F1 fans - what will YOU be watching in 2010?

It would appear, based on a statement issued by FOTA (linky to crash.net), that next year will see the formation of a break-away championship from F1, where several teams (including Brawn, McLaren, Ferrari, Toyota) are free to carry on racing as they always have done - free of budget restrictions (except those imposed by themselves), and perhaps with the promise of a set of rules which dont change for longer than 5 minutes.

So, what will you be watching?

Is F1 now in its twighlight years, threatened by a new, young sport which promises to have miuch better political stability?

Discuss...

[Viney]

So there will be yet another 'F1' style event...great...not! We have A1 which really hasnt taken off as much as they would have liked. I just think its wrong. The teams should all tow the line, simples, and race.

[fizzwheel]

I cant believe Max and Bernie have engineered this and let this happen. It will kill the sport, mind you they've been doing their best to wreck it for years.

F1 with none of the big teams is not F1.

A breakaway series with the big teams and big name drivers ( who are contracted to them ) will be eminantely more watchable.

yea your right...but you can understand why some teams want to break away can't you? The rules change every 5 minutes, no wonder the sport is so expensive...the teams have completly redesign their cars almost every season now, rather than evolve an existing design. It must be frustrating, wondering what new rules will be imposed in the next half-hour

it would be nice if F1 could say "here are the rules, we've consulted everyone and this is best. this is how f1 will be for the next 5 years, no changes."

then you could sign up for 5 years, and know that thats how it'll be. Theres all this talk of how ferrari are in beach of contract since they signed until 2012, but when they signed they didnt know what rule cnages would be imposed, and indeed, how drastic those rule changes are

I find it difficult to believe that a 'break-away' series, with the logistics involved in F1, could be set up in time for next season.

Circuit bookings / deals?
Travel arrangements?
Endorsements?
TV coverage?

I would think that F1 would have some pretty sh*t-hot lawyers that would object to the creation of a break away 'parallel' series that pretty much mimicked F1 under another name. I just can't see it happening. I think it's all talk and media spin in an attempt to stop that budget cap and show the bosses that the series can't function with these ever changing demands. I'm 99.9% sure they will reach a compromise.

[Spiderman]

Take out all driver aids and bring back manual gearboxes, proper manual boxes too not the tiptronic ones. And then it leveles out the field a bit as it brings back driver skills above and beyond any budget. You can spend the most and have the very best car...mess up a gear change and the race could change dramatically.

i'm so bored with the processions that most F1 races have been over the past few years.

Originally Posted by Spiderman

i'm so bored with the processions that most F1 races have been over the past few years.

Same here - I didnt watch F1 really from 2000 onwards, up to this season when the brawns caught my interest. This season has been fantastic so far, some real life racing has been occuring, not just tactics based on pit-stops. I feel the rules now are perfect, but the FIA dosnt see it that way...pillocks.

I don't mind the technical innovations on the cars, I like the technical side of F1. But getting ride of driver aids such as traction control has made the spectacle more exciting

Originally Posted by carty

I find it difficult to believe that a 'break-away' series, with the logistics involved in F1, could be set up in time for next season.

Circuit bookings / deals?
Travel arrangements?
Endorsements?
TV coverage?

I would think that F1 would have some pretty sh*t-hot lawyers that would object to the creation of a break away 'parallel' series that pretty much mimicked F1 under another name. I just can't see it happening. I think it's all talk and media spin in an attempt to stop that budget cap and show the bosses that the series can't function with these ever changing demands. I'm 99.9% sure they will reach a compromise.

This is all very true. But i think the curcuits will jump at the chance to host a new world championshipfeaturing established teams and established stars of motorsport. Who would deny having the worlds most advanced ferrari roaring round their track? I suspect the logistics of getting teams around the world wouldnt be too difficult, it'd be a relativly minor re-arrangment

F1 is dull as heck compared to any number of other motorsports (including but not limited to touring cars, GT, WRC, Rallycross, superbikes, sprint cars, motocross, swamp buggy racing, truck racing, speedway, and that thing where huge offroad trucks have to negotiate big piles of rocks) so any attempt to jazz it up and get away from all the tedious politics is welcome.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Alpinestarhero

I feel the rules now are perfect, but the FIA dosnt see it that way...pillocks.

I'd go a step further, Max Mosley doesnt like the current regulations.

The teams agree'd to cost cutting measures, but to be brought in gradually reaching the budget cap in 2012 as a compromise, Mosley IIRC agreed to this and then took a massive U turn a few weeks ago and said "No Compromise Budget cap in 2010 or lump it )

Its all one big power struggle and I wander if it will get resolved when / if Max Mosley steps down.. as I think this is what really is behind it, the teams have had enough and want him gone from the sport.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I'd go a step further, Max Mosley doesnt like the current regulations.

The teams agree'd to cost cutting measures, but to be brought in gradually reaching the budget cap in 2012 as a compromise, Mosley IIRC agreed to this and then took a massive U turn a few weeks ago and said "No Compromise Budget cap in 2010 or lump it )

Its all one big power struggle and I wander if it will get resolved when / if Max Mosley steps down.. as I think this is what really is behind it, the teams have had enough and want him gone from the sport.

Yes, Mosely does seem to be the catalyst for all the stuff going on. It is rather rediculous to ask teams to cut their budget from...what....at least £200m (maybe over 350m?) to a mere fraction of that almost overnight. It just couldnt work...and the teams that have been able to develop new technology will always have it, and the smaller teams cant have it because they'll never get the money to do it. stupid, silly.