The allure of Formula 1 is irresistible for me. I’ve followed it most of my life and I supposed I’ve loved and loathed it almost equally forever. I forever ask myself why I still find myself following every titbit of news, every practice run and every race, when so many of the sport’s orchestrators are seemingly trying to deter me at every turn ( no pun intended). I now admit: I have a Formula love/hate relationship.
In this current era, with the expensive, heavy and absurd hybrid engines, the cars are especially hard to love. They sound terrible, for a start. In the past, if you asked any non-racing car fan what impresses them most about the cars after they saw them in real life, they’d always say it was the noise they made. Not now.
We need powerful engines that rev to high-heaven, are straight-forward enough to be reliable, relatively affordable and, of course, sound spine-tingling. It was heartening to read that Christian Horner has similar views on this subject.
Then there’s the look of the cars – they look as if they began with a nice clean, aerodynamic shape and then were handed over to your auntie who decided to cover them with little frills and doilies! I mean, seriously, they look a complete mess. Next year, they are supposed to be slightly cleaner, but those wider front wings will be knocked off on the first lap, so they’ll look a mess by lap 2.
While I’m complaining, why can’t they standardise the size and positioning of the car’s numbers too? Right now, they might as well not be there.
The teams are almost equally to blame. Totally self-obsessed, the large, rich, powerful teams only care about winning and have no incentive to encourage the smaller, less wealthy teams to be competitive with them. To hell with the sport, or the spectacle, is their attitude.
The politics were a problem when Bernie Ecclestone was in charge because he was so busy doing deals and making himself and his cronies rich, he often lost sight of what was happening to the racing. I don’t miss him, but I guess I might if I’d been one of his cronies! Now, we have Liberty ‘in charge.’ But are they though? So far they’ve gone out of their way not to upset Mercedes Benz and Ferrari and show no sign of having the balls to really shake up the sport.
Honestly, let them leave – they will be replaced by other eager manufacturers and, I suspect, they will soon return anyway. What kind of brand image would Ferrari have if they left Formula 1? I don’t think they couldn’t afford to stay away for long.
Almost everything: The cars need new, less expensive, simpler engines that sound fantastic. Ask anyone with a brain in the paddock and they’ll privately agree with this, from team owners to drivers – they all hate the current engines. Well, except for Toto Wolff perhaps, when his cars are out in front.
The aerodynamics need a real overhaul and probably need to be radically simplified to ensure the cars can actually race closely without creating all this ‘dirty air’ nonsense. Yes, I’m aware they are making some changes in this direction, but many people are unconvinced they have gone far enough. Autosport Magazine has received plenty of feedback from teams that suggest the new aero rules, due next year, might not go far enough.
It’s not hard to see why, the soulless Hermann Tilke – designed tracks usually have a couple of okay corners, if you’re lucky. As ever, I don’t have the solution, however, I think some visible grass, trees ( distant, not trackside!) and some more visible clues to the topography would make them more welcoming and memorable.
The absurd current rules need looking at too: Let’s say goodbye to those stupid grid penalties because of a car needs an engine/gearbox change. Why should the driver be penalised further because his car failed in practice?
And, let’s do away with DRS too, I can’t stand contrivances that are introduced to ‘level the playing field’. There has to be a better way. I’m also not so sure about the call for the end of blue flags though. I can see some lapped drivers ruining races just because they feel like being bloody-minded and I’m sure it will result in more accidents.
While I’m complaining, those incessant banal TV interviews with the drivers are insulting to both viewer and driver. Listening to the inane questions and constantly repeated questions is like undergoing some horrible form of water torture.
The poor drivers smile benignly, remembering no doubt that participating in this garbage was included in the contract. Watching our heroes race each other in pedal cars, or something similar, is embarrassing to watch – really, who needs this crap? I get that not everyone viewing is a Formula 1 expert or an enthusiast, but do we have to dumb it down to the lowest denominator?
The skill of the drivers is awe-inspiring and even the guys at the back of the grid have earned their place in F1 because they’ve usually have won other championships on their way to the top. To see them race within millimetres, on the limit, is otherworldly and I never tire of watching them do their stuff.
It’s easy for armchair pundits to critique drivers online. As if many of them could actually drive a Formula 1 car at all, never mind at a professional level. In the real world, 99.9% of us would be blown away by the sublime talent of any one of those that line up on the grid if we could sit beside them. I remember that Renault once let motoring journalists loose in their turbo-era F1 cars at the end of the season. They all several spun them – in a straight line, on a deserted aircraft runway – in the dry! Writing is easier than driving.
To see drivers on the limit, in the wet, at somewhere like Monaco, skimming the barriers and then do this for an hour and a half is still a sight to behold.
Well, Daniel Ricciardo is the bloke who you can easily imagine having a beer with. He seems in control of his ego in a way some other drivers aren’t. I just hope his move to Renault doesn’t prove to be a massive mistake.
Kimi Raikkonen is another refreshingly honest, no bullshit fella and, while past his peak, is someone I’d love to see get some good results.
I like Alonso too – in fact, I miss him already. I never used to be a fan, but I came around a few years ago. Still one of the top three and it’s a crime he wasn’t in a car good enough to show off his talent. A real character who I hope will go on to win Indy and Le Mans in 2019.
Hmmm…Lewis Hamilton is a seriously talented driver and to see him push the limit in qualifying is inspiring. If only he didn’t sound such a twat out of the car. “…and, I’d just to say how much I love the fans here – insert location – they’re the best in the world”. Whenever he talks, I get ready to squirm. I like his driving, but I’m not sure who the real Lewis Hamilton is. Sometimes I wonder if he does.
Verstappen is a potential champion and very talented, but his immaturity and towering ego ensure I’m not a fan. Cocky shit is how I’d describe him. Obviously, he is a massive talent, yet his character flaws seem to affect his results. I’m not sure if I’d ever warm to him even if he did grow up a bit.
Helmut Marko is easy to dislike. Like the Julius Caesar of motor racing, he just gives drivers the thumbs
Without doubt, the cast of characters in F1 make the sport compelling. Whether you like or dislike them, so that’s a major drawcard for me.
Having rubbished the current cars, I have to say they are still incredibly impressive. Like the drivers, their capabilities are compelling to watch. Seeing them driven on the ragged edge in qualifying is very special and, as ever, you know when they are being driven at their outer limits. The acceleration, braking, and cornering are amazing to watch.
On the right day, watching a Formula 1 race is still exciting and entertaining. This, despite the best efforts of those in charge. Too often though, watching F1 is as exciting as watching grass grow. The drivers and TV viewers equally frustrated at the lack of overtaking opportunities.
That previous F1 heavyweight, Max Mosley, once likened F1 to a good chess game. Let’s all be happy he’s long gone. He was right though and, unintentionally, he highlighted all that’s wrong with many grand prix races. If a circuit is described as ‘hard to pass,’ let’s change the bloody thing, or race elsewhere.
As a non-technical, humble spectator and enthusiast, I have no qualifications for sorting F1. I just hope some people who are much cleverer than me can rise above the vested interests, and the politics to make F1 a better spectacle than it is now. It will never be a level playing field – it never was. Even so, there are plenty of problems that can be fixed. F1 needs to attract new fans – and not lose more of the old ones, like me.
I’m still a love it and hate it fan. If it doesn’t improve soon, they’ll be more to hate than love. Which means I’ll stop watching, like millions of other frustrated race fans. And that might be the end of F1 racing forever.
In the meantime, I say, thank goodness for MotoGP.
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