Bahrain

It seems to me the rule-makers have themselves in a hell of a knot. They need all the aero rubbish or, with the power available the damn things could go through the sound-barrier on the straights. However, once downforce is the dominant factor you are never going to have a good race because you transfer the aero advantage from the follower to the leader.

The racing could be way closer if they dropped the engine capacity to perhaps even 1500cc, put a fuel flow rate restriction/total fuel load limit in place so the more efficient engine had an advantage. Take the muzzle off the KERs development so the teams could freely use all the energy they could harvest. Put tyre competition back into the equation and suddenly we have a contest where the technical development is in a direction (efficiency) that we are all in need of and the racing could have classic F1 appeal. However, given what all the top teams have invested in wind-tunnels and CFD software there is no chance!

I have a pal who worked at Brabham in the late 70's under the kind, caring gaze of the lovely B.E. He has lots to tell about him - all of it four-lettered.