The new F1 regulations have banned mid-race refuelling. iSport's Motorsport expert Kunal Shah writes how it might change the action for the fans.
Last week I took the opportunity to explain the implications of the change in the F1 points scoring system. I am glad that it was well received – only shows that while the FIA, FOTA and the FOM are going about changing rules almost every year, there is an increasing need to simplify them for the average fan – the one who just wishes to see some intense wheel-to-wheel racing!
This week – I will attempt to simplify the effect that the mid-race refueling ban will have on us viewers. Personally, I don’t think it’s a good move. I not just enjoyed watching the action on track but also enjoyed predicting the different strategies that would pan out during the race. Strategies that would make the races more interesting and unpredictable – haven’t we seen Alonso in his Renault days struggling with his car, but coming out on top due to his pit stop strategy?
However, I also agree that the pit stop strategies with different fuel levels and different tyre compounds only made F1 more complex – and I am totally against this! So is this why the powers of F1 decide to ban mid-race refueling? Let’s probe further!
F1 is increasingly (and finally!) becoming a global sport, moving out of the pure European markets into the much booming Asian territories. While the initial product of F1 was widely accepted it needed much tweaking to ensure that the newer territories braced the sport even further. As a result there were a series of market research programs that were initiated by the FIA / FOM and the results were not a little too surprising I would say.
While I will stay away from stating some of the startling revelations of the research – I will state the much obvious! Fans responded saying that they ‘loved’ pit-stops but were not too keen on the strategic part of racing! Which of course meant that re-fueling wasn’t all that interesting for fans, though it offered visual delight to a few! As a result, F1 has chosen to flirt with the mid-race re-fueling ban starting 2010.
Here’s what believe are a few sights that we will surely miss and few new ones that we might cherish!!
What we shall miss!
1. Steve Slater yelling out – ‘splash and dash’!! These quick pit-stops often made really late in the race were a visual delight. A perfect example of how team-work led to victories!
2. Valiant come-backs! I distinctively remember Ferrari and Rubens Barrichello winning a race in Hockenheim after starting 18th on the grid – a perfect drive aided by perfect pit-stop strategies. With an elimination of fuel strategies altogether, such valiant come-backs will be missed!
3. Ross Brawn, the master strategist in action. Schumacher often won his World titles without having the best car. But what he did have with him was Ross Brawn dishing out classic race-winning fuel strategies on the pit wall. (Suzuka F1 2000!)
4. Qualifying laptimes during races – teams would usually treat a race as 3 short runs of 20 laps each! (ever thought of that?) This would allow them to replenish their fuel and tyres during each pit stop often allowing their drivers to match qualifying lap times during the races.
5. Pit stop fires. On my list – this is the only thing I am ‘glad’ we will miss! We had quite a few last year, didn’t we?
6. Dope for the F1 experts! Leaving the fans aside for a minute, I am sure the experts enjoyed dissecting and discussing the various F1 strategies that could pan out during the race!
What we shall enjoy!
1. Qualifying! We’re back to the low-fuel qualifying era. Pole position will be decided by raw pace rather than ‘race fuel’ loads! The qualifying sessions in the past few seasons were much of a sham!
2. Fairer competition – especially between team-mates. It will also be harder for the team to favour one driver. Also, we will see NO race victories being decided by faulty fuel rigs. (Hurrah!)
3. Pure racing – I didn’t know of a better term to describe this! Strategies not at their disposal, drivers will have to win the races on track – overtake to win!
4. No re-fueling wouldn’t mean no strategy whatsoever. The pit-stops will still entail tyre changes and as with last season using both compounds during the race is mandatory. Some bit of head scratching for the experts!
5. Mechanical challenge – as the fuel loads will decrease through the duration of the race, the car’s weight would reduce too. This will lay more emphasis on the driver to setup his car perfectly during the course of the race.
6. Flash Pit-Stops – this is the last but not the least that we should expect. With only tyres to change, will we see the return of sub 4 second pit-stops?
With the 2010 season around the corner and of course the interesting test times, I am only eager to see the on-track action. These rules will be much debated and explained in various forums by various experts, but I’d say it in pure Branson style – ‘Screw it, let’s do it!’ Bring on F1 2010!
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a guest
said:
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... With all taken into consideration, F1 will be more like super tankers racing on a track... so how well balanced car do you have that eats its tyres less??? There have been cars in the past which were super easy on its tyres and they only changed the front or the rear to compensate grip. I see a lot of 1 stop strategies this year... for a 60 Lap race- start your machines on a Harder compound and go easy till 2/3rd distance, conserve your machines... last 1/3rd, put on the softer compound, lighter fuel load and RACE ON for 20 laps... |
Kunal Shah
said:
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... Thanks guys. Well while 1 stopper seems like a no-brainer my bets would be on a 2 stopper still. I will stay away from commenting on the tyre compounds, but what I will comment on is the choice of stopping 2 times. A full tank is a killer, agreed, but these cars and drivers are used to driving mid-fuel range cars and drive them fast! So I would still say one session with as an oil tanker and the next two as racing cars!! |
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