How to make F1 interesting?

I have heard the claims of enough downforce to race on the roof. Has this ever been proven ? If not then definately something to go for. T make it nice and safe they could drive over a big bouncy castle so if the worst happens they can have some fun jumping up and down before returning to the pits.

Seriously though -
1 - manual gear change
2 - smaller "do what the hell you like to it" engines
3 - change aero rules to encourage closer racing and ultimately overtaking.
4 - points for the least fuel used in a race (crashing on the corner doesn't count!)
5 - Bumper car bumpers fromt and back. Let's have some whackin on the track!!!!!!!!! OK not so serious.

Why not, I like number 5!

Originally Posted by andrew.deackes

So just how can F1 become more interesting with more action on track than in the pits? Anybody got any bright ideas?

How about going back to basics, give the teams the same kind of technical rules they ran the cars to back in the 50's? Lots of overtaking back then!

Andy

Nev has offered the best solution so far.
F1 should be the least restricted and rule-bound of all the formulae.
There should be:
No restrictions on size of car, engine capacity, fuel capacity, type and number of tyres.
No restriction on team orders.

There should NOT be:
Traction control and anti-stall devices.
Pit-controlled telemetry

The races should be at least twice as long as they are now and have unrestricted pit stops.

Engines and any other components could be changed as often as needed.

The points scoring system should be changed back to one which rewards winning, rather than one which rewards cruising round for eigth place.

If you gave all the current manufacturers carte blanche to design the fastest racing car possible, for the present tracks (which are mistakenly called RACING circuits), they would all be remarkably similar. The most obvious difference would be wider slick tyres, and more powerful engines. However, a ban on huge media centres and private jets would more than compensate for the increased carbon footprint.

Nearly forgot; they should make the F1 finances totally transparent by an annual independent audit, and published for all to see.

Bernie should make more rain races!!!!
And it's easy to do, just move Brazilian, Chinese, Malaysian GP to summer and european to september and october

I've always liked the idea of having no restriction on engine type, but having a horsepower limit. Say 700bhp at the flywheel, but how you achive that 700bhp would be down to the designers, maybe a small turbo'd lump, or a large capacity N/A engine etc

No refueling or tyre changes, make the drivers overtake on the track, Prost was a master at conserving his car and tyres until the last quarter of a race, when others were sliding all over the place, it's ace to watch.

No little fins or wings to be added to the cars, just a choice of say 4-5similar body types a'la NASCAR.

Additional points for pole position and fastest lap, and a larger difference in points awarded between 1st-2nd-3rd etc, really reward drivers for that extra position, make them want it.

And qualifying should be a 1 hour/12 lap event as it was a few years back, but with the top 6 or 8 going on to a 1 lap superpole shootout.

to be honest, the season so far has been pretty interesting, far more so than I'd imagined it was going to be!

How about for the first ten laps the last car of each lap is disintigrated by a death ray....

I am sorry there is not much than can make F1 more exciting - its way better than counting sheep....


Chris

No rules on engine size, weight, etc.

Just a limit on the amount of fuel per race.