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Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

arstechnica.com

41–50 of 403 posts

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#41
post #28
post #16

F1 isn't what it used to be last century. Races were nail biting epic contests, cars visibly improved every season, drivers were international celebrities dicing with real life ending risk, and passionate fans filled the stadiums. Modern races are just a procession of the same few people each weekend in global rich social events.

Drivers still are international celebrities and they still dice with death. Someone died in an F2 car just last year. But you’re right that it has gotten far safer. Drivers walk away from horrific crashes at insane speeds. And modern cars despite being less powerful post lap times that boggle the mind. The aero is bonkers. Drivers regularly pull 5G laterally in corners. If it weren’t for rules, I bet we’d see corneri…

Agreed speeds are insane, but its less interesting than when people were overtaking more. The rich people bit was a dig at Abu Dhabi & Azerbaijan which seem mostly empty.

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#42
post #28
post #16

F1 isn't what it used to be last century. Races were nail biting epic contests, cars visibly improved every season, drivers were international celebrities dicing with real life ending risk, and passionate fans filled the stadiums. Modern races are just a procession of the same few people each weekend in global rich social events.

Drivers still are international celebrities and they still dice with death. Someone died in an F2 car just last year. But you’re right that it has gotten far safer. Drivers walk away from horrific crashes at insane speeds. And modern cars despite being less powerful post lap times that boggle the mind. The aero is bonkers. Drivers regularly pull 5G laterally in corners. If it weren’t for rules, I bet we’d see corneri…

> Drivers walk away from horrific crashes at insane speeds.

So, they run?

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#43
post #28
post #16

F1 isn't what it used to be last century. Races were nail biting epic contests, cars visibly improved every season, drivers were international celebrities dicing with real life ending risk, and passionate fans filled the stadiums. Modern races are just a procession of the same few people each weekend in global rich social events.

Drivers still are international celebrities and they still dice with death. Someone died in an F2 car just last year. But you’re right that it has gotten far safer. Drivers walk away from horrific crashes at insane speeds. And modern cars despite being less powerful post lap times that boggle the mind. The aero is bonkers. Drivers regularly pull 5G laterally in corners. If it weren’t for rules, I bet we’d see corneri…

No you wouldn't.

Cornering G is lateral.

That doesn't pull blood from the brain. Not to say it's exactly FUN, but it won't cause you to black out.

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#44
post #41
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Drivers still are international celebrities and they still dice with death. Someone died in an F2 car just last year. But you’re right that it has gotten far safer. Drivers walk away from horrific crashes at insane speeds. And modern cars despite being less powerful post lap times that boggle the mind. The aero is bonkers. Drivers regularly pull 5G laterally in corners. If it weren’t for rules, I bet we’d see corneri…

Agreed speeds are insane, but its less interesting than when people were overtaking more. The rich people bit was a dig at Abu Dhabi & Azerbaijan which seem mostly empty.

That's why MotoGP is so much more interesting. Not unusual to see multiple passes for the lead on the last lap alone, and the top, say, 8-10 riders to be within a couple seconds at the finish.

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#45
I highly highly highly doubt this is the explanation is true.

F1 is way over regulated with ridiculous rules, crushing innovation and free thinking. Honda knows just as well as everyone else that the technology developed there has trickled down into consumer ICE engines and made them superior in terms of carbon expenditure.

Hell of a marketing spin.

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article is worth a read. Honda has quit a few times before.

The irony is that the last time they left F1 they sold off their F1 team for next to nothing to management which then won the F1 World driver and constructors championship the next season. That team was then sold to Mercedes to become their works team which now utterly dominates F1 for the last few seasons. If only they persevered.

Ross Brawn said that they gained a second per lap by switching engine to Mercedes. If Honda stayed, Vettel would have been a 5-time WDC.

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#47
post #19
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Simple, F1 and nascar are both races. Rally is a time trial. Generally I think people find racing more exciting.

Right - I can see an argument being made between Moto GP over F1 (less emphasis on starting position, far more passing) but not Rally over F1 as it's a different beast. I used to love F1 (partly since it was often well timed for hungover Sundays off work for me when I was at university) so I really get both the fun and the frustrations with Formula 1.

The other thing that makes MotoGP much more interesting are that the races, being a good bit shorter, are made without pitstops.

So the driver wins on the track, and not the pit crew in the pits.

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

F-1 was really interesting years ago. With no traction control or advanced aerodynamics and less regulations on engine power, it was a real arena for drivers. It was so fierce that Senna decided to hit his rival in the first corner of a race, taking out both, solidifying Senna's championship. It was exciting too. Since drivers need to take risks with 750+ HP beasts, Senna battling Schumacher, Villneuve battling Coult…

> they have yearly CPU instruction limits This sounded too ridiculous to me, so I started digging. Lo and behold, [1]. Appendix 8, sections 2 and 3. The entire thing is a fun read, with pearls such as: in the case of an Intel CPU with either the Sandybridge or Ivybridge chipset where the competitor chooses not to exploit the AVX feature; the competitor must explicitly declare and be able to demonstrate that they are…

Wow. The level of detail there is crazy.

They even have an equation governing the supply of car power units.

See Appendix 9, section b.

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With the automobile market transitioning to EV, it is inevitable that F1 will be rebooted as an EV contest. Expect Honda to re-enter then, particularly if MotoGP goes EV first.

So, Formula E?

“ A Honda Formula E program has already been ruled out”

Re: Honda quits F1, invests in carbon-free tech instead

#50
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, Formula E?

Formula E also has a monopoly on FIA sanctioned all-electric single seater racing for 25 seasons, so F1 cannot go full EV until 2039 at minimum unless contracts get renegotiated. Will be interesting to see what happens to F1 as a result, Indycar as well. Petrolheads can whine about electric racing all they want, but engine suppliers are losing interest in making gas engines when the consumer market is in a shift away…

So, right now F1 has hybrid engines. Is there a power mix they can't cross before they infringe on Formula E? Or is it just literally, has to have an engine on board? Racing teams have never been shy about running right up to the edge of defined rules, and also running wild in undefined areas.
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