If you thought this past season of F1 was at times confusing apparently from the debate i've participated in on the autosport forums, this season could be worse.
Now recently the rule to engines was, it must last 3 races. However now the the FIA official rulebook states the teams will be allowed 8 engines for the season, after that any subsequent engine change will result in a 10 place grid penalty and they will be allocated 4 engines for testing.
The Parc Ferme rules are also changed apparently with teams being allowed to make changes for upto 3 hours I believe after qualifying.

Now on the first one.
This could technically mean that teams may try to stretch an engine more than 3 races to save some for the end of the season race for the title where a fresh engine might be advantageous.
It's going to get very confusing keeping up with it all I think and I believe there are further stupid changes.

Mushroom_Farmer wrote on Jan 14^th, 2009 at 11:13pm:


There'd be a grid of about 10 cars if that was the case. Sadly the situation has been made worse by big manufacturers buying out private manufacturers, and to a lesser extent (Toyota) starting it own teams, and the American sport style mega-rich buying out (occasionally struggling) teams - good in the short term, but long term? Maybe not. Just look at Super Aguri - as a "B" team, with Honda support possibly, in terms of potential, the most attractive package out there, yet no one bought them.

  The owners/organizers of these sports care nothing for the competition on an earn it basis, they only want to make the racing closer so that people stay interested in it and continue to spend their money.

I have followed both sports since the mid 1980's and I have seen a serious decline in the reputability of both.

Why?

Because it's boring to watch the same people win every year, so they find ways to handicap the rich teams to give the lesser teams a chance, not every one has the money resources of Ferrari or Hendrick motorsports.
The rules are trying to save racing, but in the end only kill it, because the well funded teams can just throw their money around and find ways to circumvent the rules and continue their dominance.

Have you ever watched a Nascar race? Ask Juan Pablo, or Jaques Villeneuve  how mindless it is. At least there, they have passing that is something other than the top 3 lapping the entire field every few laps.
Both drivers have said multiple times that it is more competitive, harder to win, and more fun to participate in.
 
Not to mention the attitude is generally more friendly to newcomers.
 
Just because I'm from the US, doesn't mean I don't follow F1. Although I am a rare breed of motorsports fan over here, a lot of fans here are put off by the secretive, arrogant air surrounding F1.

I got to agree with all of that, especially the part about JPM. One of my favorite moments in F1 was when he muscled his way past Schumacher, in a BMW/Williams.
I also agree that it has become more entertainment than competition, really sad in my opinion. Both sports could benefit greatly from going back to a simpler time, take the commercialism out of both, and I bet the competition would tighten real quick.