Formula 1

I follow F1 reasonably closely. It combines a number of my favorite things: constrained optimization, going fast, drama and technology.

In order to make the racing more exciting, the governing body of F1 (the FIA) changes some of the rules every year. This year they got rid of grooved tires and returned to slicks, they've allowed team to use the KERS system and they've changed what's allowed in terms of the front and rear wing and all the other knicks and knacks attached to the car.

A lot of these rule changes were made so that over taking would increase. That's been the biggest knock against F1 in the past few years: once the grid is set in qualifying, the running order basically stays the same and the winner comes from the top 2 rows.

It is funny because no matter what the FIA does, the teams almost always approach the track record from previous years. The engineers are just too smart. They're given a new set of constraints every year and within a few months they've figured out how to make the car perform at a level equal to or greater than last year.

The most interesting change this year is the KERS system. It stands for kinetic-energy-something-something. Basically, the car goes around the track and kinetic energy builds up in battery and then the driver hits a button for an extra 60 hp. The downside is that the system weighs about 25kg or 30kg. So, if you're a heavier you will most likely opt to not use it. It has made overtaking a little more common.

As much as I like F1 I find the arbitrary rule changes a little ridiculous. I think they should a minimal set of rules and just let the teams go nuts. But with large spending piles of money no longer in vogue the FIA is bowing to the pressure and taking various measures to bring spending in. In fact, next year they're talking about capping spending in the 30M or 40M Euro area (I think during the Schumacher era, Ferrari was spending about 250M). Shouldn't it be "ye with the most money wins?"