F1 2008 looking to be a blast

The 2008 Formula 1 season has started and the first race was absolutely smashing. For real.

Brit Lewis Hamilton qualified at pole position and went ahead to win the race but that’s not the best part of this year’s first race.
In my view, the highlight is the introduction of rules designed to make the races less dependent on electronics aids. The consensus then is “out with technology”.

• Traction control is gone (a system which helps limit rear wheel spin or loss of traction when excessive throttle or steering is applied by the driver).
• Engine assisted braking is also out (in the simplest terms, a form of anti-lock braking – but not quite).
• Goodbye Launch Control (a system that allows the driver at the start of the race and at pit stops achieve optimal getaway without spinning the wheels).

The results? Out the 22 cars at the beginning of the Australian Grand Prix, only 7 finished the race. No more safety nets when the driver overcooked it.
Watching the drivers battle to hold the cars when the rear-end threatened to step out of line was a real joy to watch. Now that’s what I call racing.

These changes have a strong parallel with the current emphasis on designers and developers knowing how to hand-code rather than relying on Dreamweaver and friends to do the ‘dirty’ work.

Can’t wait for the Malysian race next weekend. Meanwhile, I’ll go have a drink on Lewis.

As an aside, these technologies have been making their way from Formula 1 cars into production cars. I wonder if that’s going to stop.

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