What are your thoughts on A1 GP?

Question

I still prefer F1.

Answer 1

i love it, i think the idea of national race teams is great, i think the racing is good, and i also like that they race on different tracks,my only complaint is that the American team sucks, but its not meant to compete with f1, f1 will always be the #1 series

Answer 2

It's becoming a four-month version of the Macau GP. That November event is usually the last chance of the year for up-and-coming talent to show what they've got. Because F1 is in the off season, most of the team principals go there to watch it. Remember 1990, the first of Michael Scumbagger's countless examples of cheating, hitting the brakes in front of Hakkinen and causing MH to crash? Other talent such as Takuma Sato, Ayrton Senna, Andy Wallace, Jorg Muller, David Coulthard and many others have raced there and gone onto to F1, Le Mans or CART (when it was top level, pre-1999).

A1 isn't meant to be F1. It's meant to showcase good young racers and to keep top talent busy if they haven't got a regular drive. Just look at what Nico Hulkenberg is doing for Germany, he's sure to get a test at season's end. Or if Alex Yoong can keep it up, maybe he'll get a second chance in F1, perhaps with Super Aguri.

What sucks about A1 are the third rate teams. China has made a dramatic improvement over last year (a competitive driver in 2007 versus a moving chicane in 2006) but other teams have no business on the track and are a hazard to others (eg. Lebanon, Pakistan). Countries should only be allowed to compete if they have a history of top-level drivers.


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Answer 3

A1 GP is a private show, with an USP of using the Country's name. I don't know if it has kicked up an issue elsewhere but in India, it had to be approved officially. Its not the Olympics.
For that matter F1 is a private show which attained its status over the years initially with privateer teams, sponsorship, T.V audience and Excellence.
The manufacturers have made a beeline only over the last 7 or 8 years, which means that they have realised the potential PR, Credibility buildup as a F1 team. Case in point are Toyota.
They are very conservative with regards to new initiatives and even with one of the largest budgets in F1 they realise the mountain they have to climb.
A1 is too young. The Jury is out !

Answer 4

Well, I also prefer F1. I think that it has a higher level of performance and competition. However, what I like about A1 GP is that the drivers work together to get their country team in a higher place.

Answer 5

It's great in terms of competition. Equal cars, same engines throughout the grid, no sponsors. The difference is the driving. It's a Nations Cup. You might see different drivers during a season on the same car, so the chance for new young talented drivers is completely open.
These drivers are in the quest for experience and trying to make an impression on talent scouts to step-up their carreers. That's why it is so refreshing to see young drivers honing their skills to climb to the top.
It was meant to be run off-season from other top class series, like F-1, ChampCar, IRL.
What I don't like from it, is to see some "old" drivers involved with F-1 experience like Alex Yoong from Malaysia or Jos Verstappen from The Netherlands racing against some teenagers who have just left highschool...
Some guy up there say it was a shame there weren't sponsorships involved, well mate, when you involve large amounts of money, the thing stops being a sport and becomes a business. There you have F-1, IRL, DTM, WRC for that.

Answer 6

I think it is cool i like the facts that drivers run for wins and not points and the lack of sponsors but i still prefer F1

Answer 7

I think it's great.

It focuses on nations which has never been done in motor racing before. It allows developing motor racing nations such as India, Lebanon and China to develop their promising young talents and dividing the calendar with popular tracks such as Sepang, Malaysia and Brands Hatch, GB with lesser nations such as Indonesia and China in order to showcase ther tracks.
Also, by having identical cars, tyres and engines, it shows which nations are truly the best at motor racing, and incorporates a large emphasis on tactics, not just on race day but throughout the weekend, managing tyres and car setups, aiming for the fastest race lap, 4 session qualifying and using power boosts wisely. Also with less driver aids such as traction control than F1, it truly allows a driver to show his ability.

Answer 8

I don't think it's meant to compete with F1. It's off-season filler and a chance for not ready for prime time venues to have a race.