Formula 1 2025 Season Discussion

Forums › Sports › Formula 1 2025 Season Discussion

1 | ... | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | ... | 78

2350 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1263

#3426755 20-Oct-2025 15:47

I do wonder if they forced a spec front and rear wing, and went back to flat floors would help. I watch it because I always have, but it is dull for a lot of it. Heavy, single fuel loads and sensitive aero doesn't make for great viewing.

Handsomedan

7831 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 7534

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3426756 20-Oct-2025 15:52

As a neutral, who occasionally watches for the "kiwi content" (AKA Lawson's shenanigans), it feels a very robotic sport now.

I recall in the 70's and 80's when I watched more regularly, there seemed to be more cars, doing more passing and lots of action.

It doesn't feel like that now, but I wonder if some of that is just time and memory playing tricks...

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

*Gladly accepting donations...

Benoire

2884 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 697

#3426760 20-Oct-2025 15:58

mudguard:

I do wonder if they forced a spec front and rear wing, and went back to flat floors would help. I watch it because I always have, but it is dull for a lot of it. Heavy, single fuel loads and sensitive aero doesn't make for great viewing.

F1 is supposed to be the pinnacle of single seater performance with the World Championship for both drivers and teams. A series with spec parts may not make it the fastest and that is what draws the top drivers - they would go to another series and whilst F1 would remain the top single seater series, it may not be paired with the fastest drivers. The series is cursed with needing technology to evolve to remain the fastest but is compromised by the accuracy of developing the fastest cars.

I'm not sold on refuelling - I've watched F1 since the mid 90s and refuelling, while a strategy, made the majority of passing occur in the pits, not on the track and with all the simulations would all converge AGAIN to a singular optimal solution.

I wonder if limiting back end computation time for simulation running (not 3rd driver simulation but computer analysis) and kinda let the teams feel it out when they are there and running live.

cruxis

513 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 347

#3426762 20-Oct-2025 16:00

Any placing bets on polymarket? Piastri sits at 48.4%, Norris at 26%, and Verstappen at 23.8%

Benoire

2884 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 697

#3426763 20-Oct-2025 16:01

Handsomedan:

As a neutral, who occasionally watches for the "kiwi content" (AKA Lawson's shenanigans), it feels a very robotic sport now.

I recall in the 70's and 80's when I watched more regularly, there seemed to be more cars, doing more passing and lots of action.

It doesn't feel like that now, but I wonder if some of that is just time and memory playing tricks...

The cars where highly variable and troublesome, often breaking and not many finishing. It was a golden era in mechanical development for sure but not that exciting either really. Single seaters are notoriously fickle and fragile so some of the stock car/WTCC/Supercar style racing just can't happen and that is what makes those series exciting - the closeness mixed with less aero and the ability to bash each other without completely breaking.

Jaxson

8184 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1341

Trusted

#3426794 20-Oct-2025 18:23

Whilst it is the pinnacle of motor racing, it's also still highly bounded by what they can and can't do.

Each time there's a development of significance it's outlawed for the following season.

Found this interesting, comparing qualifying laps between lando and max.
The two car and driver combos are definitely very close now, each with strengths and weaknesses around the track:

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

mudguard

2350 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1263

#3426796 20-Oct-2025 18:34

Benoire:

mudguard:

I do wonder if they forced a spec front and rear wing, and went back to flat floors would help. I watch it because I always have, but it is dull for a lot of it. Heavy, single fuel loads and sensitive aero doesn't make for great viewing.

I'm not sold on refuelling - I've watched F1 since the mid 90s and refuelling, while a strategy, made the majority of passing occur in the pits, not on the track and with all the simulations would all converge AGAIN to a singular optimal solution.

To be fair, whilst I can't see in race refueling ever comeimg back, what it did do, was meant the cars went flat out for twenty or so laps on low fuel loads and soft tyres. Almost qualifying levels of speed.

Similar to was it last year when it was hot and they limited the tyre to twenty laps for safety reasons and all the drivers had to go flat out.

I agree about it being a pinnacle, but it's a pinnacle of tech rather than a sport. There must be ways of regulating dirty air too.

Edit. It was Qatar 2023

PolicyGuy

1829 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1786

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3426800 20-Oct-2025 18:51

In the re-fueling era, there were several very nasty fire incidents in the pits while re-fueling. These days there are also a lot more people - team and guests - in the pit garages than back in the day, Re-fueling would (re)introduce a level of risk that is almost certainly unacceptable today.

Also, there was that team that used to pour into the tank a couple of litres of fuel and 20kg of lead shot in a late race "splash & dash" that made their car just heavy enough to meet the regulations. ;)
The re-fueling would need a lot of scrutineering and supervision to keep everything kosher and safe

mudguard

2350 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1263

#3426801 20-Oct-2025 18:55

Yeah, again. I cannot see refuelling coming back for the reasons that have been outlined.

And they can't just give them a super soft tyre that just dies either, they'll drive round slowly to eek it out rather than risk losing 30s to an extra stop.

PolicyGuy

1829 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1786

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3426804 20-Oct-2025 19:15

mudguard:

Yeah, again. I cannot see refuelling coming back for the reasons that have been outlined.

And they can't just give them a super soft tyre that just dies either, they'll drive round slowly to eek it out rather than risk losing 30s to an extra stop.

"In a dry race, you must use all three compounds" has been suggested as a rule change.
It would, at the very least, make the strategy calculations more interesting

tdgeek

30069 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9488

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3426816 20-Oct-2025 20:38

thermonuclear:

Jaxson:

Yuki constantly blaming Liam, but Yuki is just not performing.

Tsunoda is looking like he's driving for his career so far this weekend, mugged Lawson at the start and is solid in P7 at the moment. Meanwhile, riding with Lawson and Alonso in front is just driving off into the distance. Hope they are running some miracle strategy to bring him back into the fight but it just looks like it's going to be no points at this stage. Not the result he is needing if Red Bull are finalising the driver line-ups in a week's time.

50 odd seconds behind the winner.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

tdgeek

30069 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9488

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3426819 20-Oct-2025 20:43

PolicyGuy:

mudguard:

Yeah, again. I cannot see refuelling coming back for the reasons that have been outlined.

And they can't just give them a super soft tyre that just dies either, they'll drive round slowly to eek it out rather than risk losing 30s to an extra stop.

"In a dry race, you must use all three compounds" has been suggested as a rule change.
It would, at the very least, make the strategy calculations more interesting

Good call that. Remove lucky strategy and replace that with a more equal competition.

tdgeek

30069 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9488

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3426821 20-Oct-2025 20:50

I do get the many comments on boring etc. But Im enjoying this season. McLaren will win everything, everywhere. Red Bull in the doldrums. Mercedes and Ferrari flip between great and barely average.

Red Bull has done the 2024 McLaren. Ferrari and Mercedes closing up.

MaX now 40 behind, forget the exact numbers in commentary but he has won 120 odd of the 130 odd available points in the last 4 weekends. Mexico will show, yes its great but its linley a step too far, or, its all on. Thats opposite my thoughts a day or so ago, but it seems very feasible that Max can win 3 of the last 5 races.

Between the ears matters more now. 3 weeks ago, or two, TAB had Max $6-50 to win the WDC, I laughed. Humble Pie is a real option now

Jaxson

8184 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1341

Trusted

#3426849 20-Oct-2025 21:56

Interesting headline:

Red Bull were fined €50,000 in Austin because one of their mechanics re-entered the track during the formation lap to try and REMOVE Lando Norris' reference tape for his grid position

For those in the know that’s been how McLaren have guided their car to the correct spot in the start block. Each driver/team has their own way of doing it. Lewis puts black tape on his mirror or halo from memory.

The games are on again. You’re absolutely right about needing composure between the ears now.

thermonuclear

748 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 602

#3426853 20-Oct-2025 22:05

PolicyGuy:

In the re-fueling era, there were several very nasty fire incidents in the pits while re-fueling. These days there are also a lot more people - team and guests - in the pit garages than back in the day, Re-fueling would (re)introduce a level of risk that is almost certainly unacceptable today.

Also, there was that team that used to pour into the tank a couple of litres of fuel and 20kg of lead shot in a late race "splash & dash" that made their car just heavy enough to meet the regulations. ;)
The re-fueling would need a lot of scrutineering and supervision to keep everything kosher and safe

Yes, some terrible fire incidents, but you'd like to believe some smart F1 engineers could apply some 2020's thinking to the problem to make the practice of in-race refuelling a lot safer than in those days. Being risk-adverse is a part of the problem that now afflicts the sport.

As for guests in the garage, they are right at the back and out of the way, certainly not near the pit boxes where potential refuelling would be taking place. And, I'm assuming the public are currently in the garages when cars are pulled back in and fuel loads added during Practice and Qualifying sessions now anyways.

Anyhow, it will never happen as you've all pointed out and the racing spectacle suffers as a result.

1 | ... | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | ... | 78