Formula 1

One of the most frustrating parts to me is how the Sky commentators (while generally better) fail to understand how to explain how the regs work routinely. These cars are filling and emptying their batteries regularly because they're limited on their deployment per lap, but they continuously talk about how someone might be low on energy because of something that happened a couple laps ago when that would have no effect anymore.

I'm generally a fan of the close racing that these regs have produced at the beginning of races, even if it is somewhat artificial (but so is DRS, so...). What I'm not a fan of is what other people have mentioned: the lack of data on screen. The sport evolved immensely in what matters in battles this year, but we never actually get to see that. Like, when is someone boosting? Maybe we can tell or maybe that was just their regular deployment, or they changed a deployment strat for this lap? Showing how much energy someone has consumed during a lap would also help us understand if they are about to make a move at the end of a lap because they've saved slightly more energy than the car in front.

I guess what I'm saying is I'm not as much of a doomer as most people from the ideas that these regs attempted to introduce, but I think they missed the mark in execution.

I haven't watched one race this year and I'm probably not going through the effort of finding a free stream when even the highlights are barely able to hold my interest.

I can't lie and say I'm not feeling the same to some extent. I used to write wall-of-texts in the post-race thread giving my thoughts and recapping but I've just not had it in me to do so this season, partly because of enthusiasm but partly because I don't know what to say really.

I think the one thing that hinders my enjoyment is the algorithm. I'm fine with a 50/50 split, super clipping, and electric push-to-pass instead of DRS. I can handle those. In fact, I think overtake mode is a better solution than DRS.

What I can't handle is the internal ship computer having a mind of its own and the drivers being at the mercy of its whims. I can't handle the drivers not being in control and just hoping lap-to-lap that the algorithm will decide to give them good deployment. I don't care if the cars are faster or more efficient this way, the deployment should be fully in the hands of the drivers. They should have a button for deployment and sh should have to decide themselves when and how much battery they use every lap.

I'm still watching every race, because it's a family event and it's nice to get together for it. It's still fun to follow the circus and the drama and engineering and the upgrade race and politics and all the other off-track stuff. But I'm less invested in the races for sure. I'm glad there's other stuff to watch though, F2 has been pretty good this season (as always). Highly recommend watching that for anyone that doesn't already.

I'm on 25 years and F1 is rock bottom for me. First hit was '21 when they went motor racing. Up until that point I think I have missed maybe 1 or 2 GPs from past 20 years. I barely watched '22, then it got better last year, so nice to see McLaren get their titles. Until Australia this year.

It felt random, they go bananas for a few couple of laps, then things settle and that's that. Spa was probably second GP I watched live this year. Things are now even worse as they hiding speed and battery.

Just rumbling as well, we get older, hobbies change. Maybe that's how folks that watched in 80s saw 00-10' F1. Also F1 used to be somewhat rare in the past, now with 20+ races.. From Spa you had like 3-5 race to go and now it's half point.

Something positive: 2020 was for me probably most enjoyable season because we got to see F1 on tracks we usually don't and probably won't ever again. Also I'm really enjoying WEC and Formula E seems to be picking up some nice tracks next year.

Agree, can't understand the race while it's in progress this season so I've stopped watching

Needing to watch post race content to understand the race as a long term watcher is a turn off

They changed how the sport works and barely changed anything about how it is televised. Give us the data. They advertise millions of data points sent to Amazon every second per car and we don't even get to see trivial battery and performance stats

Sorry Dutch article. But quite worrying how much the cars/engines think for themselves now... https://nl.motorsport.com/f1/news/het-is-waardeloos-piastri-stelt-dat-f1-grid-in-2026-wordt-bepaald-door-computers/10840513/

I hear you. I’mstill having trouble with super clipping; I know it’s because more of the engine power is going to recharge the battery towards the end of long straights, but why? Do the drivers not have any control of when to recharge? They can’t control when to use the extra energy? Why doesn’t regen braking harvest more power? It would make brakes more predictable and less prone to overheating. I know my electric car can bring itself to a standstill with just regen, and so there’s plenty of brake pad material left even after over 125,000 miles.

I'm fairly new, and while I love the sport, the data, the charts and graphs, the driver drama.... at the end of the day I still want a race. And I don't want to be left guessing what is happening with whose battery yada yada.

Just put everybody on as equal terms as possible and let them race. Or at least put the battery info on screen and give the drivers absolute control on that.

I won't be around for another season if they don't figure something out here.

I listen to a podcast and it has helped me digest some of the more confusing aspects of this regulation set. Ringer F1