column | Ricciardo and Leclerc will put an end to the fairytale of McLaren

Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz have helped McLaren get back on its feet in the past two years and have also given McLaren a lot of credit with their positive attitude. However, it is an important year for both drivers.
www.gpblog.com www.gpblog.com

Interesting article how the McLaren dream duo of 2019/20 might progress against there new team mates from this year forward.
 
Naks

Naks

Executive Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Messages
7,783
ScottulusMaximus said:
I wonder what % of F1 fans have actually been to a race.
Click to expand...

Excluding Europe, I would guess a minority. It's very easy in EU to get to a GP on a budget, but quite expensive to do the same for other destinations unless you live there.

In 2015, we did the Singapore GP on a Pentravel special at R20K pp, which included hotel & tickets but not flights, which wasn't bad at all. You can do it cheaper if you AirBnB, fly cattle class, etc.

Ticket-wise, the cheapest GP to go to these days is Baku. IIRC the 3-day general admission ticket was $100 or something like that. It's just a major PITA getting there, and hotels are kak expensive because they are all booked out by F1 teams.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top