If I was in charge of Formula One...
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by user Alex Holowczak
...again I'd make changes to the sport. You may have noticed I like doing things like this... :)
Race Weekends
At present, you have three practice sessions, before qualifying and then the race.
Practice
Each team shall be permitted three cars in each practice session for their two race drivers and another driver, a test driver. This driver will be unable to participate in the race.
The teams can complete as many laps as they wish. There will be no tyre or engine restrictions, and any failures will not infringe on the race.
Qualifying
The current knockout system is perfect. Keep well out.
Race
The current race length is about 190 miles or 2 hours, whichever comes first. This is perfect, as any longer will be untenable for the drivers.
During the race, you must currently use tyres from each of the two specifications. I would abandon this rule, and say that people can use whichever tyres they wish. I would reintroduce multiple tyre companies too, to increase competition.
Points System
It would revert to the old points system, with 10 for a win, 6 for 2nd place, 4 for 3rd place, 3 for 4th place, 2 for 5th place and 1 for 6th place.
The Schedule
This would see a radical overhaul. The current system of 17 races would be abandoned, and a NASCAR/IRL system of racing every week would be brought in. That said, there would be larger breaks for continental hauls.
Also, the best circuit will host the race in each particular country.
Something like this:
There are 32 rounds in the season, with a month or two in between each season to allow for recuperation.
Reinstating an old race
The Gordon Bennett Cup brought in in 1900 revolutionised Motor Racing. It made it popular in Europe.
A1 Grand Prix has sought to rejuvenate this tradition, but it hasn't attracted the main drivers from F1. So out of spite, F1 would hold it's own version!
And it would be organised properly, so that Indycar and Champcar drivers get a similar break to come to Europe and drive.
The first race would be held somwhere in Europe, (hence the gap in the schedule between Hungary and Turkey). Since the defending champions of the last 102 years are France, the race would be held there. It would need to be a fairly lengthy circuit, so the Le Mans course on the Sarthe would probably be ideal. The race would be longer than the 190 miles too, it would be extended to 500 miles.
A manufacturer from one country can enter up to two cars in the race, driven for by a driver from its country. And no shared drives, you must complete the race by yourself. No country can have more than 10 drivers. The car must be that countries national racing colour. I.e. green British cars, red Italian cars etc. All cars are designed to a specification just below Formula One however, to allow smaller teams to compete.
Teams that could enter
| Country | Teams | Drivers |
|---|---|---|
 Italy
| Ferrari Alfa Romeo Lamborghini | Giancarlo Fisichella Jarno Trulli Vitantonio Liuzzi |
 Great Britain
| Williams McLaren Bentley Aston Martin Jaguar | David Coultard Lewis Hamilton Jenson Button Anthony Davidson Gary Paffett |
 France
| Renault | Franck Montagny Sebastien Bourdais |
 Germany
| BMW Mercedes | Nico Rosberg Ralf Schumacher Nick Heidfeld Timo Glock |
 United States
| Chevrolet Ford Andretti Green Penske Racing | Scott Speed Sam Hornish Jnr. Danica Patrick Marco Andretti |
 Japan
| Honda Toyota Super Aguri | Takuma Sato |
 Brazil
| ? | Felipe Massa Rubens Barrichello Helio Castroneves Vitor Meira Charles di Grassi |
 Australia
| ? | Mark Webber Ryan Briscoe |
 Netherlands
| Spyker | Robert Doornbos, Christijan Albers |
 Austria
| Red Bull | Alexander Wurz Christian Klien |
 Canada
| ? | Jacques Villeneuve |
 South Africa
| ? | Tomas Scheckter |
 Spain
| Seat | Fernando Alonso Marc Gene Pedro de la Rosa |
 Finland
| ? | Kimi Raikkonen, Heikki Kovalainen |
 Colombia
| ? | Juan Pablo Montoya |
The only problem with some of this is the issue of designing a car. But you could probably form a team in that country to design a car if they were needed to. The point of it would be that it tests the cream of each countries abilities as both manufacturers and drivers. So if you get a poor car, then that's your countries fault for not having a team that can design one.
How the weekend would work
| Day | Session | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday | Practice 1 Practice 2 | 1100 - 1300 1500 - 1700 |
| Saturday | Practice 3 Practice 4 | 1100 - 1300 1500 - 1700 |
| Sunday | Race | 1200 - 1800 |
All cars that enter shall each practice session if they wish. There will be restrictions on who qualifies for the race proper:
- The fastest 5 in Practice 1 (1-5 on grid)
- The fastest 5 in Practice 2 not already qualified (6-10 on grid)
- The fastest 5 in Practice 3 not already qualified (11-15 on grid)
- The fastest 5 in Practice 4 not already qualified (16-20 on grid)
- The fastest driver from each country with no qualified drivers in the race ranked on fastest time from any practice session (21-back of grid) - but only if time is within 110% of pole position.
That would limit the field to about 25 to 30 depending on who qualifies and who enters. It ensures that each country has one driver too, which increases international interest, and Tv companies will broadcast it if there is a home driver (maybe!)
The next year
The race will be hosted by the country that wins it the previous year. In the tradition of the event, the race must be held on a road circuit somewhere. As a result, Indianapolis Motor Speedway could not host it if the United States won - or at least, the F1 track could, not the oval though. The track needs to be fairly long though, as there could be a lot of cars.
If a Southern Hemisphere nation wins the Cup, the race will be held after the final round of the F1 season, rather than in August. This would just become a mid-season F1 holiday.
Possible future homes include:
-
Silverstone
-
Le Mans
-
Nurburgring
-
Road America Sebring
-
Montreal
-
Catalunya
-
Phillip Island
-
Zandvoort
-
Spa Francorchamps
-
Welkom
-
Suzuka
-
Mugello Monza
-
Interlagos
Car Design
In Formula One, there are many restrictions on where bits of bodywork etc. can be put. These would be slightly relaxed, so that cars will be allowed to be as good as they can be. Downforce limitations will be increased.
The skill of the driver would be focused on however, and there will be no onboard computer. This means there is no launch control, no traction control etc.
Aerodynamic effects will be altered on the cars to allow for slipstreaming, an art that has faded from modern Formula One at some circuits. Rather than propel the air behind the cars, it shall be propelled vertically, to not effect cars in the "dirty air". This also doesn't overheat the car.
Miscellaneous
Team orders will be disallowed bar when common sense dictates otherwise. E.g. If France are 1-2 in the Gordon Bennett Cup it's pointless trying to overtake.
Drivers will be allowed to take part in other events if invited. E.g. the Le Mans 24 hour race is held over the weekend of June 16, where there are no Grands Prix scheduled. They can also race at Indy if they fulfill Formula One commitments. Hence the gap between Monaco and the US Grand Prix. It would also allow transport from the two US venues with the races in subsequent weeks. This also gives drivers the chance to qualify.
Conclusion
These would be my big changes to Formula One. It would make it more aware on the global stage, with chances to compete in the traditional big races, as well as hold a race every week at the greatest circuits in the world. It combines traditions of the past with new locations for the future.
