re: 2025 Formula 1 Season Thread

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The cars can’t race. F1 is similar in passing but seems to at least have strategy suspense.

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A solid non-pass or attempt in F1 can be as good or better than an overtake. Usually way better than a faux DRS overtake that was never really in doubt.

Overtakes should certainly be part of the sport, but non-competitive overtakes are just like overtaking back markers.

If NASCAR is just running 500 miles and swapping places then I imagine it can get boring.

What does their street track/road course viewership look like? Usually the only ones I will tune in for.

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shite pit stops happen

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I can see both sides of this argument. But I think McClaren has handled an almost impossible task perfectly. I didn't think it could possibly go this smooth with basically both drivers being able to walk away and say the team is playing favorites but they clearly aren't.

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Hearing Apple might get it.

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That ship has sailed I believe. Apple has been awarded the media rights. The only question is if they will lock it behind their streaming platform or license to a broadcast partner to carry it as well.

If they lock it behind Apple+, F1 in the US will be effectively dead. It's shocking because of how much Liberty has invested in the US market over the last 5 years.

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It was the loss of Earnhardt Sr. that started the decline, and the retirement of his contemporary drivers. IMo

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That was the start. People forget Nascar hated safety back then. Bill Elliott helped start a safety committee and Nascar didn’t like that. And it cost him some races with timely yellow flags and other shenanigans.

Then Dale Sr died and Nascar finally changed. But they tried to blame a guy who created a head and neck device that was different. They started inspecting all cars with a fine tooth comb if they used the other maker (it wasn’t mandatory to use the recommended one back then).

Anyways, what changed was founder created sport and grew it great. 2nd gen took over and made some changes but still did ok, but was less on than founder. Then 3rd gen took over and destroyed it.

The car is not able to pass. A car with worn out tires can hold off new tires at most tracks. Gimmicks like chase and stages ruined strategy. I mentioned strategy compared to F1. F1 still has it and Nascar destroyed it. Can you imagine if they stopped F1 twice for stages. It would ruin the overall flow of race and also tire strategies. Restarts by Nascar after stages are just huge potential for wrecks taking out drivers fans follow.

Then Nascar went to Prime for 5 races starting Memorial Day big race. And lost over 35% of viewers, even more for some. Once they came back to regular network those loyal fans they had never returned. And the new “younger” fans are not loyal. So with races really being parades their ratings keep going down.

I stopped watching when they went to Prime. Nothing to do with access, just tired of the sport. And I’m not alone. That brine a streak of a few decades and I realized I didn’t need it. Announcers are boring too. Camera work is crap. Rules are too stringent meaning all cars are too equal. I call it a clown car. Innovation drive the sport and in any raving league you need extra wiggle room to allow engineers to find speed or handling or downforce.

F1 still has that mostly. Nascar doesn’t. To fix it, Nascar needs bigger engines and worse tires meaning cars have to slow down in corners and have power to pass. With extra HP you have to drive and manage tires

Just got back from Vegas and got to do the F1 experience go carts and it was fun AF. Only wish i hadn't been with a bunch of non-driving dicks who kept clogging up the track.

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That you Max?

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I tried to sign up as Franz Hermann but they wouldn’t let me.

Didn't F1 get rid of the grid girls?

Of course, they did. Probably patted themselves on the back for doing so.

See? I was right.