Formula E

ruggedhawk20 said:You're being way too harsh. It's just a racing incident—there's no reason to punish him.

Especially since it happened practically on the last corner of the final lap. You gotta let that slide.

Save the penalties for the kamikazes who smash into everyone at Turn 1 on the first lap.

"Racing incident," my foot.
That was straight-up ramming someone because he couldn't handle being overtaken on the last lap... pure desperation and rage.

Total Pastor Maldonado move.

shadowhawk24 said:I’m with Joe on this one; everyone has become way too obsessed with being "good" and "moral" in racing.
The whole uproar over this is just because of the end result, which was Heidfeld flying into the barrier.
If it weren't for those sausage kerbs (which are a complete nuisance and I don't know why they even bother using them when there are better ways to handle this), this would have ended with nothing more than broken suspension.
As it stands, it looked pretty horrific and dangerous, though looking at the footage, the main chassis is practically untouched while the safety components did their job and stopped the car.

Here is what Nick Heidfeld said:

"No, it's not inexperience. Prost got the pole position, he led all the race, he did not want to lose it in the last corner.....It was not inexperience.... It's racing."

Things happen. Prost made a mistake, and I don't think anyone is actually disputing that, but people are sensationalizing it for all the wrong reasons.
If you watch the video, Prost clearly looks to the right, sees nobody is there, and then swerves left; he simply executed the move to close the line too late.
I personally don't see any need for a ban, but we'll see how it plays out...

Yeah, obviously. Here comes goofy reminiscing about Moore and '99

And you know what happened after that race? Absolutely nothing. Just a funeral.

Nobody was punished, zero investigations, and they even used the track the following year—cars were actually faster than in '99

plus Gonzalo Rodriguez died in the race right before that—and still, nothing happened.

So, since nobody here is getting their heads handed to them, I don't think we need any punishments at all.

The only thing promoters should do is crank up the tension between Prost and Nick Heidfeld to actually get people watching.

Formula E started off great; now it's just up to the leadership and promoters to steer it in the right direction.

stormybadger8 said:"Racing incident," my foot.
That was straight-up ramming someone because he couldn't handle being overtaken on the last lap... pure desperation and rage.

Total Pastor Maldonado move.

Seriously!?

If you don't like it—go watch ballet.

Crashes happen. That's racing. Period.

Watched the whole race and honestly, it looks like a textbook case for Prost's penalty. Nick was clearly faster and there was plenty of room, yet he closed the door way too aggressively and far too late. If he’d done it earlier, nobody would have cared. But this? This is definitely a reason to punish him. All those penalties Kevin Magnussen has been collecting lately don't even compare to this one...

Nick reacted exactly how he should have. He stayed sportsmanlike. If he’d slapped him, he would’ve been the guilty one. Instead, he acted like a gentleman.

Nick earned that win; he played it perfectly and made his move exactly when it mattered most.

Not a bad race overall, just desperately missing the engine noise and maybe some better production from FOM. The car swaps are kind of ridiculous, but apparently necessary. Still, it's nice seeing all these Formula 1 retirees—both drivers and crew—back on the grid. Though, if I'm being honest, this whole circus feels like it's lacking pace... everything just seems a bit slow to me... 😁

ruggedhawk20 said:Alain Prost takes the lead while Ayrton Senna drops out during lap one.

Sounds familiar.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

I'm going to go delete my monitor.🤣🤣

ruggedhawk20 said:Alain Prost takes the lead while Ayrton Senna drops out during lap one.

Sounds familiar.

🙏

On a separate note, I really must express my gratitude to John Coltrane for making that connection. Having watched the race, the whole spectacle feels rather underwhelming to me, almost trivial. Is it even possible for these machines to reach 124 miles/h? The noise is simply dreadful. Perhaps it would be for the best if they muted the track audio entirely so we could focus solely on the commentators; otherwise, that constant, piercing whine might actually drive potential viewers away.

As for that incident at the end of the race, I find myself completely unable to wrap my head around Prost's reaction.

graniteharbor502 said:🙏

On a separate note, I really must express my gratitude to John Coltrane for making that connection. Having watched the race, the whole spectacle feels rather underwhelming to me, almost trivial. Is it even possible for these machines to reach 124 miles/h? The noise is simply dreadful. Perhaps it would be for the best if they muted the track audio entirely so we could focus solely on the commentators; otherwise, that constant, piercing whine might actually drive potential viewers away.

As for that incident at the end of the race, I find myself completely unable to wrap my head around Prost's reaction.

Suzuka '89? 😁

vividlynx68 said:Suzuka '89? 😁

🤣

Nicolas😉's

graniteharbor502 said:🙏

On a separate note, I really must express my gratitude to John Coltrane for making that connection. Having watched the race, the whole spectacle feels rather underwhelming to me, almost trivial. Is it even possible for these machines to reach 124 miles/h? The noise is simply dreadful. Perhaps it would be for the best if they muted the track audio entirely so we could focus solely on the commentators; otherwise, that constant, piercing whine might actually drive potential viewers away.

As for that incident at the end of the race, I find myself completely unable to wrap my head around Prost's reaction.

that whining is the only thing I look forward to

reminds me a bit of the TMK2100 (the streetcars in Chicago)

graniteharbor502 said:🙏

On a separate note, I really must express my gratitude to John Coltrane for making that connection. Having watched the race, the whole spectacle feels rather underwhelming to me, almost trivial. Is it even possible for these machines to reach 124 miles/h? The noise is simply dreadful. Perhaps it would be for the best if they muted the track audio entirely so we could focus solely on the commentators; otherwise, that constant, piercing whine might actually drive potential viewers away.

As for that incident at the end of the race, I find myself completely unable to wrap my head around Prost's reaction.

Not today. I only saw up to 193

But look, once they loosen the rules next season and anyone can jump in—once companies like Toyota, Honda, Kia, etc., start dumping massive amounts of cash into the whole thing—there'll be plenty of

Money is just going to bleed out of Formula 1 straight into Formula E, along with all the manufacturers

Because Formula E is actually relevant now—Formula 1 lost its edge a long time ago.

ruggedhawk20 said:Not today. I only saw up to 193

But look, once they loosen the rules next season and anyone can jump in—once companies like Toyota, Honda, Kia, etc., start dumping massive amounts of cash into the whole thing—there'll be plenty of

Money is just going to bleed out of Formula 1 straight into Formula E, along with all the manufacturers

Because Formula E is actually relevant now—Formula 1 lost its edge a long time ago.

You’re probably right, unfortunately.

Formula 1 will stay Formula 1, but eventually, they'll make the full switch to electric motors. Maybe in about 10 years. It's still in the early stages, but that's the direction we're headed. These are likely the last gasps of the engines we grew up with...

I'm still holding out hope that Mazda might drop something insane with a new Wankel engine. But that's probably just wishful thinking...

gentlecobra23 said:You’re probably right, unfortunately.

Formula 1 will stay Formula 1, but eventually, they'll make the full switch to electric motors. Maybe in about 10 years. It's still in the early stages, but that's the direction we're headed. These are likely the last gasps of the engines we grew up with...

I'm still holding out hope that Mazda might drop something insane with a new Wankel engine. But that's probably just wishful thinking...

So, are you one of those people calling for a return to carburetors?

Formula 1—and racing in general—has to be the absolute peak. It needs to blow people away. It’s gotta capture the imagination and feel like something totally out of reach for the average person.

Finally, after ages, something actually gripped me today. Something truly impressive.

As my favorite author would put it, "that was a motor race beyond imagination of an ordinary mortal."

I can't even remember the last time I watched a Formula 1 race that felt like that.

It isn't all just noise and high octane—there's serious tech involved too.

Today, my older brother's blender hit 193kmh and gave us some top-tier entertainment.

My verdict? 10/10. Can't wait to see what's next.

ruggedhawk20 said:So, are you one of those people calling for a return to carburetors?

Formula 1—and racing in general—has to be the absolute peak. It needs to blow people away. It’s gotta capture the imagination and feel like something totally out of reach for the average person.

Finally, after ages, something actually gripped me today. Something truly impressive.

As my favorite author would put it, "that was a motor race beyond imagination of an ordinary mortal."

I can't even remember the last time I watched a Formula 1 race that felt like that.

It isn't all just noise and high octane—there's serious tech involved too.

Today, my older brother's blender hit 193kmh and gave us some top-tier entertainment.

My verdict? 10/10. Can't wait to see what's next.

No, no, you've got it wrong. This race should serve as a lesson to the veterans in Formula 1 regarding what a race ought to look like. They were driving without team radio, without constant instructions from the pit wall, and none of that nonsense. It seems even Alain Prost wasn't punished, which is fine by me. Progress like this is worth praising. The technology we see in Formula 1 today is just a reflection of the current state of the US auto industry—tiny, efficient turbo engines paired with some kind of electric motor. Great. But Formula 1 needs to be the peak. Technology and spectacle. Right now, Formula 1 is losing both...

For the modern Formula 1 viewer (at least for me), the new engines, the ERS, or any of those recent developments aren't an issue. In fact, they're desirable. What bothers me is the excessive reliance on aerodynamics and the restrictions that prevent attractive overtakes on track. There's a difference between being "attractive" and being dangerous...

Still, I love an engine that screams. I've driven a Tesla, and even though I was faster away from the light at every stop, I still miss the sound of an engine. The circus needs to be complete...

Regarding my comment about the Wankel engine, I'd only call it back if the geniuses over at Mazda had made some significant breakthroughs in its design. Otherwise, no. I know how much trouble that engine caused and the history behind it...

I found this race interesting. Subtle tactical maneuvering, following in the slipstream, clipping corners close to the walls, natural overtaking... Like old-school Monaco... 🙂

I’m a nature lover first and a
Formula 1 fan second—period.
My heart just breaks when I'm out riding my bike through gorgeous scenery (check the pics on my PDF bike from Black Forest) and some half-decayed cadet cruises by and everything reeks.

Once we kill off the internal combustion engine and electric cars are the only things left on the road, nature is actually going to look—and smell—way better.

Even planes will run on electricity eventually. One day.

And that is exactly why we need Formula E.

ruggedhawk20 said:I’m a nature lover first and a
Formula 1 fan second—period.
My heart just breaks when I'm out riding my bike through gorgeous scenery (check the pics on my PDF bike from Black Forest) and some half-decayed cadet cruises by and everything reeks.

Once we kill off the internal combustion engine and electric cars are the only things left on the road, nature is actually going to look—and smell—way better.

Even planes will run on electricity eventually. One day.

And that is exactly why we need Formula E.

Let's not turn this thread into an ecology lecture. Believe me, I love nature and I can't stand the smog in Los Angeles either...

Still, batteries pollute too, and we haven't even figured out how to handle recycling them properly yet, especially those heavy metals. So, let's just set the whole "green" argument aside for a moment. It feels like everything is being done in the name of the environment, while the environment just ends up suffering more...

gentlecobra23 said:Watched the whole race and honestly, it looks like a textbook case for Prost's penalty. Nick was clearly faster and there was plenty of room, yet he closed the door way too aggressively and far too late. If he’d done it earlier, nobody would have cared. But this? This is definitely a reason to punish him. All those penalties Kevin Magnussen has been collecting lately don't even compare to this one...

Nick reacted exactly how he should have. He stayed sportsmanlike. If he’d slapped him, he would’ve been the guilty one. Instead, he acted like a gentleman.

Nick earned that win; he played it perfectly and made his move exactly when it mattered most.

Not a bad race overall, just desperately missing the engine noise and maybe some better production from FOM. The car swaps are kind of ridiculous, but apparently necessary. Still, it's nice seeing all these Formula 1 retirees—both drivers and crew—back on the grid. Though, if I'm being honest, this whole circus feels like it's lacking pace... everything just seems a bit slow to me... 😁

Just to touch on that last point about speed.
Add more speed to the mix and we'll end up with the exact same crap we have in Formula 1. More speed means demanding better aerodynamics, and in a series dominated by street circuits like this, that just means fewer of those wheel-to-wheel duels we saw today where cars were fighting for grip through the corners...

Speaking of aerodynamics, I don't know if it's just me, but I felt like Prost's e-dam had significantly "more" rear wing than the rest of the field. Given how he drove—setting aside the final lap—he didn't seem any slower on the straights.
Also, these mandatory pit stops leave massive amounts of room for tactical maneuvering.
You pull one driver in an extra lap early to aim for a release right ahead of a rival, then hold them up during their exit while the other car puts in faster laps. I think we might see some interesting "tactics" regarding pit windows throughout the season.

The only downside is having to wait two months for the next race.

Maybe they just got a little too carried away and forgot to grease the gears! 😂

I see that Audi Sport ABT is competing in Formula E, so you can bet I'll be rooting for that team. 😍

shadowhawk24 said:Just to touch on that last point about speed.
Add more speed to the mix and we'll end up with the exact same crap we have in Formula 1. More speed means demanding better aerodynamics, and in a series dominated by street circuits like this, that just means fewer of those wheel-to-wheel duels we saw today where cars were fighting for grip through the corners...

Speaking of aerodynamics, I don't know if it's just me, but I felt like Prost's e-dam had significantly "more" rear wing than the rest of the field. Given how he drove—setting aside the final lap—he didn't seem any slower on the straights.
Also, these mandatory pit stops leave massive amounts of room for tactical maneuvering.
You pull one driver in an extra lap early to aim for a release right ahead of a rival, then hold them up during their exit while the other car puts in faster laps. I think we might see some interesting "tactics" regarding pit windows throughout the season.

The only downside is having to wait two months for the next race.

Totally agree

But that's exactly why I think the chicanes here are pointless. Without them, we'd have those epic slipstream battles—the kind that have basically gone extinct in Europe.

ruggedhawk20 said:I’m a nature lover first and a
Formula 1 fan second—period.
My heart just breaks when I'm out riding my bike through gorgeous scenery (check the pics on my PDF bike from Black Forest) and some half-decayed cadet cruises by and everything reeks.

Once we kill off the internal combustion engine and electric cars are the only things left on the road, nature is actually going to look—and smell—way better.

Even planes will run on electricity eventually. One day.

And that is exactly why we need Formula E.

The only catch with electric motors is that pollution still exists. The real question is whether it's actually less than gas or diesel engines.🤷
Honestly, it might even be worse for the sky. The only big difference is that the mess is concentrated in one spot—not coming from cars, but from the power plants.😉

Nobody wants to talk about the fact that electricity isn't magic. You have to produce it and transport it, and every single time you convert or move energy, you lose some along the way.
The core issue here is what kind of disaster we're looking at if everyone switches to electric while we're facing massive energy shortages. We'll end up building a mountain of nuclear plants and diesel/gas generators just to keep up.
Forget those fairy tales about renewable energy; they can't produce anything close to the scale we need, not to mention the total lack of economic sense.

At the end of the day, you have to ask: what's a bigger disaster? A Foucault or Chernobyl scenario, or some old cadet farting near a cyclist?
Don't even get me started on the battery situation.

Bottom line: until someone figures out how to generate massive amounts of power from a truly clean and affordable source, nothing much changes for the atmosphere.
If you really think about it, an F1 hybrid might actually be cleaner than a pure EV in Formula E, because the real question is where the juice in those Formula E batteries actually comes from.

It makes sense—totally makes sense. But look, if we actually built some massive tidal power plant, we’d finally have a legit, clean energy source.

Tidal power is such a huge untapped resource—there's an insane amount of energy just sitting there, completely wasted right now.