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The crazy technology days are over. F1 has gone backwards in the last 10 years.
1993 saw the most advanced suspension technology.
The 80's turbo 1.5L cars saw the most power. The early 2000's V10's saw similar power with lots more technology and reliability.
The mid 80's cars had the best ground effects, while 2008 saw the most advanced aero concepts thanks to modern CFD simulation capability.
The last of the V10's saw the greatest in traction control and launch control computers in 2005-2006.
And the current crop of gearboxes and chassis safety are the best they've been.
So what makes the ultimate combination of the rules?
A car with full ground effects allowed, the wing envelopes of the late 80's, unlimited active aero, the turbo rules of the late 80's, the active suspension rules of the early 90's, the CFD simulation of today, the engine reliability and simulation of today, the traction control of 2005, the tires of today (although they drive comparisons to the tires used around 1993-94, pre grooves) and you've got yourself cars that aren't just slightly faster around a circuit- but several seconds quicker. And just as safe.
For those looking to the golden days of F1- from an engineer's standpoint, 1990-1993 had to be it for me. Big aero, active suspension, V8, V10, and V12's all together...
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