Best era of F1 ?

[CNR]

Hamilton wished he had raced against F1 legends Senna, Prost & Mansell | Al Bawaba (http://www.albawaba.com/sport/hamilton-senna-f1-490072)
Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton has said that he would have loved to race against racing legends Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet in the golden era of F1 in the late 1980s.
According to the Mirror, Hamilton, who drove Senna's old McLaren MP4/4 around the National Circuit at Silverstone last year, is a man out of his time and a racer who would have revelled in the battles of Senna's era.


I would say the last 18 years no fatal Formula One accidents

[Koz]

Every time someone mentions this I think of the prologue, opening paragraph in particular, of The Stars My Destiny:


This was a Golden Age, a time of high adventure, rich living and hard dying... but nobody thought so. This was a future of fortune and theft, pillage and rapine, culture and vice... but nobody admitted it. This was an age of extremes, a fascinating century of freaks... but nobody loved it.

For instance how long have drivers said there is too much downforce? More than 30 years? 40?

[zako85]

I feel sad for Hamilton. It is such a drag to have to compete against the substandard drivers of 21st century. He has defeated them all by now and is dying from boredom. What a tragedy.

[Mekola]

1989 was among the best years. McLaren domination but chance of other teams to win. And 39 cars on the entrylist! Lots of drivers had their opportunity to be an F1 driver then.

[henners88]

I feel sad for Hamilton. It is such a drag to have to compete against the substandard drivers of 21st century. He has defeated them all by now and is dying from boredom. What a tragedy.
Huh?

[zako85]

Huh?

See the top post.

[Rollo]

Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton has said that he would have loved to race against racing legends Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet in the golden era of F1 in the late 1980s. According to the Mirror, Hamilton, who drove Senna's old McLaren MP4/4 around the National Circuit at Silverstone last year, is a man out of his time and a racer who would have revelled in the battles of Senna's era.

Ok, let's think about this logically:
The MP4/4 won 15 from 16 races and was 1-2 in 10 of them. Senna & Prost were in those McLarens, so Lewis would have been in something else. Mansell drove a Williams that only finished twice and Piquet trundled about getting 3rds at best.

Basically Lewis is saying, that he wants to be competing in a car which gets its butt kicked every week and where the sport is dominated by someone else. Maybe the MB is the best place for him after all :D

[webberf1]

I'll only comment here on eras that I've seen. I've watched F1 since the late 90s, and this pirelli era right now is genuinely the most exciting I've ever seen the sport.

[webberf1]

But I will say this, don't get too carried away with the rose tinted glasses. Back in Senna's day he often complained how F1 wasn't pure racing, and how he longed for the feeling he got from his days in karting.

[henners88]

See the top post.
I've read the article in the top post and I also read it in the paper yesterday. I didn't think it deserved the over sensational tone you were trying to give it though. Its sounded sarcastic for no good reason which is why I said 'Huh?'.

[zako85]

Basically Lewis is saying, that he wants to be competing in a car which gets its butt kicked every week and were the sport is dominated by someone else. Maybe the MB is the best place for him after all :D

I thought the same thing. It's funny. If Senna and Prost were driving the only McLarens, what would Hamilton be driving in the era, and against whom would he be competing? But then I remembered that Hamilton was a poster child of McLaren, so surely he thinks he would have gotten a McLaren seat in the 80s.

[zako85]

I've read the article in the top post and I also read it in the paper yesterday. I didn't think it deserved the over sensational tone you were trying to give it though. Its sounded sarcastic for no good reason which is why I said 'Huh?'.


Once I saw "a man out of his time", I thought my (or any other) sarcasm was certainly justified. Who in his right mind think that Hamilton is out of his time? Newspapers? He himself? I don't know.

[henners88]

I thought the same thing. It's funny. If Senna and Prost were driving the only McLarens, what would Hamilton be driving in the era, and against whom would he be competing? But then I remembered that Hamilton was a poster child of McLaren, so surely he thinks he would have gotten a McLaren seat in the 80s.
It might also be that he just made a comment like any lad would about wanting to drive in F1 in a chosen era. I used to say I'd love to be an F1 driver but nobody over analysed my youthful statement and pointed out all the technical details as to why I couldn't or responded negatively. This particular interview was a light hearted discussion and this comment was made with very dreamy ideals. Its hardly a revelation or something that deserves any level of criticism. All the top drivers have said at some point they would have loved to have raced alongside Senna or Prost. Hamilton just appears to be more popular than the rest of them and gets a thread dedicated to him whenever he gives an opinion, which is nice. :)

PS: The quoted article on this thread is a lot shorter than the article I read in a newspaper yesterday and only contains a fraction of the interview. Perhaps its things like this that lead to fans jumping on the bandwagon a little too quickly?

[Ranger]

If we are looking at the depth of driving talent of the entire field, 2012 was just about as good as it gets.

[Koz]

I feel sad for Hamilton. It is such a drag to have to compete against the substandard drivers of 21st century. He has defeated them all by now and is dying from boredom. What a tragedy.

Sarcasm is very hard to detect on the interwebs. :(

[Koz]

If we are looking at the depth of driving talent of the entire field, 2012 was just about as good as it gets.

I say the last 6-or so years we have had the greatest amount of talent and professionalism we have ever seen on the grid.
This year however there has been a significant drop.

[Rollo]

I thought the same thing. It's funny. If Senna and Prost were driving the only McLarens, what would Hamilton be driving in the era, and against whom would he be competing? But then I remembered that Hamilton was a poster child of McLaren, so surely he thinks he would have gotten a McLaren seat in the 80s.

Not bloody likely.

Raikkonen was brought to Ferrari as Schumacher's replacement on $51m at the time, which meant that Alonso was brought in to replace him.
Hamilton was brought in to replace PDLR who in turn replaced Montoya. Quite frankly, the fact that Lewis even challenged Alonso was odd, as think that not even Ron Dennis originally saw him as anything other than a number two.

If Hamilton thinks that he would have knocked either Senna or Prost out of those seats, then he is delusional. Maybe in 1990 in lieu of Berger but certainly not in 1988 to replace Johansson because Senna was to be honest, quite brilliant.

[dj_bytedisaster]

Not bloody likely.

Raikkonen was brought to Ferrari as Schumacher's replacement on $51m at the time, which meant that Alonso was brought in to replace him.
Hamilton was brought in to replace PDLR who in turn replaced Montoya. Quite frankly, the fact that Lewis even challenged Alonso was odd, as think that not even Ron Dennis originally saw him as anything other than a number two.


Lewis was a McLaren protegé since his early karting days. I think he was 13 when they gave him his first contract. He was groomed to be McLarens next big star since childhood, so I don't think they brought him in as a number two.

[Rollo]

He was groomed to be McLarens next big star since childhood, so I don't think they brought him in as a number two.

Remember, Alonso was the defending double World Champion when Lewis was stepped up.

Hamilton's F1 drive is a dream come true - Motor Racing - Sport - The Independent (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/motor-racing/hamiltons-f1-drive-is-a-dream-come-true-425740.html)
Yesterday, Dennis made Hamilton's teenage dream come true when he confirmed that the 21-year-old from Tewin, in Hertfordshire, will drive for the revamped McLaren-Mercedes team in the 2007 Formula One world championship, alongside the title holder, Fernando Alonso.

What is the likely story here? Hamilton would be equal number one with a defending double World Champion without himself raced in F1 before?

[dj_bytedisaster]

What is the likely story here? Hamilton would be equal number one with a defending double World Champion without himself raced in F1 before?

Well, when Senna joined McLaren his team mate was a double world champion with McLaren already. Didn't stop him from challenging him and neither did it stop McLaren from allowing him to do so. So why shouldn't Lewis have been allowed to in 2007. McLaren never had a #1/#2 hierarchy.

[truefan72]

another thread turning into haterade on Hamilton
oh well

[Koz]

Well, when Senna joined McLaren his team mate was a double world champion with McLaren already. Didn't stop him from challenging him and neither did it stop McLaren from allowing him to do so. So why shouldn't Lewis have been allowed to in 2007. McLaren never had a #1/#2 hierarchy.

Key difference being that Senna was an experienced driver who had half a dozen wins and Honda and Prost's blessing.
Vs a rookie in his first season against the reigning double world champion.

Big difference.

[dj_bytedisaster]

Key difference being that Senna was an experienced driver who had half a dozen wins and Honda and Prost's blessing.
Vs a rookie in his first season against the reigning double world champion.
Big difference.

Not really. F1 isn't a meritocracy. Nothing in F1 is as insignificant as last year's title. Everyone, who signs a McLaren contract knows, that he'll not have preferrential treatment over his team mate, even if it turns out to be the enormous cleaning lady. And Lewis wasn't your garden variety rookie either. He had completely molested the opposition in junior formulae. Most of his direct competitors of the time are now proven F1 drivers themselves and he had monstered them.
He got his McLaren seat based on his talent and had every right to challenge the raw crap out of Alonso unless he had compulsory hero worship written into his contract.

[Big Ben]

96-99. why? f1 was new to me... couldn't get enough of it... evil (MS+ Ferrari) was struggling... great days

[Mia 01]

1971 - 2006 I think. Ronnie, Senna, MS and Kimi all in the mix. No Lewis

[henners88]

1950 to 2013 for me. A long era like the last post :p

[dj_bytedisaster]

96-99. why? f1 was new to me... couldn't get enough of it... evil (MS+ Ferrari) was struggling... great days

You aint serious, are you? That was the most dull time in F1 ever. Except for a fe freak races like Monaco '96 or Europe '99 It was utterly boring...

[henners88]

I would have said 2002 to 2004 was the dullest since I started watching in 1988. I enjoyed watching Schumacher fighting in an inferior Ferrari way more than his dominance of last decade.

[Big Ben]

You aint serious, are you? That was the most dull time in F1 ever. Except for a fe freak races like Monaco '96 or Europe '99 It was utterly boring...

thanks for that. Now that you corrected me I understand I didn't like f1 the most when I started following it. In fact the best era must have been the one I skipped. 2001-2004 was the greatest ... those epic battles between MS, himself and common sense...

[henners88]

Lewis was a McLaren protegé since his early karting days. I think he was 13 when they gave him his first contract. He was groomed to be McLarens next big star since childhood, so I don't think they brought him in as a number two.
I think suggesting Hamilton was always intended to come in and perform as an equal to Alonso is a bit of a stretch. McLaren always intended to give them equal machinery and chances which they did, but I think Lewis exceeded expectations in his rookie year and gained the emotional support of the team in time. Alonso made no secret of the fact he expected number one treatment, but this is not the McLaren way and both drivers were given free reign to fight it out. Whether or not that was good at the time is subjective, but I think it achieved the best outcome for the long term. Nobody expected Lewis to hit the ground running like he did. I remember before Oz 2007 Ron Dennis suggesting Lewis could win a race or two and hopefully be on the podium alongside Alonso on many occasions. I don't think even Ron expected Lewis to very nearly win the title and especially not finish above his double WDC team mate in the final standings. Protegé or not, Lewis was unproven in the highest formula so pre season expectations were realistic at that point, but pleasantly proven otherwise IMO. :)

[steveaki13]

You aint serious, are you? That was the most dull time in F1 ever. Except for a fe freak races like Monaco '96 or Europe '99 It was utterly boring...

It is his opinion you cant correct him on it. He is fully intitled to have enjoyed F1 then.

I enjoyed F1 around then too.

I first watched in 91-92 but was young so dont remember much, 93 better but it is 94 I remember most first and obviously 94 was a horror season really although I enjoyd some of the races.

I think 95-01 I was fully In love with F1.

02-04 were dull but I still enjoyed them.

05-09 I enjoyed

2010-now - I must admit I have began to lose my fanatical love of F1. I dont like the way F1 is heading in many ways.

[steveaki13]

You aint serious, are you? That was the most dull time in F1 ever. Except for a fe freak races like Monaco '96 or Europe '99 It was utterly boring...

You havent actually told the board what your favourite?

An ideas?

[henners88]

You havent actually told the board what your favourite?

An ideas?
Any period when a German was winning. The rest was boring :p

[steveaki13]

Any period when a German was winning. The rest was boring :p

Nah.

1992,1996,2008 & 2009 were the best years. No reason just the results those years made F1 much better than any others.

[dj_bytedisaster]

You havent actually told the board what your favourite?

An ideas?

1998 and especially 1999. I liked how the Jordans suddenly were in the mix. It was a time when championships used to go down to the wire without technical trickery like KERS and DRS. Times like 1988-1989, 1992-1997, 2000-2004 and 2011 were you had one team slapping the competition around at will were cringeworthy. In fact 1988 was the worst year F1 has ever seen. It made 2011 look exciting

[dj_bytedisaster]

Any period when a German was winning. The rest was boring :p

For a Brit you are remarkably unfunny ;)

[henners88]

For a Brit you are remarkably unfunny ;)
With anything it depends who the joke is on. ;)

[dj_bytedisaster]

touché ;)

[henners88]

Why thank you :)

[D-Type]

I've moved this to the 'Motor Sport History' forum as it belongs there

[Don Capps]

After its fourth season, 1984, I became a rather casual observer of the FIA Formula 1 World Champonship, not really caring or very much interested in what happened after that, the antics of, among others, Senna da Silva and Ecclestone putting paid to any sense of -- in even the loosest use of the word -- enthusiasm for the series. The only time -- thanks to my son -- that I paid any attention after the 1984 season was while Damon Hill was around.

I really think that after taking a step or two back, there probably is no "best era of F1," there being no end of minuses to offset any pluses one might toss into the fray. There has always been a degree of rot in either of the championships, whether from 1950-1980 or 1981 to the present.

[BDunnell]

I really think that after taking a step or two back, there probably is no "best era of F1," there being no end of minuses to offset any pluses one might toss into the fray.

That pretty much reflects my view, too.

[D-Type]

Well, when Senna joined McLaren his team mate was a double world champion with McLaren already. Didn't stop him from challenging him and neither did it stop McLaren from allowing him to do so. So why shouldn't Lewis have been allowed to in 2007. McLaren never had a #1/#2 hierarchy.
The difference is that when Senna joined McLaren he had four GP seasons and six GP wins behind him while Hamilton was making his F1 debut.

[jens]

If we are looking at the depth of driving talent of the entire field, 2012 was just about as good as it gets.

I am not really sure about it if we are really talking about the whole field. By 2012 we already had had an influx of paydrivers and there was a significant discomfort that several good/better drivers had been pushed aside due to funding issues.

However, let's take a look at, say, 2007, which IMO is one of the best seasons in driver depth. The "worst" driver on the grid was perhaps Albers and even he wasn't particularly embarrassing. Just your solid backmarker driver, who wasn't going to amount for much more, aka Firman, Bruni, di Grassi, Monteiro and others. I don't remember any paydrivers that year. Perhaps Sutil and Albers brought something to Spyker, but basically all the drivers on the grid were there on merit. However, most of the grid consisted of drivers, who you wouldn't be embarrassed to have in a top team at least as a #2 driver.

That was the depth I felt in 2007. In 2012 I didn't feel such depth across the whole field any more to be honest.

[Corvettian]

I don't think any era is "better" than another, just different, so perhaps the question should have been "What is your favourite era of Formula?"
Mine was the [first] turbo era, which is when I started watching Formula 1 (in the mid-1980s). The cars were tricky to drive, with horrendous turbo lag, but they were impressive machines in race trim (not to mention qualifying trim, where they were allowed special qualifying engines and fuel.)
I wonder how next season's turbo cars will compare? I'm looking forward to seeing them!

[steveaki13]

I don't think any era is "better" than another, just different, so perhaps the question should have been "What is your favourite era of Formula?"
Mine was the [first] turbo era, which is when I started watching Formula 1 (in the mid-1980s). The cars were tricky to drive, with horrendous turbo lag, but they were impressive machines in race trim (not to mention qualifying trim, where they were allowed special qualifying engines and fuel.)
I wonder how next season's turbo cars will compare? I'm looking forward to seeing them!

Great Post.

I agree with the fact that no Era is better or worse really.

Mostly it depends when you start watching the sport. i.e you have the fondest memories of mid 80s.

I am the same start watching in early mid 90s. So 93-98 for example have special memories for me.

Someone who starts watching in 2005 will look back in 10 years and remember fondly.


I too cant wait to see these new Turbo cars, but I dont think it will be the same as the 80s.

[zako85]

I think the current era, from around the time of the rise of Alonso until now, is the greatest.

Why?

1. It's still on ;p

2. The rise of child prodigy drivers: Alonso, Raikkonen, Hamilton, and Vettel.

3. Strict technical regulations suddenly result in a more egalitarian playing field: everyone can have one of three championship winning engines at a relatively reasonable price (by historic standards) and chassis regulations leave very little room for leapfrogging each other. The top teams still win most of the time, but the delta is now much smaller. Gone are the times when the leading car could regularly lap cars 6,5,4, etc.

[rjbetty]

Yup, I'm not sure I think there's a best or worst era either.

But as with many others, I go for my first years (late 90s/early 00s). Because back then, drivers and cars actually retired from races. Even with the top 6 points Caterham or Marussia could have grabbed a point or 2 maybe.

Also, when mistakes were made, you were in the gravel and your race was over there and then. It was around 2001 when all the tarmac run-offs started.

[555-04Q2]

For me it was definitely the 80's and very early 90's. Great drivers, great rivalries, powerful cars that sounded awesome, lots of aggression, off track antics that were a great sideshow, the list goes on and on. Currently F1 is not too bad from 2000 onwards, but those earlier years were "fan bloody tastic"!

[anfield5]

Mid 70's to mid 80's when there was plenty of innovation and designers weren't handcuffed by stupidly restrictive design limitations. Just think about some of the things in that 10+ years. Six wheels, ground effects, turbo charged monsters etc.

[Parabolica]

Anfield, that was the era I grew up with, so it will always be a favourite of mine.

Which brings me to my Philosophical Thought of the Day.

The best eras are the one you grew up with, and the present.

Anything else will just leave you disappointed.

[555-04Q2]

Which brings me to my Philosophical Thought of the Day.

Easy now, it's Friday, don't stress your brain too much there :p: ;)

[steveaki13]

Anfield, that was the era I grew up with, so it will always be a favourite of mine.

Which brings me to my Philosophical Thought of the Day.

The best eras are the one you grew up with, and the present.

Anything else will just leave you disappointed.

Part 1 I agree with. It seems everyone loved the era they first watched. For me the mid 90s until the mid 00's. Despite Schumi Dominance.

However I feel the currant years have not enthralled me as much. The present F1 leaves me slightly cold.

[D-Type]

Anfield, that was the era I grew up with, so it will always be a favourite of mine.

Which brings me to my Philosophical Thought of the Day.

The best eras are the one you grew up with, and the present.

Anything else will just leave you disappointed.

Part 1 I agree with. It seems everyone loved the era they first watched. For me the mid 90s until the mid 00's. Despite Schumi Dominance.

However I feel the currant years have not enthralled me as much. The present F1 leaves me slightly cold.
I go along with this. The era when you were, say, 12 to 15 when you were old enough to understand what was happening but still young enough to find it all enthralling.
And I find the current F1 so artificial and contrived.
Which is how I ended up hosting the History Forum. ;)

[M Needforspeed]

but it can happens that some of us, after gaining a Motor Racing culture, will see that the best era wasn't when they discovered F1.

For me, the best era can't be other than the 1963 / 1970 ... and I was too young to have an interest in Motor Racing, and there was no TV or radio coverages, only mags that I discovered after .

Followed F1 the year Emerson Fittipaldi won his first WC and what happened since 1972 until 1993 .... but nevertheless Jim Clark era rules !

[anfield5]

Anfield, that was the era I grew up with, so it will always be a favourite of mine.

Which brings me to my Philosophical Thought of the Day.

The best eras are the one you grew up with, and the present.

Anything else will just leave you disappointed.

You are undoubtedly quite correct.

[Parabolica]

That's my quota for this decade used up right there, then!

I've found every era of F1 that I have known to be riveting. There are always things that could be better, but I love F1 unconditionally.

Of course, unconditional love was better in my day.

It could leave its front door open, too.

[anfield5]

My problem with modern F1 is that the rules are too restrictive and designers are all in effect turning out facsimilies of each others cars. I have always thought F1 is the top of the tree where single seat circuit racing is concerned. This being true it is logical to assume the best designers and engineers populate the brainy side of the garage. Under today's draconian rules they are not being allowed to innovate. It would be like mandating when to apply the brakes, when to change gears and how much throttle percentage drivers can use.

Champcars just before it's death went down this path, by telling all drivers when they had to make pit stops i.e. in a 60 lap race they WOULD stop on lap 20 and lap 40, effectivly doing away with a driver's race craft and strategy, it made the racing absolutely pathetic and the series thankfully died and was consumed by the IRL.

In the 70's/80's the design rules were less draconian, designers had plenty of room to move and tiny little teams like Tyrrell could come up with a car that was different to the big teams, and could win races and championships. Todays rules kind of remind me of a modern housing estate where every house looks the same. Think of the song called 'Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds (look up the lyrics)

[D-Type]

It's not just the restrictive rules. It's the total artificiality of it all. It's no longer a competition, it's now a show. And to provide a 'show' they stifle innovation as they don't want somebody running away from the field the way, for example, the Lotus 78 and 79 did.

[Parabolica]

It's not just the restrictive rules. It's the total artificiality of it all. It's no longer a competition, it's now a show. And to provide a 'show' they stifle innovation as they don't want somebody running away from the field the way, for example, the Lotus 78 and 79 did.

With respect, it is clearly still a competition.

One that Red Bull are running away with.

If it wasn't a competition, and a high-quality one at that, then there would not be the difficulty to beat red Bull that, evidently, there is.

There aren't the headline-grabbing, turn-the-world-on-its-head innovations of yesteryear, but the technical developments in areas like exhaust-blown-diffusers are, for me, just as fascinating.

Off-throttle-blown-diffusers are, I feel, something Colin Chapman would be impressed by.

There is innovation. The rules prevent a left-field game-changer arriving, I completely accept, and that is something that I too regret. I don't let it ruin my interest in the technical revolutions that still take place, albeit more subtle ones.

[anfield5]

It's not just the restrictive rules. It's the total artificiality of it all. It's no longer a competition, it's now a show. And to provide a 'show' they stifle innovation as they don't want somebody running away from the field the way, for example, the Lotus 78 and 79 did.

With respect, it is clearly still a competition.

One that Red Bull are running away with.

If it wasn't a competition, and a high-quality one at that, then there would not be the difficulty to beat red Bull that, evidently, there is.

There aren't the headline-grabbing, turn-the-world-on-its-head innovations of yesteryear, but the technical developments in areas like exhaust-blown-diffusers are, for me, just as fascinating.

Off-throttle-blown-diffusers are, I feel, something Colin Chapman would be impressed by.

There is innovation. The rules prevent a left-field game-changer arriving, I completely accept, and that is something that I too regret. I don't let it ruin my interest in the technical revolutions that still take place, albeit more subtle ones.

Again you are correct. But it is always the big teams with the cash that seem to find these little tweeks because thay can afford to look, the small terams are too concerned with merely creating a version of this seasons little box that is consumong all of thier budget and expertise. There is no way a small team like Caterham could possibly divert resource into researching blown diffusers for example. So it is a case of the rich get richer.

The current crop of designers and engineers are in some ways far better than any that have gone before, it is a crying shame that their talents are being squandered on trying to find small gains in loopholes, rather than being allowed to design.

[Parabolica]

Wasn't it always the case that the bigger teams were more likely to innovate? Lotus were not exactly minnows when the monocoque chassis was debuted, and were top-flight by the era of the 79. Brabhams fancar was not knocked up in a shed, either. The back of the grid in every era was made up of teams and cars which were anything but revolutionary.

Of course, I agree with you that the current rules are not conducive to overt innovation, but I always try to find the silver linings and don't worry about the black cloud.

[steveaki13]

It's not just the restrictive rules. It's the total artificiality of it all. It's no longer a competition, it's now a show. And to provide a 'show' they stifle innovation as they don't want somebody running away from the field the way, for example, the Lotus 78 and 79 did.

Spot on D Type.

"Show" pushes me over the edge. :bomb:

[FAL]

Oh all so recent.
This question appeared elsewhere and I suggested (and many agreed) that, from a UK point of view, it had to be 1958.
A dominant multiple World Champion had (effectively) retired and the mantle passes to UK drivers. Any one of 4 of those could easily have inherited the crown. The one who did was not the most expected one. Two competitive makes. Two others not so far behind. Crucially, the final dominance of "real" cars with the engine at the front - albeit with clear signs of impending change to that. Scarred by multiple tragedies within and immediately after the season. You couldn't get away with writing a film script to cover that - they considered it and dropped it (and now we have 1976, the next least believable year, at the movies...)

[steveaki13]

I love looking back at those eras' but as I was only born in 1986 and have only watched F1 since early 90s I don't know enough about that time.

However I stick to the mantra that F1 is good no matter what era its in.

[555-04Q2]

I love looking back at those eras' but as I was only born in 1986 and have only watched F1 since early 90s I don't know enough about that time.

However I stick to the mantra that F1 is good no matter what era its in.

I tend to agree with you. I enjoy the current era, but there was certainly more excitement back in the 80's than we get today.

It's like our local saloon car racing (like your touring cars). In the 80's and 90's we had great racing with door to door action, bumps aplenty, trackside skirmishes that were fantastic and racers that even woman recognised.

While the current racing is good now, I prefer the early days when there was far more action and often the fastest way round the track was to get the back end out in most corners :)

[journeyman racer]

Personally, since I've been aware of fully aware of F1, it's been from the 89 Australian GP (first one I can recall watching), til the end of the 93 season (Australian GP). Looking back, I feel that 93 was the last "real" year of F1. It's not that the racing was more entertaining or anything, but that 93 was the last year of "real" F1 cars. The regulations introduced for 94 (and subsequent) were, in retrospect, farcical. Since then, I think the regs have slowly eroded the "authenticity" of a proper F1 car, even though the performance has increased out of sight. The introduction of mandatory fuel stops was comical and unnecessary. Even though they've gotten rid of that, the marshmallow tyres introduced since then is an attempt to appease fans, for whom mandatory stops have become the norm. It isn't.

[AAReagles]

but it can happens that some of us, after gaining a Motor Racing culture, will see that the best era wasn't when they discovered F1.

.... but nevertheless Jim Clark era rules !

Yeah, I agree on both counts.

With regards to my following the sport (1978 - mid 1990's mostly). At least from the mid-1980's and back I got to watch the races performed on decent (and beautiful) circuits: Zandvoort, Brands Hatch, Paul Richard, Hockenheim, Osterreichring to name a few. Back then the trackside-sponsorship-overload didn't appear as bad. Not to mention some of the soap-opera-drama (tabloid porn) that played out between drivers, wasn't as apparent like it is now, which became increasingly common the last 25 years. That is probably due to the increase coverage of the sport since those bygone days.

Oddly enough, after Clark passed on, sponsorship starting taking a bigger role in the GP/F1 fraternity.

There are definetly times I wish I was born earlier to observe and appreciate the birth of the rear-engine era and onwards to the late 1980's.

[Doc Austin]

It's all been good but the era with Hill, Stewart, Rindt, Fittipaldi was when I was growing up, so from a nostalgic standpoint I've got to go with that. The stars were bigger than life and the cars were very interesting, if not very safe. It was a tragic era, but watching the safety crusade unfold was most interesting and I have to give Jackie Stewart his due for making it a better sport.

[AAReagles]

Yeah I don't have a problem with the increase with safety other than the over abundance of chicanes. Though I could see the instance where the original SPA needed to be put down. With telephone poles, houses, wire fences (think Bristow 60') and 20 foot drop-offs (think Bonnier 66') decorated along the roadway.

Back in 67', pole sitter Jim Clark even complained about blurred vision while engaging the Masta Kink, initially thinking it was suspension troubles. Needless to say, it was not a good location to encounter such an experience.

It's no wonder Stewart's safety campaign began there.

My hat is off to anyone who drove on it, much less went fast enough to qualify for the event back then. Only to look forward to another 28 laps or so.

[jens]

Every era has a unique feel to it that makes it special. It is hard to quantify or even compare.

But I don't feel the 2010s are "special" in any way any more... Maybe getting old.:p: Or need to re-evaluate in 10-20 years time.

[AAReagles]

Now that would be scary; to re-evaluate 10 or so years later and find out these were better racing days. Not far fetched though, as I found myself doing just that with the 2000s, during the Schumula Won era. Never thought I'd say that though.

Maybe if Bernie goes... ehh, nevermind, that's too big of a 'maybe' to hope for.

[journeyman racer]

The 3.5l era is the peak evolutionary period of F1 so far.

[zako85]

Every era has a unique feel to it that makes it special. It is hard to quantify or even compare.

But I don't feel the 2010s are "special" in any way any more... Maybe getting old.:p: Or need to re-evaluate in 10-20 years time.


You haven't discovered America here. I think a lot of people probably feel the same. While still worth watching, four years of Red Bull and Vettel domination, followed by at least two years of Mercedes domination, where 2014 was the only year Rosberg could possibly challenge Hamilton, doesn't strike me as a great era. The 00s were a fine era, as well as 90s, and 80s. Regardless what which era or decade was the greatest, the current one is certainly isn't it.

[zako85]

The 3.5l era is the peak evolutionary period of F1 so far.

It's not clear to me what you mean here. Peak of the evolution of what? Engine displacement, speed, power, or the competition?

Personally, when I think about the 3.5L engine era, I can't stop thinking about the disappointing years of one-car dominance, major scandals, or Senna's death. Let's go back to some facts: the 1989, 1990, and 1994 season championships ended with championship deciding collisions, at least two of those clearly premeditated. 1994 was mired with well documented cheating allegations against Benetton. Senna also died early in 1994. 1992 and 1993 were one-car domination seasons, easily won by Williams-Renault-Newey juggernaut. And so, when I look for a scandal-free and fairly competitive year during the 3.5L-only era of F1 racing, apparently 1991 is the only year, and this one is hardly ever mentioned or remembered by anyone these days.

[AAReagles]

... the 1989, 1990, and 1994 season championships ended with championship deciding collisions, at least two of those clearly premeditated. 1994 was mired with well documented cheating allegations against Benetton... And so, when I look for a scandal-free and fairly competitive year during the 3.5L-only era of F1 racing, apparently 1991 is the only year, and this one is hardly ever mentioned or remembered by anyone these days.

Well I'm guilty as charged of not remembering much of 91' as I was put off by the events mentioned above; first time I had such disdain for the sport that I merely followed the races through newspapers rather than watching the occasional race - to avoid wasting my time anticipating another Suzuka.

Idiots.

[journeyman racer]

It's not clear to me what you mean here. Peak of the evolution of what? Engine displacement, speed, power, or the competition?
The history of F1, and any motorsport that was considered the highest level previous to the F1WC


Personally, when I think about the 3.5L engine era, I can't stop thinking about the disappointing years
No surprise to me. From what I've noticed, you only pick at anything you don't like in F1.


of one-car dominance,
Yes. If you look at the history of motorsport, and understand it fundamental reason for it existing. You'd realise this is what's supposed to happen


major scandals, or Senna's death. Let's go back to some facts: the 1989, 1990, and 1994 season championships ended with championship deciding collisions, at least two of those clearly premeditated. 1994 was mired with well documented cheating allegations against Benetton. Senna also died early in 1994.
These have nothing to do with the regulations of the cars.



1992 and 1993 were one-car domination seasons, easily won by Williams-Renault-Newey juggernaut.
Yes. This is what's supposed to happen. The Williams FW14B/15C backs up my opinion, and highlights the superiority of the 3.5l rules over any other period. The Williams FW14B/15C is the single best racing car ever built, so far in all motorsport.


And so, when I look for a scandal-free and fairly competitive year during the 3.5L-only era of F1 racing, apparently 1991 is the only year, and this one is hardly ever mentioned or remembered by anyone these days.
1991 has been mentioned. You might want to have a look elsewhere on this board. Also, you seem to only be interested in the superficial aspect of F1/motor racing. Which is why you get excited over a WEC a Silverstone, by what seemed to occur on the track. When overall it's not important.

[journeyman racer]

The 3.5l cars are the last, full blown F1 cars going around. Up until 1994, F1 rules were constructed out of necessity, practicality, to reflect it's position as the leading motorsport class. Up until 93, it was a genuine Open car class. Since then, rules have been slowly narrowed down to a quasi spec class.

The rules since 94 have been introduced to satisfy "the fans". The current mire that is modern day F1, has been chipped away at for 21 years. All designed so that zak is happy. But he still isn't, and is keen to point out how great a WEC race at Silverstone is. Despite the fact few people care.

Have you ever seen a FVee race at Phillip Island? Much better wheel to wheel racing that what WEC could produce.

Victorian state/Phillip Island FVee>>>>>>WEC at Silvertone>>>>>>>F1