;)
Monday
Jun062022
THE "MONACO-SPEC" F1 CAR.
Monday, June 6, 2022 at 09:39AM By Peter M. DeLorenzo
Detroit. There has been a lot of hand-wringing going on in the racing press about the fate of the Monaco Grand Prix. The commentary ranges from "modern-day F1 cars have no business running there," or "the course needs to be drastically altered," to the idea that the historic venue should be simply eliminated altogether, that its time has long since passed. I'll say right up front that I believe the Monaco Grand Prix should continue, because if it were to be replaced by yet another antiseptically created modern-day circuit, it would be the death knell for F1 as we know it.
But let me get back to that first point about "modern-day F1 cars have no business running there." I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. Modern day F1 cars don't belong at Monaco. They've grown cumbersome and unwieldy in their technical overkill. My solution? F1 needs to prepare totally different cars for that one race. Now before everyone says that's exactly what F1 doesn't need - more cost - you can't tell me that with all of the money pissed away in F1 that a "Monaco-spec" car couldn't be created for the teams to run at a reasonable cost. Need I point out the rampant gross spending and waste in F1? I mean, the amount of cash the teams collectively blow on brake duct designs and on-grid cooling systems alone during the season would probably be enough to pay for one "Monaco-spec" car.
What would this "Monaco-spec" car look like? Without compromising current and future safety systems, I am talking about a radically shorter wheelbase car with a much narrower track. The front and rear wings would be simple in design and the teams wouldn't be allowed to mess with them. That means no wind-tunnel time except for the initial development of the car by those assigned by F1 to do so. And what about power? I am talking about normally-aspirated V8s with no hybrid systems. F1 would choose the source of those V8s, with the teams' input of course - although purpose-built engines would not be developed - in other words, off-the-shelf engines only. Whether it be Cosworth DFVs, Judd V8s, F5000-spec Chevrolet V8s or something similar, the idea would be that the teams would plug and play these engines, which would be sealed for the weekend. The drivers would still shift at the steering wheel, but no traction devices of any kind would be allowed. And the spec for the cars would be locked-in - with necessary tweaks, of course - for five years.
If this sounds like a throwback to a simpler time in F1, that's exactly what it is. The Monaco Grand Prix needs to continue, and as far as I'm concerned, the best way to do that would be for F1 to develop a specific car just for that one race. The series can afford it, the teams can afford it and the race deserves it. And I would bet that the drivers would be absolutely thrilled to get their hands on one of these "Monaco-spec" cars.
And that's the High-Octane Truth for this week.
Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 29, 1960. Stirling Moss in the No. 28 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Lotus 18-Climax on his way to winning the Monaco Grand Prix. Moss started from the pole and delivered the first F1 win for Lotus in his privateer Walker Racing entry. Only four cars were left running competitively at the end of the race. Bruce McLaren (No. 10 Cooper Car Company Cooper T53-Climax) was second and Phil Hill (No. 36 Scuderia Ferrari D246) finished third.
Detroit. There has been a lot of hand-wringing going on in the racing press about the fate of the Monaco Grand Prix. The commentary ranges from "modern-day F1 cars have no business running there," or "the course needs to be drastically altered," to the idea that the historic venue should be simply eliminated altogether, that its time has long since passed. I'll say right up front that I believe the Monaco Grand Prix should continue, because if it were to be replaced by yet another antiseptically created modern-day circuit, it would be the death knell for F1 as we know it.
But let me get back to that first point about "modern-day F1 cars have no business running there." I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. Modern day F1 cars don't belong at Monaco. They've grown cumbersome and unwieldy in their technical overkill. My solution? F1 needs to prepare totally different cars for that one race. Now before everyone says that's exactly what F1 doesn't need - more cost - you can't tell me that with all of the money pissed away in F1 that a "Monaco-spec" car couldn't be created for the teams to run at a reasonable cost. Need I point out the rampant gross spending and waste in F1? I mean, the amount of cash the teams collectively blow on brake duct designs and on-grid cooling systems alone during the season would probably be enough to pay for one "Monaco-spec" car.
What would this "Monaco-spec" car look like? Without compromising current and future safety systems, I am talking about a radically shorter wheelbase car with a much narrower track. The front and rear wings would be simple in design and the teams wouldn't be allowed to mess with them. That means no wind-tunnel time except for the initial development of the car by those assigned by F1 to do so. And what about power? I am talking about normally-aspirated V8s with no hybrid systems. F1 would choose the source of those V8s, with the teams' input of course - although purpose-built engines would not be developed - in other words, off-the-shelf engines only. Whether it be Cosworth DFVs, Judd V8s, F5000-spec Chevrolet V8s or something similar, the idea would be that the teams would plug and play these engines, which would be sealed for the weekend. The drivers would still shift at the steering wheel, but no traction devices of any kind would be allowed. And the spec for the cars would be locked-in - with necessary tweaks, of course - for five years.
If this sounds like a throwback to a simpler time in F1, that's exactly what it is. The Monaco Grand Prix needs to continue, and as far as I'm concerned, the best way to do that would be for F1 to develop a specific car just for that one race. The series can afford it, the teams can afford it and the race deserves it. And I would bet that the drivers would be absolutely thrilled to get their hands on one of these "Monaco-spec" cars.
And that's the High-Octane Truth for this week.
Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 29, 1960. Stirling Moss in the No. 28 R.R.C. Walker Racing Team Lotus 18-Climax on his way to winning the Monaco Grand Prix. Moss started from the pole and delivered the first F1 win for Lotus in his privateer Walker Racing entry. Only four cars were left running competitively at the end of the race. Bruce McLaren (No. 10 Cooper Car Company Cooper T53-Climax) was second and Phil Hill (No. 36 Scuderia Ferrari D246) finished third.
Editor's Note: You can access previous issues of AE by clicking on "Next 1 Entries" below. - WG
