How F1 used to be more exciting

[Helen60]

Hey guys. I've been recently thinking about the older times and I'm just wondering about one thing- hasn't F1 used to be better, more thrilling and exciting?

Maybe these current cars are as fast as they used to be, but they've been missing one key factor throughout all these years- proper sound engines. I don't know if you've noticed, but when there are commercials where F1 is used, weirdly the older engine sounds are used. It was one of a kind type of sound.

Now when I watch these races once in a while I can't really get into it- it seems boring for me. When you buy an old Porsche, you've got the proper sound. Now when you get one, it sounds no better than a VW Golf GTI... What happened?

There were years where Schumacher was completely dominating, but after this was over the races were very exciting and fun to watch. We had few drivers actually fighting for championship. Now with Mercedes and DRS, Kers and other things- not fun at all and not even fair.

It's supposed to be a competition between manufacturers and drivers, but now we have few advantage giving tools that shouldn't be in F1 in the first place.

I'm afraid It's just not what it used to be. Does anyone share my thoughts?

[Nitrodaze]

Hey guys. I've been recently thinking about the older times and I'm just wondering about one thing- hasn't F1 used to be better, more thrilling and exciting?

Maybe these current cars are as fast as they used to be, but they've been missing one key factor throughout all these years- proper sound engines. I don't know if you've noticed, but when there are commercials where F1 is used, weirdly the older engine sounds are used. It was one of a kind type of sound.

Now when I watch these races once in a while I can't really get into it- it seems boring for me. When you buy an old Porsche, you've got the proper sound. Now when you get one, it sounds no better than a VW Golf GTI... What happened?

There were years where Schumacher was completely dominating, but after this was over the races were very exciting and fun to watch. We had few drivers actually fighting for championship. Now with Mercedes and DRS, Kers and other things- not fun at all and not even fair.

It's supposed to be a competition between manufacturers and drivers, but now we have few advantage giving tools that shouldn't be in F1 in the first place.

I'm afraid It's just not what it used to be. Does anyone share my thoughts?

F1 is about technology, and an important area of research in the automobile industry was targeting noise polution. Now we sleep better as cars zoom by under our windows due the progress made in reducing noise polution. Racing in recent time has been as exciting; if not better than racing of old. Noisy exhausts do not increase the enjoyment. Nowadays, the quality of drivers are so high, such that the performance difference between the drivers is so small. The car may have 1.6 liter engines but the go just as fast as the big 3.0 liter engines. Now that is extraordinary progress.

We always hear the old days were better, l always hear things like bring back the the 3.0 liter engines, bring back the sound etc. But the action remains the same if not more exciting. The challenge of excelling above the competition is even higher today as in any time in F1 history. Looking back most of us fail to see the brilliance of the now.

On merit, the old times were not much better than the now really.

[D-Type]

Let's face it. If you took Nuvolari or Fangio and put them in a modern car, they would soon be competitive. Likewise, if you took Lewis Hamilton and put him in a Delage, Bugatti Type 35 or a Maserati 250F he would be competitive.
Racers are racers.

[adrianbay]

In my opinion, nowadays F1 is more exciting as it is more modern. The new sound of the engine is a new sound of the engine. Everything changes and F1 does this in the right way.

[Jag_Warrior]

In my opinion, nowadays F1 is more exciting as it is more modern. The new sound of the engine is a new sound of the engine. Everything changes and F1 does this in the right way.

I have to respectfully disagree. While I admit that part of my preference for past engine formulas is because we all tend to think that what things were like in our younger days was the best of times, it's not JUST that (in my case).

At vintage racing events, when I hear a V12, V10 or V8 F1 engine screaming at full song, I get an almost sexual feeling from it. Not trying to be vulgar here, just telling it like it is. But when I went to the U.S. GP in 2019, the sound of those "power units" did absolutely nothing for me at all. Just speaking about the aural pleasure, I'd rank the sounds I heard from those units behind the old F1 engine formulas, the old CART 2.65 turbo formula, the current IMSA prototypes and even the NASCAR Cup series engines. To get a little risque, those range from high fashion runway models to pretty grid girls to barefoot country girls wearing Daisy Dukes. The F1 sounds were more like a plain girl with glasses sitting in a stuffy library. Yep, smart and advanced, but nothing that makes you want to ask her out.