Feedback: your letters
The difference in lap times at Silverstone between an F1 car and a Motogp bike is 30 seconds, yet which looks faster or appears to demand more skill?
Difference between speed and perception of speed
Kevin Turner’s Opinion (10 September) about F1 rulemakers versus F1 speeds rather misses the point that most of what are now called ‘fans’ don’t really care about the numbers, what they want to see are immensely skilled drivers doing the impossible on that high wire.
We want to experience drivers balancing everything on the limits of adhesion rather than just be told afterwards they had been. Silverstone Grand Prix circuit is a prime example with the difference in lap times between an F1 car and a Motogp bike being 30 seconds, yet which looks faster or appears to demand more skill?
Modern F1 has become a magnificent technical exercise but, sadly, resembles a video game when seen on TV. Those of us who are old enough to have seen Jim Clark in a Lotus 49, Ronnie Peterson in his Lotus 72 or Keke Rosberg in his Williams-honda with Lord knows how many horses under his foot, or even Lewis Hamilton winning by a minute in the wet in 2008, just knew we couldn’t do that… But now with a few more hours on our home simulator learning to press all the right buttons we are not so sure! David Mclaughlin
Nassau
What’s happened to the virtual safety car?
What has happened to the virtual safety car system? This maintained drivers in their positions, and the gaps they had already built. All cars would then be released at the same time, removing the temptation to gain an advantage on restart.
The Formula E ‘full-course yellow’ system is a similar idea. Are race organisers manipulating things just to provide a spectacle? As one of the drivers said, “Do they want to kill us?”. Stephen Lee
By email
Time for Grosjean to step aside?
Does it still say ‘All forms of motorsport are dangerous’ on the entry ticket? Because I think Gene Haas and Gunther Steiner’s 2021 driver line-up decision got easier at Mugello.
Easier because Romain Grosjean was bleating about someone else being stupid and making his car crash and suggesting others are trying to ‘kill us’ on the radio.
I think he needs to hang up his helmet because he has a habit of not seeing what is happening and likes to blame others for his errors and ultimately is driving in fear. All factors that will prevent him from performing at his peak and stopping him taking a car to its maximum performance. Justin Lyle
Glasgow
Alonso and Vettel have had their day in the sun
I read with dismay that Sebastian Vettel is to join Aston Martin next year. Like Fernando Alonso joining Renault, these aging multiple world champions are keeping young talented drivers out of F1. Apart from anything else, with the new cost-cutting regulations, and COVID-19 putting pressure on all the team finances, younger drivers will cost less.
Alonso and Vettel have had their day in the sun and should gracefully retire.
Rob Barnett
By email