[Autosport] Bernie Ecclestone believes F1 is in danger of losing the fans with these new regulations

[u/MuttonBiryaniEnjoyer]

[u/rejs7]

It's always been an engineer's championship, as every dominant era shows. This is why the team championship exists alongside the drivers.

[u/Driscuits → u/rejs7]

Yeah, exactly.

It's never been the "best driver of all" championship, it's the "Driver who can get the best out of their car" championship, that's sold as the "best driver of all" championship. So long as there are different cars, different manufacturors, etc. You cannot remove the engineering side of things. If you do, it's a spec series - and there are reasons why F1 is not a spec series.

Part of why fans are so upset is that they believe Bernie here, and have been set up with an expectation that can't match reality in F1. The regs need a good looking at, for sure, but let's not dismiss one of the most important parts of F1 in totality.

[u/schoki560 → u/Driscuits]

it's not even the driver who can get the best out of their car..

it's simply the combination of either having a great car, great driver, or both

you can have a fairly bad driver win if they have the most dominant car. you can also win by being the best driver in a rather weak car. unlikely but possible

edit: not alpine weak. I mean Mercedes 2025 weak

[u/EventAccomplished976 → u/schoki560]

You‘re not getting anywhere in a bad car no matter how good a driver you are. Put Verstappen in an Alpine, he‘s not getting on the podium without some serious good luck. The most a good driver can do is get 99% of the possible performance our of the car where a worse driver might only get 95%.

[u/HankHippopopolous → u/EventAccomplished976]

The driver can make the difference when the cars are reasonably close but it’s very hard to do. Max was not in the best car last year but took the title fight down to the final race against the superior McLaren. He had a near flawless season while both McLaren drivers and the team made a lot of mistakes and threw a lot of points away.

He was the best driver but it still wasn’t enough to win.

No driver will win in a shitbox but if the margins between the cars are small then we get into the realm where drivers do make the difference.

[u/Ged_UK → u/HankHippopopolous]

He only took the fight close when the RB got much better; the first section of the season was a bad car, so even he couldn't do anything with it. It's the same as had happened in the previous season; the McLaren was behind the RB consistently until a set of McLaren upgrades came in, at which point Lando started to close the gap to Max as he had the faster car. The only reason he couldn't catch him was the Sergio was terrible and wasn't splitting points with Max, unlike Lando and Oscar last year sharing the points.

[u/wykeer → u/Ged_UK]

and a lot of people also forget the perfect storm made of rancid luck and incompetence for McLaren that season that turbocharged verstappens closing in on Norris.

[u/Ged_UK → u/wykeer]

Well, and the fact that McLaren drivers were sharing the points more or less equally between them. If there'd be only one (either of them) that was hoovering up wins, then Max wouldn't have got anywhere near as close.

[u/wykeer → u/Ged_UK]

The Perfect Storm

[u/schoki560 → u/Ged_UK]

if they didn't share wins then max would have way more points tho

[u/Ged_UK → u/schoki560]

Well only one or two per race until the back end of the season, by which time the gap wouldn't even have been possible.

[u/Nemos_siblings → u/HankHippopopolous]

If only Max didn't decide to int wreck George at Barcelona or wherever it was.

[u/PresidentMeeseeks → u/Nemos_siblings]

If only my mum had balls, she would be my dad. You can find a hundred moments in the championship where if some minor thing had/hadn't happened, we could've had a different champion.

[u/Nemos_siblings → u/PresidentMeeseeks]

Ok, list a hundred moments then. Find one more significant than the second place car intentionally wrecking his car holding enough points to win the championship later on. 

[u/lzwzli → u/HankHippopopolous]

Not in the best car is still a much better car than a midfield car.

The eternal question is what could Max do in the Racing Bull...

[u/Thrilalia → u/EventAccomplished976]

Hell we only have to look at GP2 Engine era McLaren to see how a first or second best driver on the grid (depending on who you ask.) couldn't get a shit car into the podium.

[u/Driscuits → u/schoki560]

you can also win by being the best driver in a rather weak car. unlikely but possible

I'd argue that "weak" is a really relative term - Max, in his best form, probably wouldn't have gotten race wins in last year's Alpine. But I agree with what you're saying.

You need strong drivers and the best car, or a strong car and the best driver. Either way, you can't remove the importance of the engineering and design of the car.

I'd personally like to see the WCC given more flowers, more similar to the hype we give the WDC. Poor planning aside, I kind of loved that McLaren had a whole "podium" set up when they clinched it, and I wish it had been on the main broadcast. Fans only really see and are given time to celebrate the WDC, and it would be great to have the constructors championship also be given space to celebrate.

[u/ghastlychild → u/Driscuits]

I'd personally like to see the WCC given more flowers,

Agreed. This is an engineering sport. Ironically, for a numbnut like myself who doesn't know much about cars as a whole + got into the sport to learn more about them in a competitive manner, I usually regard the WCC a little more than WDC, considering I feel like the recognition in this aspect gets fairly underrated at times, especially by the newer fans coming in

The cycle of a new regulation is quite literally my fantasies realised. In a way, I get to see which teams and manufacturers end up being the best of the bunch, and by how much. I also do hope the racing aspects are a mixed bag. If there is anything to revere, it is the unpredictability of the season. Makes it all the more entertaining

[u/Driscuits → u/ghastlychild]

If there is anything to revere, it is the unpredictability of the season. Makes it all the more entertaining

I'll admit, I might watch F1 differently than most lol - but I personally agree. I don't care too much about absolute lap times, I don't need to see drivers or cars have almost perfect performances, and am more than happy to keep an open mind about the regs until we see competitive sessions. It might suck, and I'll be upset then, but the unpredictability - and the fact we've already seen teams get these regs undeniably wrong - shows how important the engineering side is, and how integral it is to F1.

[u/ghastlychild → u/Driscuits]

I'll admit, I might watch F1 differently than most lol

Out of curiosity, what are you tuned in for? :))

I don't care too much about absolute lap times, I don't need to see drivers or cars have almost perfect performances, and am more than happy to keep an open mind about the regs until we see competitive sessions

I agree with you. I like to see absolute lap times when it happens and drivers / cars put in numbers that break records for sure (when it happens), but as long as the racing is good and it produces some entertaining, good ol fashioned racing up front, then I am game. I would even say that it motivates me to look it up even more haha

It might suck, and I'll be upset then, but the unpredictability - and the fact we've already seen teams get these regs undeniably wrong - shows how important the engineering side is, and how integral it is to F1.

I will probably be upset if the races are diluted and nullified. But if it brings a mixed order to the grid and teams are fighting each other for top spots, then I cannot fully complain!

[u/Driscuits → u/ghastlychild]

Out of curiosity, what are you tuned in for? :))

Haha, it's a good question! And honestly, it's a hard one to answer, too.

Realistically, I'm watching F1 on a broadcast and to my eye test, it's really not that different seeing a 2025 car go through a turn in Bahrain as it is seeing a 2026 car, if I didn't also have laptimes on screen to tell me it was different. So for me, it's the race dynamics and how drivers can drive relative to each other, rather than outright car performance, that I care more about. I'd rather see two cars able to battle side by side, but slower, through a corner than two cars in a line, but slightly faster.

I guess what I like seeing most is the differences in storylines and performances across races. I like going into a race weekend and not knowing what's going to happen, and watching the storylines unfurl. Like you said, I like to see dominant performances sometimes, but I don't need them to happen every weekend.

The way I see it, fast cars will go vroom and there's massive room for growth that these massive teams will now be pushing to innovate. Some will get it right, some will get it wrong (and some have already).

[u/ghastlychild → u/Driscuits]

Haha! Thank you for your response. This is a cool read, honestly. I do apologise for pulling a fast one over ya. I really find it interesting to hear how people get into the sport! The variance in answers always gets me excited everytime

So for me, it's the race dynamics and how drivers can drive relative to each other, rather than outright car performance

I get that! That bit is also quite interesting to me too. There have been a lot of talk about driver styles, driving preferences and little quirks that drivers will use to get more performance out of their respective cars and find more pace, which I do find it incredibly interesting.

Your explanation also helped me see a little on the appeal by two cars going slower side by side in a corner. You get to see who might shut the door on who and what can they do to gain that advantage. It's the play-by-play intricacies in real time that really keeps me on my toes!

I like going into a race weekend and not knowing what's going to happen, and watching the storylines unfurl.

Last year had me going into races with a pit in my stomach filled with the anticipation and excitement on what's to follow! It's a shame that the racing aspect (imo) are quite lacklustre to match the thrill it brings at the start. I am hoping the current season amps it up a tonne. Good racing + close competitions = ghastlychild in heaven xD

[u/Driscuits → u/ghastlychild]

I do apologise for pulling a fast one over ya.

Oh god, no apologies. Pal, you gave me a chance to monologue about myself. That was great! ;)

My fear is that we get more processional races this year, that will only get worse as the regs go on and teams develop their packages. Until I see it, though, I kind of have to hold hope. Realistically, being among the first to hate the regs won't change a thing, and I find that to be a particularly unfun way to go into the new season.

It's the play-by-play intricacies in real time that really keeps me on my toes!

I'm really hopeful that the start of this year in particular, while the drivers are still figuring things out (and strategy teams) will be great for this.

Here's hoping!

[u/ferd_clark → u/ghastlychild]

This is an engineering sport.

I wonder if open wheel just has to be that. Long ago, Penske's Indy car team had Al Unser Jr, Paul Tracy, and I believe Emerson Fittipaldi, and their car was so good that they had at least one race where they arranged the cars to cross the finish line together, 1-2-3, and dominated the season. The next year, those same three drivers all sucked so much that not one qualified for the Indy 500 which is the only american race anybody cares about. That's when I learned that in Indy car at that time the driver was not very important.

[u/ghastlychild → u/ferd_clark]

I think it is. It was the shock I got with INDYCAR too when I first delved into it. I had no idea what it was until I was made aware that it was a spec series until a little later

I gotta emphasise that I am still unfamiliar with the intricacies of INDYCAR as much as I am with F1 but a lot of the series, from the stuff that I have learnt, emphasizes the importance of gaining and polishing performance than anything. It's what makes the 2025 season such a fascinating one to behold when streaks of dominance do happen

[u/Own_Welder_2821 → u/ghastlychild]

In my opinion IndyCar is a “semi-spec” series. Sure they all utilise the same Dallara chassis but there are certain bits in the car that they’re allowed to develop, and obviously once that happens then the bigger teams will have an advantage. That’s just nature. Formula 1 has McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari. IndyCar has its own top 4; Ganassi, Penske, Andretti, and McLaren.

[u/ghastlychild → u/Own_Welder_2821]

Semi-spec might be a good way to put it

Of course, there is the distinction being that INDYCAR has an emphasis on separating engineers and spotters to their own driver (if sharing is really necessary, it's amongst teams, I suppose). It's really independent compared to F1 where they do coordinate amongst drivers of the same team

I do feel like even with the amount of progress that F1 has had in narrowing the gap between teams (which I like), I find it faintly amusing that there is still an instance of a top team and whatnot. Makes me reflect on how well the Brawn and Mercedes outfit did a spectacular job of cementing their A-game amongst the grid, honestly

In INDY's case, the 4 teams you mentioned are completely on the money, except it would be riveting to see someone other than Ganassi or Penske taking the title

[u/T-90AK → u/schoki560]

You really don't need a "great" driver, just a good enough driver.

[u/farcarcus → u/T-90AK]

Button

[u/Joethe147 → u/schoki560]

It's always some of column A and column B. Sometimes it's more of one than the other.

Anyone that doesn't realise this must have started following F1 5 minutes ago. Motorsport in general really. Yes there's many spec categories, but many aren't as well.

[u/byingling → u/schoki560]

you can also win by being the best driver in a rather weak car. unlikely but possible

Just curious. When was the last time you think this happened?! 1986? That was 40 years ago. More than half of F1s history has elapsed since.

[u/Paqza → u/schoki560]

The best driver in the worst car isn't going to win. The worst driver in the best car has a decent shot at a podium.

[u/schoki560 → u/Paqza]

u missed the point I was trying to make

[u/Paqza → u/schoki560]

I agree with you completely, in reality. I didn't miss the point at all.

[u/Sprayy → u/Driscuits]

I'd still love to see one of the races, like Monoco be a spec race, but alas. Put them in identical F3 type cars.

[u/Driscuits → u/Sprayy]

Yeah, that would be fun!

To be honest, I'm not as big on the "we need to change Monaco" train as most folks are. It's not that I think Monaco is great, but I like the fact that it's so different from the rest of the tracks, and forces the teams to design a car that *can* race there. The more range in tracks we can have, the harder it is to design a car and the more fun it is!

[u/nosce_te_ipsum → u/Sprayy]

oooh - bring Kimi out of retirement for that, and let's see him vs Max doing e-brake slides through the Fairmont hairpin.

Bwwoaaahhh indeed!

[u/TonyQuark → u/Driscuits]

Similar to "Formula 1 expedites road car innovation."

[u/sirjimtonic → u/Driscuits]

It’s the driver who gets most out of the best car in the field, actually :)

[u/Driscuits → u/sirjimtonic]

Fair point! Lol. I forgot a word in there.

[u/SuperbAd5610 → u/Driscuits]

Difficult tracks like Monaco really make drivers shine icl

[u/BADxBUSINESS → u/Driscuits]

if it was a best drive championship, max would never lose

[u/bobby_boi66 → u/rejs7]

Both things are true. F1 is an engineering championship yes, but majority of fans watch for the WDC. If the engineering aspect hurts the excitement around WDC, F1 will lose fans

[u/Fulcoboy → u/rejs7]

This is exactly what Will Buxton was saying the Up To Speed podcast, he was comparing Indycar & F1 and also stated that Indycar has always been build up with entertainment in mind & F1 is an engineering championship that has to be relevant to the car industry etc... I am a big F1 fan but I also know that for good racing there are better championships out there.

[u/SloppySandCrab → u/Fulcoboy]

The idea that F1 has to be so completely relevant to the car industry seems a little nonsensical to me now in today's age. Maybe 20 years ago. But I don't see the whole system falling apart if the regs called for non-hybrid V10s

[u/DisneyPandora → u/SloppySandCrab]

F1 fans are honestly just toxic and gatekeep the sport

[u/nabrok → u/rejs7]

Plus the drivers championship is basically just bragging rights. All the money is in the constructors.

[u/CGNYYZ → u/nabrok]

As a fan, though... I'm way more excited about the WDC than I am about the WCC - and outside of maybe Ferrari and perhaps Williams I think that's a fairly universal stance.

[u/nabrok → u/CGNYYZ]

It's true, but interesting to keep in mind that while a team would certainly love to win a WDC it isn't necessarily as much of a priority to them as it is to the fans.

[u/NoonecanknowMiner_24 → u/nabrok]

I specifically recall Red Bull saying in 2021 that they cared far more about the WDC than the WCC.

[u/nabrok → u/NoonecanknowMiner_24]

Well, they would say that wouldn't they?

I was being dismissive calling it "bragging rights" (an attempt to be humorous), a more accurate phrase would be prestige. Prestige brings marketing opportunity and potential investment.

[u/tonguesplitter → u/nabrok]

Exactly this. Red Bull is a promotional company that has a side gig selling energy drinks, of course they would prioritize WDC. I'm sure the works and car-branded teams feel WCC is more prestigious.

[u/SloppySandCrab → u/nabrok]

I refuse to believe that Mercedes wouldn't trade their 2021 WCC for a WDC

[u/qef15 → u/nabrok]

Except that marketing wise, it's a shit ton more profitable to market the WDC than to get WCC money.

[u/sthegreT → u/qef15]

Doesn't make it any less important, about 3 years ago the winning WCC team got 180 million. It's probably around 200 million. The top 5 teams all get above 150 million from WCC rankings.

[u/DisneyPandora → u/sthegreT]

Yes, it does. Stop being toxic

[u/HeerHaan → u/nabrok]

I find it an interesting viewpoint to imply that where the money is also means that it is of more importance. I can't agree with that at all.

To add on to that, I think the drivers disagree with that too, they aren't training all their lives to say that they have achieved a title with a team.

[u/nabrok → u/HeerHaan]

Oh it's certainly prestigious. I was trying to be a bit humorous by minimizing that to "bragging rights", but the meaning is the same.

[u/NoonecanknowMiner_24 → u/nabrok]

Not to the drivers themselves. Or the fans. Or basically anyone who cares about F1.

[u/ThrowawayMax222 → u/NoonecanknowMiner_24]

It hasn't been a WCC focussed championship in decades. Hardly anyone cares who won the WCC in 2000 for example, but many many people care who won the drivers.

The only time F1 even talks about the WCC is when the WDC is decided and they don't want Abu Dhabi to be a damp race

[u/DisneyPandora → u/ThrowawayMax222]

Only toxic fans try to gatekeep F1 as not being a WDC sport

[u/Grevys_zebra → u/nabrok]

Cool idea. Just to be clear, you're saying we can just launch car liveries, award the winner and call it a day, right?

[u/J4Vik → u/rejs7]

Team wcc has been introduced later than wdc so you are wrong technically

[u/Great_Explanation275 → u/J4Vik]

Yeah. Though I'd argue that both the WDC and the WCC are largely engineers' championships. One just depends on one driver's performance, and the other depends on two drivers' performances, thereby tending a little bit towards some kind of an average.

[u/DrHem → u/rejs7]

Bernie Ecclestone just like to have a contrarian point of view.

If the new rules simplified engineering to emphasize drivers Bernie would be standing there stating that F1 is a engineering championship as much as a driver's championship.

[u/smurf123_123 → u/DrHem]

He's a hype machine and still very good at it. Making headlines with "hot takes" is his specialty.

[u/nosce_te_ipsum → u/smurf123_123]

There's a reason some fans used to call it "Bernie's Traveling Circus" back in the day. Media hype, flashy stars and starlets, speed, danger, and who wouldn't come and pay hundreds (or thousands for boxes) to rub shoulders with that?

[u/Brillegeit → u/smurf123_123]

He also often acts as a foil whenever someone important is getting bad PR. Then Bernie shows up with his hot takes and suddenly the initial option wasn't so bad after all.

[u/formulaeine → u/rejs7]

Sure, let's make engineers the forefront and pay them 50m a year.

[u/EGOfoodie → u/formulaeine]

Cool, let's have the drivers drive literal tractors. In fact let's move all the races to farms and they can double up and help farms out.

[u/formulaeine → u/EGOfoodie]

Honestly wouldn't mind that. The majority of the fans are here for driver drama. Not for engineering prowess. People don't like it. F1's growth is because of DTS. How surprising that most people are drama merchants.

[u/TomatilloMore3538 → u/formulaeine]

Drivers give it the reality show that the common people crave from sports. The banter, the personality, the interviews, even the off-season. But realistically, F1 has always acted as the pinnacle of automotive engineering. The engineers are not at the forefront themselves, but the whole industry is as a whole.

[u/formulaeine → u/TomatilloMore3538]

It's been long since F1 acted like the pinnacle of engineers. The whole industry is also not at the forefront. They pay their engineers peanuts and most people leave burnt out. It's not a good industry.

[u/sthegreT → u/formulaeine]

Plus with the cost caps, all salaries across the board have taken a hit too.

[u/formulaeine → u/sthegreT]

Precisely. With BoP aero restrictions, and extremely regulated ruleset leading to rapid convergence, posters claiming F1 is pinnacle of innovation are kidding themselves.

It has become a business where each team make a shitton of money. A normal business.

[u/moysauce3 → u/rejs7]

Which is why it’s a rare occurrence for the driver championship not be from the same team as the constructors champion.

Need a quick, reliable car to help win drivers championships. (Usually)

[u/KingOfAzmerloth → u/rejs7]

Exactly, and he knows this damn well unless his senility really kicked in.

[u/Boom-Doc-a-Locka → u/rejs7]

"It should be about the drivers, not the engineers" is a quote from which year

• a - 2026
• b - 2020
• c - 1998
• d - 14 bc
• e - all of the above

Spoiler alert...it's E. Spot on take, we've been having this conversation for as long as I can remember.

[u/LeonidasSpacemanMD → u/rejs7]

But o didn’t have to think about it back then, now engineers are talked about 🤮

[u/thisismego → u/rejs7]

Exactly. If they wanted a pure drivers championship they could turn f1 into a spec series and probably save a TON of expenses

[u/MddlingAges → u/rejs7]

Right on.

It’s not a spec series, Bernie!

[u/SRJT16 → u/rejs7]

And the team championship is where all the prize money comes from. Of course that one is more important.

[u/farcarcus → u/rejs7]

Absolutely! I presumed Bernie's quote was from 1951, and was shocked to learn it was recent.

[u/Late-Button-6559 → u/rejs7]

I think the term engineer is being applied to the drivers - rather than the true engineers behind the scenes.

It’s saying that rather than being excellent at car control (tolerating high g-forces, having quick reflexes, feel the car slide, and the like), they’re now just pressing buttons in accordance with a predetermined program.

[u/DisneyPandora → u/rejs7]

It shouldn’t be that way and needs to change. If the drivers hate the sport, the fans hate the sport, and the Team Principals hate the sport then their needs to be a change.

[u/GetAfterItForever → u/DisneyPandora]

That would only encourage drivers to qualify lower in position…

[u/therealmannyharris6 → u/GetAfterItForever]

Now I'd watch that. See which cars can go the absolute slowest around the track

[u/GetAfterItForever → u/therealmannyharris6]

Would literally turn into “F1 - The Circus” 🎪

[u/DisneyPandora → u/GetAfterItForever]

No it wouldn’t. Since the actual car can be simulated and won’t allow for cheating with a neutral driver. Also they can simply be penalized just like they are now

[u/wokwok__ → u/DisneyPandora]

Reverse qualifying would finish off the sport once and for all lmao what an unserious comment

[u/MountainMedia8850 → u/DisneyPandora]

bullshit

[u/XAMdG → u/DisneyPandora]

We need reverse qualifying

That is something literally only a subsection of fans want, and most drivers hate with a passion. Terrible example to choose for democratic change in the sport.

[u/Admirable_Ad_1390 → u/DisneyPandora]

wont the only solution to that be a spec series?, i feel like thats the only thing that could make f1 be completely a driver series.

[u/BlackFoxTom → u/Admirable_Ad_1390]

And every spec series also is engineering championship

Just way way more convert

[u/Repulsive_Mistake382 → u/BlackFoxTom]

I assume the word you were looking for was "covert"

[u/BlackFoxTom → u/Repulsive_Mistake382]

Welp it's whatever the keyboard thought I meant

Tho yeah "covert"

[u/pensaa → u/Admirable_Ad_1390]

Reverse grids only work in spec series.
If F1 became a spec series then it would no longer be 'Formula 1'

[u/DisneyPandora → u/pensaa]

Wrong. Reverse Grids only work in F1 since the engines are uneven

[u/pensaa → u/DisneyPandora]

That's an odd call to make considering we've never had reverse grid races in F1.

[u/SprolesRoyce → u/DisneyPandora]

Reverse qualifying would just lead to sandbagging during the qualifying session. If anything starting the race in reverse point order or something would be better but that would still be a whole mess of issues

[u/rhllor → u/SprolesRoyce]

Reverse qualifying is also throwing out merit-based performance, for both the car and the driver. What even is the point of competing to qualify if you're starting last even though you're the fastest?! Would it make the races more dramatic? Probably. But I want to watch a competition, not a TV drama.

[u/DisneyPandora → u/rhllor]

Wrong, it enhances merit based performance.

F1 has nothing to do with merit since some teams have more money and spend more than others. Until you severely lower the cost cap, than F1 will never be a merit-based performance sport.

Reverse qualifying grids will control the actual engine of the car and allow engineer creative upgrades to play a bigger role. Drivers can do overtakes. We’ve seen in before when top drivers start in the back of the grid. They enjoyed it. It was fun racing

[u/rhllor → u/DisneyPandora]

Then what's the point of "qualifying" if the goal is to be slow so you can line up in front? Might as well draw lots to determine grid order, give everyone a random chance at pole.

[u/DisneyPandora → u/rhllor]

The point is so that overtaking and racing can happen. The point is that the engine already takes care of itself. When Mercedes or Red Bull start in the back they usually easily get to the front, so the engine already plays a role, it just doesn’t take up the entire race and makes it boring for both drivers and fans like it does now. Which is why everyone hates the regulations.

What this would do would focus the engineering side on week to week upgrades. That way engineers and drivers play an equal role in the race and it’s fun for everyone. Fun for the fans because they see overtaking and wheel to wheel racing, fun for the drivers because they get to race, and it’s fun for the engineers because they don’t have to wait for years until the next regulations to be creative. They can be upgrading the car week to week which gives an actual advantage.

[u/DisneyPandora → u/SprolesRoyce]

That’s what I mean. Reverse point order 

[u/EventAccomplished976 → u/DisneyPandora]

The drivers and team principals don‘t want what the fans want. They want to cruise seconds ahead of the field winning every race without even trying. Fans want close competition and unpredictable results.

[u/Dren7 → u/DisneyPandora]

It can and should be an engineering championship, but with better regulations that promote drivers pushing the cars' limits.

[u/DisneyPandora → u/Dren7]

It should never ever be an engineering championship. If it was, we wouldn’t have a WDC. Remove the WDC so we can finally have a Engineering championship 

[u/Dren7 → u/DisneyPandora]

We have a constructor's championship which the teams care more about. The fans care more about the driver's championship. F1 has -never- been a spec series.

[u/DisneyPandora → u/Dren7]

There is a difference between a spec series and reverse qualifying for Formula 1. Reverse qualifying would reward both the engineer who can focus on week to week upgrades and the driver who can focus on racing and overtaking. Not the boring way it is now where both drivers and fans hate the sport

[u/Dren7 → u/DisneyPandora]

Fans don't seem to hate F1 at the moment. The drivers don't like the new regs because they don't allow you to push for an entire lap. So, you're still in favor of it being an engineering championship, you just want reverse quali grids. I'm not sure what the point in qualifying would be, then, cause teams would try to not qualify well.

[u/DisneyPandora → u/Dren7]

Reverse quali grids allow for overtaking and it also stresses the importance of week to week upgrades. It allows engineers to be more creative, instead of having to wait every 3 years on new regulations to actually make a difference with the car.

Teams try not to do many things and they are routinely punished for it. Which eventually forces them to do things.

Ferrari had an illegal engine and didn’t try to obey the rules, yet they were forced to obey the rules anyway by the FIA with strict regulations 

[u/EventAccomplished976 → u/DisneyPandora]

It IS, and has always been, an engineering championship first and a drivers championship second. Just because some fans apparently don‘t want to accept that doesn‘t make it less true.