Effwun's F1 Blog

I've invented a new game - it's called "good rule/bad rule". Here are the rules - the FIA comes up with a cockamamie list of new rules, and I say whether they are good rules or bad rules. Easy, huh? Well, here we go:

• Freeze on engine development - bad rule. Technological development has always been, and should remain, the foundation of Formula 1. Without the ability to develop engines, you might as well go to a single engine formula, and from there you might as well go to a single chassis formula. And it just won't be formula 1 anymore.
  
• Single tyre supplier - good rule. Competition between tyre suppliers has increased speeds and reduced safety. Oh, and there is that small matter of the 2005 USGP. Furthermore, I would rather someone won a race because they were the better driver, not becasue they had better rubber (and yes, I realise that argument extends to having the better machinery as well).
  
• Weight penalties for engine changes - bad rule. This sounds good in principle, but his could be negated by a team's strategy (eg they could switch to a 3-stop strategy to negate the extra weight they are carrying). In fact, the McLarens seem to run quicker when they have the extra weight on board! No, I think the grid penalties should remain (see my previous post about mixed up grids and a lottery systems for deciding grids) because mixed up grids generate exciting racing.
  
• Return to slick tyres - good rule. It's the first step back to proper racing - lots of mechanical grip and low aerodynamic grip.
  
• Gearboxes to last 4 races - bad rule. Not just a bad rule, but a terrible rule! How are the FIA going to police that - put serial numbers on each cog? What about when teams need to change ratios for different circuits? And are we going to get into a situation when drivers are going to "save" their gearboxes by changing gear less often. What garbage!
  
• Spare cars to be banned - bad rule. So if you trash your car on Friday, you can't race on Sunday. Even bigger garbage!
  
• Testing limited to 30,000 kms - good rule. This should help to keep costs down BUT, I would like to see an officially sanctioned test day at each championship event as well because, believe it or not, there are some sad petrol heads out there (like me) who actually like to see this kind of thing.
  
• Extended parc ferme - good rule. Well, sort of. The new parc ferme rules seem to have improved reliability, so this should further improve reliability, right? Yeah, but putting the cars in parc ferme at 6.30pm on the Friday seems a little early. Still, I suppose it would stop teams pulling all nighters and that would keep them happy...
  
• Restricted engine supply - bad rule. Engine manufacturers being limited to supplying two teams seems like a blatant attempt to keep the manufacturers in check. So what if they supplied all the teams on the grid - it would make the racing closer.
  
• Calendar extension to 20 races - good rule. More races = happier me.
  

Labels: Formula 1