What IS wrong with Formula 1?

A question that has been asked for a good many years now, many a time a website, blog or magazine (remember them) would ask the question, tens of thousands of fans - keen to have their voices heard and the magic and spectacle of the sport (apparently it is still a sport) return would answer and then...

The FIA bans drivers from changing their helmet designs.

So, I expect you are all excited to know just what I would do to bring the action back to the series. However, it will not be a quick fix, some suggestions may work others, maybe not, we will probably never know, I would be interested to see who does and does not agree with these proposals.
We shall start with the racing itself. Here goes nothing!

Racing:

The cars need to be able to pass one another, cleanly and on track, and not only because one driver has better tyres, or has DRS or can use a KERS system to make his car faster than the car he is pursuing, the cars need to be able to get close to the back of the car in front without losing too much aero grip. In my mind (which is not that of an engineer or aerodynamic mastermind) F1 needs to lose the aero grip and replace it with mechanical grip, watch Rush again, check out the size of the rear wings and tyres, now consider that the F1 cars of now make around twice the power that the cars from the film did imagine what the spectacle would be if there was twice the surface area available to get all that power down.

While last year most of the bug bear was the constant economy runs to save tyres and basically stop racing for 10-15 laps or so during a stint, this year it would seem that a similar thing may be happening with the fuel levels so I propose that the races be shortened by around 10% or 5-6 laps in most cases, I don’t think it will overly affect the spectacle too much but will benefit in the long run as teams only have 4 engines available for the whole season. 19 races 5 laps less per race that’s 95 laps saved, nearly two race distances. Keep the fuel levels and tyre constructions the same as they are now and drivers would really be able to fight for positions coupled with the reduced aero allowing closer racing and extra grip afforded by the larger tyres.

The cars:

I would limit the amount of development and new parts teams can introduce to cars throughout the season. effectively start at a pre determined date in the future, once the regs are known and cars are built and tested on the X of Y the teams must declare their car ready, and the specific parts be logged by the FIA. Items such as front and rear wings and elements may remain adjustable (within the rules) and changeable for different circuits and conditions, in short the teams will lock down the design of their cars for the season with minimal changes available i.e low, medium and high downforce settings to front and rear wings with similar limitations for other changeable body panels. Any developments parts may only be added with the FIAs blessing or the following season. I would also prevent teams from building new cars for new seasons when no major rule change has been put in place, make the teams adapt an existing car to fit the new regulations thus saving money on manufacturing. Manor Marussia are still - as far as I am aware - running the tubs that started out as Virgin!

Testing:

I propose that there be more official tests, someone said a while back why not run tests on the Monday after a GP after all we’re already at the track! A perfectly sensible and valid suggestion in my book which I think should be applied at say 4 or 5 events during the season but with a few conditions. Teams are free to run race spec or development parts but the drivers will be limited to how long they can drive depending on their success in the sport, example, Vettel being the most successful driver on the grid currently would be allowed a minimum running time with Alonso, Hamilton, Button and Raikonnen the next as Champions, then the race winners, podium winners, point scorers and finally rookies who along with test drivers from other disciplines with no F1 experience would be unlimited on laps allowed. This also gives the GP2, Formula Renault 3.5 or even Indy Car drivers looking to break into F1 a better chance to get acquainted with the technology.

I would also like to put a limit in fuel for the teams. At the start of the season X litres of fuel will be allocated to each driver,  Y litres must be set by for the completion of each GP and may not be used during a test should the car fail to finish a race, the rest is for Friday, Saturday and testing and can be used as and when but no more. Reserve and test drivers using the car will use that driver’s fuel allowance.

The Drivers:

A difficult one this, F1 teams needs money, drivers often bring sponsors, which has lead to drivers competing without really deserving to be in the sport, this is not always the case, occasionally a driver has left the sport to return a few years later (Grosjean) with greater success, but I do agree with the "points" system the FIA has introduced, however I hope there is room for negotiation should a capable driver experience poor luck, i.e being taken out by no fault of his or her own, reliability issues or a team or sponsorships issue meaning he or she misses events. Also provisions should be made to drivers in a test or development role.

Qualifying:

I would shake up the qualifying format a little in order to try and make it a little fairer on all teams. At the moment a team qualifying in the top ten might do 5 runs over the course of the three sessions and we’ve already touched on engine and fuel issues so, I propose again a three tiered qualifying system, but with a twist.

Q1: 15 minutes all cars on track, at the flag the 10 fastest go forward to fight for pole position.

Q2: 25 minutes the remaining cars fight for the back end of the grid, after 10 minutes regardless of who is on a fast lap or not the back 4 positions are decided and cars in those positions on track must return to the pits, the session continues for the remaining cars who run out the clock to fill places 11-16.

Q3 15 minute session to decide pole.

Pit Stops:

While pit stops have in the past been the difference between driver X and driver Y finishing in a certain position the pit crews have really had to up their game, and, with the banning of refuelling the average pit stop time has dropped into the sub 3 second bracket. Impressive, yes but a spectacle for the fans, not really, especially if you have 3 cars pitting at once and a blur of motion one doesn’t always get to see everything that happens should driver A or B get delayed. So, I propose we cut the number of team members working on the car at a pit stop, endurance style, two team members per side on tyres, one at each end on jacks, one per side clearing debris and one if required to make adjustment to wings and or clean the drivers visor. I would bring back refuelling and, again like in endurance racing ban the refuelling a car while the tyres are being changed. (over to you strategists!) I would invite more tyre suppliers to join the sport and allow teams to run whatever compound they desire, if you want to run extra soft tyres with a limited life and make 6 pit stops then go ahead, if you want to run a tyre that means your half a second off the pace but running consistently till the end then be my guest. Mix the order up and keep the teams and public guessing until the final portion of the race.

The Fans:

This is a difficult one to address and keep everyone happy, the fans pay their hard earned money to watch their heroes and – I’m sure - would love the chance to get up close and meet them. Maybe the F1 weekend needs to be extended to accommodate the 1000s who want that chance to meet their heroes. I know Moto GP (at the British GP anyway) hold a "Day Of Champions on the Thursday before the race which does allow for a little more fan interaction, maybe this is something that could be (If it does not already happen) implemented for the non beautiful people!

This is where the problem occurs, the fans want to meet the drivers, the sponsors want to know how their money is being spent, the teams and drivers need to be on hand to entertain the VIPs and backers, who will also want to see the garage, the cars and meet the drivers, same as we, the fans in the “cheap” seats.

If you know where to go on the British Grand Prix Friday then there is a chance you can win paddock tours and a place on the official (and very expensive) driver autograph session but even during the time set aside I would guess most fans if they wanted a Vettel or an Alonso signature then they’re not likely to meet anyone else, but how this plays out in Europe or the rest of the world. In short the fans need to be able to meet, talk to, get pictures with and chat to the drivers they want to see race, pretty much every other race series I’ve been to has had this as an option to the fans but, as I’m sure your about to point out an F1 event is going to have a hell of a lot more fans all craving the autograph of Jenson Button than say a BTCC meeting.

The answer again could come from what Silverstone preaches, the "afterparty" if you will plenty of drivers appearing on a stage, in the confines of the circuit accessible to all fans who attended the race, being interviewed, answering fans questions and taking / posting pictures to social media. I have been there and heard the likes of Vettel say that more races need to do this for the fans. The BBC have even broadcast from here for their own "Red Button" show. Now, I am aware that the circuits set the prices in order to recoup the fee set by Bernie for hosting the GP so until that becomes a thing of the past high ticket prices are likely to remain.

The Locations:

Yes, F1 is a World Championship so yes I am aware that it needs to take place across the world, that said I feel that a country and or circuit need to have earned the right to host a race rather than pay a huge sum in exchange for tourism!

Personally I think that certain races should be protected, British, German, French, Monaco, Italian, Belgian, Spanish, American, Canadian, Brazilian, Australian and Japanese. Secondly I feel that the calendar be capped at around 18 or 19 races. the final 7 or 8 races being awarded on merit firstly - i.e history of competition in F1 or top level motorsports over aforementioned tourist attraction. This would mean the likes of Czech Republic with it's extensive MotoGP / WSBK / WTCC history could be considered over the likes of Afghanistan for a position on the calendar. For any "new" country wishing to host a race, as seen by the likes of Korea, India and Singapore in the last few years I would again accept but have nations alternate seasons until either a: the race becomes a success with teams and fans alike, or b: the race becomes a failure, India one year, Korea the next or even, Turkey one year, Hungary the next, Mexico, 2nd US event and so on and so forth, and secondly on world wide location, with 7 out of the 19 proposed rounds already taking place in Europe, other continents would get priority, so Malaysia, China, Argentina and South Africa for example would be considered first over say Holland or Portugual for a space on the calendar.  The nationality of established racers would count to whether or not a country deserved a race or not, example, should a Jamaican driver arrive on the scene and become a challenger for points, podiums and victories, Jamaica could be seen to earn a GP if it so wished, if the Jamaican government chose to sponsor a driver who was not going to make it in the sport or only lasted a season without great success the country couldn't claim a GP on the back of a competitor.

So, these are my suggestions do they work? could they work with some changes? More importantly would any of the above even make a shortlist of proposals? I doubt it but in my and many other fans world wide  opinions something needs to be done.