Is it just me or others feel the same...

[doublesixes]

Over the course of the last 25 years I hardly remember missing a F1 race. I was there in front of my TV, for the qualy and the full race, regardless of the hour. It was like a religion. But things started to change in the last couple of seasons. I have missed 2 races in the last year (well, I watched them later because they were recorded). It's like one is losing interest, gradually but inexorably. The culprit: So many regulations that interrupt the natural flow of a race. In years past it was refueling and this season this absurd tyre allocation. My F1 experience is about to be demoted to the ranks of the other sports that I enjoy like tennis and football. F1 is losing the revered aura it had for me just a few years ago. I hope the FIA changes the rules where the cars are allowed to race uninterrupted to the finish line. It's not that complicated. What does it take to develop a fast but stable compound to last a full race? Luckily the refueling mess was resolved a couple of years ago. There's hope things can get better but action should be taken. Thanks for reading. 66

[Tifoso]

Over the course of the last 25 years I hardly remember missing a F1 race. I was there in front of my TV, for the qualy and the full race, regardless of the hour. It was like a religion. But things started to change in the last couple of seasons. I have missed 2 races in the last year (well, I watched them later because they were recorded). It's like one is losing interest, gradually but inexorably. The culprit: So many regulations that interrupt the natural flow of a race. In years past it was refueling and this season this absurd tyre allocation BS. My F1 experience is about to be demoted to the ranks of the other sports that I enjoy like tennis and football. F1 is losing the revered aura it had for me just a few years ago. I hope the FIA changes the rules where the cars are allowed to race uninterrupted to the finish line. It's not that complicated. What does it take to develop a fast but stable compound to last a full race? Luckily the refueling mess was resolved a couple of years ago. There's hope things can get better but action should be taken. Thanks for reading. 66

They've had stable rules (sort of) for a couple of years, though. I honestly understand where you are coming from. They need to ditch all the downforce stuff, I'd say. I do enjoy refueling, but I can see your point on this, as well.

To sum up

it is not just you.

[Liscia]

You are not alone but there is no other sport that interests me so it may be an even greater loss for me? So much of current F1 is over-contrived for modern audience consumption
that the basic men+machines against each other has been irretrievably lost. Chess is a great game but checkers can be just about as much fun...............

[doublesixes]

Thanks for the feedback . At least I know that my concerns don't lie with just myself. Now if I could have an appropriate petition letter signed by 100 million people, then the FIA may do something about it

[Tobes]

I do enjoy refueling

I enjoyed the strategy that went along with refuelling, but it was too hit and miss if the rigs worked or not, sometimes no fuel went in, and sometimes the fuel hose wouldn't release, leaving the pit box with the fuel hose still attached to the car after Piquets 'crash' in Singapore in '08 is another reason why Felipe lost the WDC that year... Like I said, I miss the fuel strategy game, but the rigs were too unreliable, glad that lottery has gone...

[Giallo 550]

Hmm, I guess I'm fortunate that I only started following Formula 1 in 2010. I would think the recent happenings would bother me even more if I were a longtime fan.

[brembo man]

What keeps the interest so high fan wise is if your into WDC or WCC . Are you watching just to see your driver on the podium or are you always counting constructor points?

[FerrariIce]

So you guys want to go back to the days where the faster cant overtake a slower car?Where the winner of the race will be predicted just by looking at Practice Sessions? Or back to the dangerous refueling era? Even in the era of Senna and Prost they still could not push 100% every lap because they would wear the tires down. We've seen it when Michael and the bridgestone tires advantage, people we're complaining, the tire manufacturers cant make everyone happy its up to the teams,drivers and us fans to adapt. And besides if we have a compound that would last like the bridgestone potenza tires then RBR would dominate the entire field again, clearly these Pirelli tires are hampering them, so we can be thankfull for that

[Nova]

Over the course of the last 25 years I hardly remember missing a F1 race. I was there in front of my TV, for the qualy and the full race, regardless of the hour. It was like a religion. But things started to change in the last couple of seasons. I have missed 2 races in the last year (well, I watched them later because they were recorded). It's like one is losing interest, gradually but inexorably. The culprit: So many regulations that interrupt the natural flow of a race. In years past it was refueling and this season this absurd tyre allocation BS. My F1 experience is about to be demoted to the ranks of the other sports that I enjoy like tennis and football. F1 is losing the revered aura it had for me just a few years ago. I hope the FIA changes the rules where the cars are allowed to race uninterrupted to the finish line. It's not that complicated. What does it take to develop a fast but stable compound to last a full race? Luckily the refueling mess was resolved a couple of years ago. There's hope things can get better but action should be taken. Thanks for reading. 66

Its not you...

And to FerrariIce, at least in the Prost/Mansell?Senna days they could actually race balls out for more than 6 laps.

[aroutis]

It's not just you.

I miss the refueling, for one thing, and no, I don't agree with those talking bout "dangerous times". Taking aside the obvious fact, that most of the accidents in the refueling era happened outside the pitstops and those that did happen during refueling (as far as memory serves me) were never fatal, I have to say that in the end of the day, danger (to an extend, of course) is part of the sport, and refueling was also adding variety in the strategy of the teams.

Also, I would really like to see a change towards the past; allow evolution to the engines, not like now. I'd like to see the cars to be less depended to aero and more towards mechanical grip.

Perhaps I want too much... :P

[FFFerrari]

It's not you. I've watched F1 since the beginning of 80's and at that time it was hard to actually see all the races on the TV but even then I missed precious few. But during the recent years (more notably 2009-2011) I've missed more than a few and never even felt bad about it. I've fallen asleep watching many others. Am I getting old, or are most of the drivers and tracks just very bland? Luckily we have had some very exciting races last season and this season too and I intend to see most of the races if I can help it.

[FerrariIce]

Its not you...

And to FerrariIce, at least in the Prost/Mansell?Senna days they could actually race balls out for more than 6 laps.

Yeah but drivers of today are more challenged than drivers back then, today drivers really have to think about their pace, the car,the tires, and their strategy back then drivers didnt have that sort of challenge because they only have to think about other cars in the track. And for one thing the unpredictability of today is what makes it exciting, we use to think of Valencia and Abu dhabi as boring races in 2012 but turns out it wasnt. When the teams and drivers adapt to the tires and Pirelli goes to a more conservative route all this complaining and whining about the tires will be gone just like during late season of 2012

[Schumyboy83]

Not alone, I have started to follow other motorsport alot closer than I use to, BTCC, Nascar, Indy, MOTOGP.....

Not sure what it is, But I think my main problem is with a certain finger boy,

[Ken]

I agree with doublesixs post, and like him I have been watching F1 for more than 25 years.
For me the excitement before a race started with the new developments on the cars many were original and some were bizarre to say the least.
Back then it wasn't about 6 lap tyres, but engines surviving for a full race.

I agree totally with those who say Aero has too much importance and is the main reason now for lack of "Racing", and needing the artificial overtaking help of DRS and tyres that go from super grippy to usless in less than 10 laps.

OK for years racing was a bit processional but we were still on the edge of our seats willing our teams cars home praying that there would not be any mechanical failures. Remember the clouds of smoke when engines blew up and the sinking heart if it was our cars.

Lets get rid of that front wing and get back to Ground effects for grip, lets bring back refueling strategies, get rid of tyres designed to fail, bring back rules that allow engineers more freedom to innovate.

[killer]

I doubt if we will ever get rid of aero. I also believe we could do with a simplification of the tyre regulations:

1) No more obligation to use 2 compounds
2) Design tyres with maximum efficiency in mind, i.e. try to make a hard tyre with grip in mind and make a soft tyre with a premium on durability. Rather simplified, I agree, but a compromise will be inherent in following this design mentality

[tohellandback]

Over the course of the last 25 years I hardly remember missing a F1 race. I was there in front of my TV, for the qualy and the full race, regardless of the hour. It was like a religion. But things started to change in the last couple of seasons. I have missed 2 races in the last year (well, I watched them later because they were recorded). It's like one is losing interest, gradually but inexorably. The culprit: So many regulations that interrupt the natural flow of a race. In years past it was refueling and this season this absurd tyre allocation. My F1 experience is about to be demoted to the ranks of the other sports that I enjoy like tennis and football. F1 is losing the revered aura it had for me just a few years ago. I hope the FIA changes the rules where the cars are allowed to race uninterrupted to the finish line. It's not that complicated. What does it take to develop a fast but stable compound to last a full race? Luckily the refueling mess was resolved a couple of years ago. There's hope things can get better but action should be taken. Thanks for reading. 66

Mate Cant Agree more ....I have been a viewer since last 10 years and goshhh i miss those refueling and Bridgestone days ( i was so fond that i always used to have rubber for all my bikes/cars )

[Klutch]

Me too. Was watching every race since 2006. After Brazil 2012 though it's finally over (interest for F1) but somehow it wasnt. Reasons:
1) 5th year in a row soda water team builds fastest car. All those finger's records... Just boring and frustrating.
2) Tyre lottery. Honestly... Pirelli should never be a choice to buy it for your car. No matter they're saying they were asked to create THAT tyre.
Difficult to say more because of language but I can say much better in my native..

[Hamish]

I have been following formula 1 for more years than I wish to remember. I agree, of late I have been disheartened. Not because of the tyre manufactures, contrary, I think they add quite a nice touch, not because of no refueling either. It is the monotonous regularity that Vettel runs away with the race at the start. He and only he will be the one that makes me stop watching F1.

[Nova]

Yeah but drivers of today are more challenged than drivers back then, today drivers really have to think about their pace, the car,the tires, and their strategy back then drivers didnt have that sort of challenge because they only have to think about other cars in the track. And for one thing the unpredictability of today is what makes it exciting, we use to think of Valencia and Abu dhabi as boring races in 2012 but turns out it wasnt. When the teams and drivers adapt to the tires and Pirelli goes to a more conservative route all this complaining and whining about the tires will be gone just like during late season of 2012

Its exciting alright...watching guys dressed alike changing tires is so much more fun than watching Ferrari's n Mclarens racing balls out for 72 laps.

[raylinds]

I have been a fan for 10 years, and still enjoy the sport as much as ever, but I do think they have overdone the rapidly degrading tires. I am sick of seeing Vettel win, but think that Ferrarri can do something about that.

[NickEice]

Refueling was banned to stop this:
Attachment 5270

And this:
Attachment 5271

Tracks were changed to prevent this:
Attachment 5272

And new cost rules were put in place to prevent this:
Attachment 5273

We can't go back in time and we can't have it like it was. Every sport in the world has changed since the "Glory Days" of years past. We shouldn't want our drivers taking unnecessary risks. There is no sport that should be that risky. It is just a sport. Cars have been designed to be safer, to be quicker without relying on huge engines. That's the way the world is. There is not point in developing V10 or V12 engines. Even the V8 is becoming old. Look at all the road cars today. And F1 is supposed to be a test bed for future road car technology. If we kept everything the same we would never move forward. Even DRS will be transfered to road car technology. Look at Porsche's movable rear wing. Or the new McLaren MP4-12C. Sure a super car, but paddle shifters started in super cars, now you can get a Ford Focus with them.

Pirelli tires are exciting. DRS replaces the slip stream that was lost from years past due to the advancement in Aero. Watch old season reviews. It seems that many of the passes were on the straight with the car behind getting a tow. This is what DRS brought back since it was lost from the aero wake. There are still plenty of non DRS passes too. Usually it is a 50/50 split between DRS and non DRS passes in a race. F1.com posts these stats before and after the races usually.

Drivers push on these tires. Read Kimi's comments. Most drivers are not really complaining. It is just a media frenzy to get page views on the internet and advertising revenues. Maybe we don't feel the same way about F1 today because of all the new media outlets and we get too much media spin clouding our brains.

The races in the last few years have been exciting as all hell. There really haven't been any boring races in my opinion. Bahrain was very exciting, disappointing for us Tifosi, but exciting non the less. We can't continue to look back and lament the lost past because everyone else is moving forward.

[wisepie]

Some of us old fogies have been watching F1 for as long as it's been transmitted on a regular basis, except where work interfered, so I'm probably talking 1970s. I had thought it had all got a bit silly when it stopped being a straightforward race to the flag. Without all the strategic elements of today, though, and the reliability we now have, those earlier races are often made out to be better than they really were. Obviously there were some crackers (Villeneuve/Arnoux for one), but today's F1 has had to adapt and become what the media and sponsors require, that's what enables it to function. The glamour is an added bonus and that's why, from day one, I've supported Ferrari....just too glamourous for words! Forza Le Rosse!

[NickEice]

Some of us old fogies have been watching F1 for as long as it's been transmitted on a regular basis, except where work interfered, so I'm probably talking 1970s. I had thought it had all got a bit silly when it stopped being a straightforward race to the flag. Without all the strategic elements of today, though, and the reliability we now have, those earlier races are often made out to be better than they really were. Obviously there were some crackers (Villeneuve/Arnoux for one), but today's F1 has had to adapt and become what the media and sponsors require, that's what enables it to function. The glamour is an added bonus and that's why, from day one, I've supported Ferrari....just too glamourous for words! Forza Le Rosse!

I am no old fogie but I do love to listen to the older generation talk about F1. When watching some highlights of seasons past there were often just a few cars on the lead lap and more than half the field retiring!

When reffering to the current Pirelli rubber, not sure what people mean by push every lap like they used to. Are they referring pushing the car back into the garage after an engine blew every other race?

[doublesixes]

Well, if regulations are here to stay then let's add one more: Drivers from Heppenheim, Germany are not allowed to participate....

[Suzie]

I'd still never miss a race but I think the key for me is the tracks - the weekends where it's Spa or Monza or Interlagos for example, I definitely get more of a 'buzz' about the race and get far more excited than I do about the likes of Valencia.

[Greig]

I'd still never miss a race but I think the key for me is the tracks - the weekends where it's Spa or Monza or Interlagos for example, I definitely get more of a 'buzz' about the race and get far more excited than I do about the likes of Valencia.

This +1

[NickEice]

I'd still never miss a race but I think the key for me is the tracks - the weekends where it's Spa or Monza or Interlagos for example, I definitely get more of a 'buzz' about the race and get far more excited than I do about the likes of Valencia.

Agree

[NickEice]

Maybe the Pirelli rubber wouldn't be such a big deal if the teams had ample testing time to understand them. Perhaps the rubber was the same back in the day, they just logged more miles before the season started and understood them better...

[71dino]

Over the course of the last 25 years I hardly remember missing a F1 race. I was there in front of my TV, for the qualy and the full race, regardless of the hour. It was like a religion. But things started to change in the last couple of seasons. I have missed 2 races in the last year (well, I watched them later because they were recorded). It's like one is losing interest, gradually but inexorably. The culprit: So many regulations that interrupt the natural flow of a race. In years past it was refueling and this season this absurd tyre allocation. My F1 experience is about to be demoted to the ranks of the other sports that I enjoy like tennis and football. F1 is losing the revered aura it had for me just a few years ago. I hope the FIA changes the rules where the cars are allowed to race uninterrupted to the finish line. It's not that complicated. What does it take to develop a fast but stable compound to last a full race? Luckily the refueling mess was resolved a couple of years ago. There's hope things can get better but action should be taken. Thanks for reading. 66

I though it was just me. This past race, with the brat out front by his usual margin and Fernando pitting for the 3rd time in about as many laps, Filipe losing position, I turned it off and went back to bed. There was a time, not too long ago, when that would have been unheard of around our home. I must admit that I was a huge Champ fan and if it were still available I might consider moving but, F1 is all we have as Indy is , well its Indy. I want V-12s and no aero, decent tires and fueling... in season testing and all the things that once made it so great.... but hey... that's just me.

[wisepie]

The tyre issue is currently controlling the races, it's getting better as the teams learn what to expect from them, and the top teams are closer than ever, so from the spectator point of view, we don't get too bad a deal. But it's not racing as such, just a succession of sprints and strategic decisions, with enormous amounts of money spent trying to extract that last 10th of a second, all to be vapourised by a bad strategy call or wing-clipping scenario. But if that's what we have to put up with to maintain the high profile of F1 and TV coverage, we'll have to live with it. I don't like to miss a live race but we always seem to do better when I'm not watching! I much prefer the old traditional circuits too, but I fear that this old fogie's opinion doesn't count for much nowadays. And Nick Eice, you've obviously done your homework for a youngster, well done!