planetf1.com

How does that relate to what I wrote?
I am confused ...

You're trying to make it sound like FR3.5 stood head and shoulders with GP2 which it didn't, also do you have figures, I've seen £600K for GP3 and €700K for F3.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

You went around Europe watching FR3.5 and F3?

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

First off, both of those numbers are already way too high for anyone who isn't sponsored or independently wealthy to compete in.

Secondly, it's basic economics that the cost will go up when the number of seats goes down. Let's say right now there's 40 seats available and they cost $600,000 to get. Eliminate half those seats, and you've got 20 people who can afford seats, want seats, and can't get seats. The people who own those seats (the racing teams, in this case) know that the supply for the seats just went down while the demand didn't change, hence their seats have become more valuable: they can charge more for them, and with no competing racing series, sponsors and drivers will have no choice but to pay.

Bottom line, drivers don't just pay for the running costs of the car, they pay to outbid everyone else who wants their seat. With less seats and the same number of drivers, they're going to have to pay more to be one of the high bidders. Now maybe Brawn has a wonderfully fair system dreamed up to stop that from happening, but I'll have to see that to believe it.

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PF1 PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 14 podiums): 2017: 19th| 2016: 3rd| 2015: 4th
PF1 TOP THREE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): 2017: 2nd| 2015: 1st
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 United States Champion! (world #2)

Virtually every F3 Euro event and over the years many FR 3.5, yes. But that is not the point.

Both series represented accessible and affordable monoposto racing around Europe - something that GP2 and GP3 don't. Part of the fascination of motor racing is having races in your area (broadley) at affordable prices and accessible time schedules. This is also drawing new fans in. Now, if virtually every monoposto series outside the super expensive and very restricted F1 bill is dead that is a loss for the fans IMO. In addition to what mds, exidiron and mikey rightfully argue.

First of all you are guessing that the costs will go up, it was only last season that there were concerns about the costs in F3.

https://www.autosport.com/f3/news/12514 ... budget-cap

Then like I've said before Brawn has said that he wants the best drivers not the ones with the most money and they have it in their power to control such things.

All the things you point out are the opposite to what Brawn wants so something somewhere doesn't add up.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

It's a loss for spectators, how many spectate and are they stand alone events or support races?

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Yep, and what doesn't add up is that I don't think Brawn can achieve a darned one of those things he wants.

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PF1 PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 14 podiums): 2017: 19th| 2016: 3rd| 2015: 4th
PF1 TOP THREE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): 2017: 2nd| 2015: 1st
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 United States Champion! (world #2)

If the stated reason for Ticktum chosing Euro F3 over GP3 for 2018 - see respective autosport.com article - is true, another reason for more variety in feeder categories surfaces: apparently, he cannot do GP3 because he has Red Bull simulator duties on F1 race weekends ...

A shame about FR3.5, less is not more in this case...

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Thank you Nico - You´re the champ!

PF1 Pick 10 Competition 2016: CHAMPION (2 wins, 8 podiums)

The World Series events offered a weekend full of racing comprised of FR1.6, FR2.0, FR3.5, Clio Cup, Megane Trophy, R.S. 01 cup (not all every single year and/or event) at very low cost or even free. I attended the Zolder and Spa events multiple times, there were huge crowds and it was fantastic.

Of course it's a loss for spectators. How could one even debate this?

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

I don't think that would be a deal breaker if there was no other option?

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

So it's not a stand alone event but has plenty of filler events that appease a variety of fans, was FR3.5 really worth watching this season, did they still get the same amount of fans?

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

FR3.5 was the big shot series though. That's why a lot of people actually went there. Big, fast, loud cars.



Of course not, but that's irrelevant. The damage was done a few years ago.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

A question for Pokerman: What is bad about drivers having FR3.5 as a competitive series, what harm did it do?

Yes. F2 will always be doomed. If someone is good driver, there is good chance she/he will get some serious backing and sponsors would rather skip F2 in favour of F1 if F2 is very expensive. We need mutliple cheap series. Beside that points need to be based on how quick the cars and the drivers in some series are, because this all about drivers getting used to racing in very quick cars. If this is all about promoting some FIA series it doesn't make much sense and nobody should be surpised that F1 teams try to game current system.

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The wreck causers all have Super Licenses - for causing a incident their license should be suspended.

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And what do you know, he was. It's a matter of opinion whether his age had anything to do with it, but he definitely went through a period of dangerous driving in 2016, and he still shows glimpses of it every now and then.

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PF1 PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 14 podiums): 2017: 19th| 2016: 3rd| 2015: 4th
PF1 TOP THREE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): 2017: 2nd| 2015: 1st
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 United States Champion! (world #2)

Virtually every 'new to F1' driver has been dangerous - be they 16 -26 or 36 in their first year.

No one has F1 experience until they experience F1.

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Is there a super license info website?

I found a great article on F1Fanatic that compiled a list of eligible drivers for 2017. (Dated Jan 2017)
https://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/01/23/ ... r-f1-2017/

However is there a better place to keep an eye on this stuff other than compiling a list yourself?

(I was thinking that Williams didn’t have many options for 2018, but there were 38 guys that could have started for 2017 and that is a heap more than I thought there would be)

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It wasn't a route into F1 for drivers who couldn't afford to get into F1 in the first place so what was the point of it, being Champion did nothing for either Wickens or Frijns, so for me it just fragmented the drivers.

As for the spectator side of it did FR3.5 really pull in big crowds on its own merit, I remember watching British F3 in it's hey day along with one man and his dog, the only time I saw decent crowds was when it was a support event.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Whereas Brawn has said that the doorway to F1 in the future will be only be through F2.

_________________
PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

Which is not true.

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PF1 Pick 10 Competition

2013: 5th Place
2014: Champion
2015: 3rd Place
2016: 4th Place
2017: 9th Place
2018: Currently 2nd

Wins: Canada 2018, Abu Dhabi 2017
Podiums: (6)

How do you know it did nothing for them?

It did nothing for them in terms of F1 but both have gone on to have careers in motorsport. Would they have if they had to stop after F4 because they ran out of money? More to motorsport than F1.

Great plan. It's junior driver for a big team or bust then in future for young talents that aren't privately backed.

FR3.5 was the main event of the Renault World Series. So yes.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

To be fair, that's not really any different from how it already is. Without sponsorship or the backing of a big team, you've got zero chance of making it to F1.

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PF1 PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 14 podiums): 2017: 19th| 2016: 3rd| 2015: 4th
PF1 TOP THREE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): 2017: 2nd| 2015: 1st
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 United States Champion! (world #2)

But you do at least have some time to earn yourself a spot on a junior team.

Well, FR 3.5 has not done worse in producing F1 racers than GP2, so that isn't really an argument for one or the other series.
Certainly, more talents have made their skills noticed/recognized in Euro F3 than in GP3.

But at least for my point of view this is misleading anyway:
1. FR 3.5 and Euro F3 were/are delivering great motor racing, so for me as a fan it is a loss seeing them go.
2. As feeder catergories they "feeded" many categories, not only F1 and provided opportunities for young drivers to make a living out of motor racing. F4 will not do the job and GP2/3 are too expensive and too F1 focused to serve the needs for other avenues of professional racing.
3. I generally disklike monoculture - of tracks, teams, career pathways, you name it. With feeders solely on F1 bill, motor racing is becoming less interesting and less attractive.
4. I hear Brawn's words but I cannot see how the most expensive series (GP2/3) with the least competitive formats (reversed grids, gimmicks, etc.) improve the selection of real talent. So, the words are not enough for me. Quite in contrast, I smell a ladder where the more marketable drivers can be promoted into F1, at the expense of talent if necessary. Of course, I may be wrong.
5. It is a loss to live spectators all around Europe and it further reduces the chance of attracting newer, younger audiences to live racing.

I think that sums up my point of view on this.

Well put Paolo_Lasardi. All excellent points.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

I wasn't sure if this goes here, or in the feeder series thread...

https://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2017/12/20/ ... nce-rules/

Revisions to the Formula One super licence rules will make it harder for drivers who have not participated in Formula Two to take part in practice sessions.

From the 2018 F1 season new free practice super licences will only be issued to drivers who have done either six Formula Two events or gathered 25 superlicence points during the previous three years.

Thoughts? It seems awfully pointless to me. If they want to restrict the ability of pay drivers to do FP sessions, why not base it solely on superlicense points? Why the arbitrary number of six F2 events?

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PF1 PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 14 podiums): 2017: 19th| 2016: 3rd| 2015: 4th
PF1 TOP THREE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): 2017: 2nd| 2015: 1st
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 United States Champion! (world #2)

Well if you ask me, the possibility to obtain the FP licence by having done six F2 events actually seems designed for, instead of against, pay drivers. Gelael would qualify (if he didn't have one already), for example, despite not having anything close to the needed 25 points.

Still think it's a rubbish idea. This does not ensure that only good drivers will drive F1 cars. By definition then it is pointless.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

Previously I believe anyone could do an FP session provided a team agreed to run them, so it is somewhat more restricted.

A cynical person might note that it doesn't do anything to restrict pay drivers... but it does make sure that if a pay driver wants to run in FP, he must have paid the FIA by taking part in their F2 series.

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PF1 PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 14 podiums): 2017: 19th| 2016: 3rd| 2015: 4th
PF1 TOP THREE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): 2017: 2nd| 2015: 1st
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 United States Champion! (world #2)

Any system that would have restricted the like's of Russell from completing a mid season test but welcomes Gelael with open arms is clearly not setup for sporting reasons.

Yet more garbage from Todt.

Not that I disagree with the sentiment, but I believe Russell would have been eligible for an FP session anyway: within the last three years he had 3rd position in European F3 (20 points) from 2016 and 6th position in European F3 (6 points) from 2015, for a total of 26 points. It is in fact pretty easy to accumulate 25 points over the rolling three-year period assuming a driver is competitive in any accredited FIA series.

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PF1 PICK 10 COMPETITION (4 wins, 14 podiums): 2017: 19th| 2016: 3rd| 2015: 4th
PF1 TOP THREE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (No Limit Excedrin Racing): 2017: 2nd| 2015: 1st
AUTOSPORT GP PREDICTOR: 2017 United States Champion! (world #2)

Ah fair enough then.

Oh it is - previously they had to do the 300km thing IIRC.
But the thing is that it seems like a very two-faced implementation, and intentionally so: while they try to act like they did this to ensure quality drivers will do the drives, they added in the obvious pay-driver route.

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Go Vandoorne - Verstappen - Vettel!

Ouch... They seem to be desperate to make F2 relevant. FIA should make some ranking system like in chess where they calculate an estimate of the strength of the driver, based on his or her performance versus other drivers. Speed of car should also be taken into account. Based on some mathematical formula FIA then calculates points for drivers.

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