A Lament for F1 22/10/2009 F1 Fanatic has an article today on domination of one driver in F1 and NASCAR. As it always does, this develops in the comments into a comparison between the two forms of motor sport and I am led to muse once again on the future awaiting the collection of apparent self-contradictions that calls itself Formula One.TeamworkI think it is entirely coincidental that "the pinnacle of motor sport" has developed in such a way as to mix intentions and aims that appear to conflict with each other. The fact that there are two championships involved, the drivers' and the constructors', seemed logical at first but, increasingly, brings tremendous pressure upon the nature of the sport as manufacturers and teams assign importance to one or the other. Many of the team managers would like to see the constructors' prize elevated to a position above the drivers' award; the manufacturers especially are in the game to demonstrate the superiority of their product rather than the excellence of any particular driver.To date, the tension between these two goals has remained in balance, mainly because a team needs a top level driver who can make full use of its car. That may be changing, however, as illustrated by the debate over the worthiness or otherwise of this year's champion, Jenson Button. The fact that some argue that he would not have been champion had not the Brawn BGP001 been so superior to the opposition devalues the drivers' championship and suggests that whoever is in the best car will inevitably win the prize.This has been the case in F1 ever since the constructors' trophy was introduced. Many would question the worthiness of such drivers as Mario Andretti, who won his championship in the Lotus 79, a car that was light years ahead of the competition, and who was teamed with a driver, Ronnie Peterson, reputedly only allowed to win if something happened to Mario. Much the same can be said of Michael Schumacher's championships and doubt has been cast upon the value of Jacques Villeneuve's and Damon Hill's championships in view of the superiority of their cars. By that reasoning, those drivers who won in less than the best car (Keke Rosberg springs to mind) would be the only true champions.Although this dichotomy of goals in the sport leads to endless debate and argument over the real worth of each driver, it is also the factor that sets F1 apart from other forms of motor racing. Were we only interested in which driver is the best, a spec series in which all cars are equal would be the logical way to go. As it is, the unfairness of F1's system of diverse designs provides us with the opportunity to see astounding feats performed by outrageously gifted drivers; Ayrton Senna's drives in 1993 and Alonso's efforts over the last couple of years are examples.So this aspect of F1 is immensely important to its appeal for us, the fans, and the FIA's ludicrous efforts to equalize everything from engine power to wing design are contrary to the spirit of the sport, threatening to reduce the value of the constructors' award to meaninglessness. As yet, the balance of objectives survives but it will be destroyed if the rule makers continue in their chosen direction.So why has the FIA begun this process of standardization? The answer lies in another conflict of aims within the sport: entertainment versus sport itself. And here the lines become blurred, confusing us to the extent that we may argue from one point of view in some debates and from another in others.It seems important to me to establish what we are trying to achieve with F1 and, to do that, we need to examine its roots. Without an understanding of the reasons for the sport's attraction for so many millions (both fans and dollars!), we will never understand what needs to be preserved and what can be allowed to wither.And the most important factor we should realize is that entertainment was not the reason for the formation of the sport in the first place. Motor racing has been around for over a hundred years now and it was always inevitable that, sooner or later, the idea of a world championship should be suggested. To win a race is a fine achievement in itself but to win a series of races over the course of a year establishes real superiority.From which we can see that F1 was invented for the drivers originally, not for the constructors or any fanbase that might accumulate. As in any other sport, the intent was to formalize an existing competition so that a competitor could demonstrate that he was the best. The matter of whether the result would be interesting enough for those outside the sport to watch was never taken into consideration.It is potentially the undoing of F1 that it is watchable and has the capacity for becoming an obsession for some. As the number of fans has grown over the years, the possibility of making money from the sport has become too obvious to be ignored and, indeed, has become so important to those who benefit the most from exploiting the game that the nature of F1 has been obscured. Even FOTA, the organization of those who should understand the sport more than any other group, spends much of its time proposing ways to improve the show.In effect, F1 has sold its soul to those who want only to milk it mercilessly. It has harbored ambitions of being a business and is now suffering the consequences as the money men seek to make it pay even more. And, just as in the fairy tale, the danger is that they will kill the goose that laid the golden egg.No doubt you have been wondering (I have, anyway) where NASCAR comes into all this. It is relevant because it is further along the road to entertainment than F1, allowing us to see what the future might hold. Its increasing interference in the course of races to ensure close finishes and plenty of action is echoed in the direction F1 has taken over the last few years; we may not yet be at the stage where spurious safety car periods are introduced to close up the field but it is coming if F1 does not change course.We need to face the fact that the number of viewers is not the measure of F1's success. Its success is in the value of its championship, the demonstration that this or that car and driver are the best in the world. That is what matters and whether the "show" is watchable or not has no relevance to the sport (or any sport, come to think of it) at all. If it is attractive enough to be televised, that is icing on the cake and we should not allow greed to distort the sport in an effort to get more.The fact is that F1 is eminently watchable without artificial introductions to make it more of a draw to the public. I have followed it for over forty years, from a time long before it was televised, and there are many more like me amongst its fans. The glory of the sport itself was all we ever needed and anything that detracts from this serves only to turn us away.We are a dying breed, of course, and you would be entitled to say that we do not matter in a world where TV viewing figures are all that count. But we are the true fans, the ones who have stuck with it through the years and the rule changes, and there are many like us amongst the new fans. If we depart, F1 will indeed become an entertainment, subject to the passing fancy of the masses and a vehicle only for the making of fortunes by a few. Then you will have NASCAR without the wheels being covered...
Clive
Clive Testing. Date Added: 22/10/2009
Roger Carballo AKA Architrion Absolutely agree with you, Clive. Absolutely. You have said it all, except one single thing. We, diehard fans, are guilty till a point. I explain. Do we need that kind of polls about how funny was a race, like Keith have after each grand prix? I have ever found interesting each single race I've seen. Of course, there are funny races, intriguing races, crazy races, and other not so interesting. But I've never found myself turning off the TV or looking for something better to do. There is always something that keeps me over F1 once and again and again...So, I'm with you. I don't need more action, crashes, overtakings and glamour. All I need is racing, technical perfection, the best driving around and competitiveness. The rest of the package, please, send it to Max, Bernie and co, so they can have a leathered-nazi girls party. Date Added: 22/10/2009
patrick well said. I've nothing more to add. Date Added: 22/10/2009
Clive Roger: You are right, we must shoulder much of the blame for the current state of F1. We thought that increasing viewer figures was a good sign and did not see how this would lead to a slavish worship of numbers that warps F1 into something other than it was intended to be. But it is not too late to return to racing as a sport and to refuse to change things merely to attract more viewers. F1 is watchable just as it has always been and we do not need artificial restraints and systems to "spice it up". Date Added: 22/10/2009
Clive Patrick: Approval from your good self is praise that I value highly. Date Added: 22/10/2009
Lonny I too have followed F1 for well over 40 years. The first race I ever saw was Spa and the sight of 1.5 liter F1 cars racing through the trees on public roads was life changing. Unfortunately one of my heroes, Colin Chapman started us down the road to perdition by seeking sponsors for his Lotus 49s. Now as long as people like Bernie control F1 the show is all that matters. He may give lip service to his "love" of the sport, but his actions show his real love is cash, everything else be damned. I fear if Chapman showed up today with a car as superior as the 79, it would be quickly banned. I think asking Merc to reduce the power of their engine is the death knell of F1 as we have known and loved it. Spec racing is here. The only ray of hope I see is that as NASCAR has standardized their cars and drivers, the ratings and live attendance have been steadily dropping. Perhaps someone will realize the personalities of men like Foyt, Hill, Moss etc and the variety of equipment of the 50s, 60s and 70s were the most interesting parts and find a way back. But I doubt it. Date Added: 23/10/2009
Clive Lonny: I can remember the shock at seeing a Lotus in a sponsor's colors for the first time and it still seems right to me that Lotuses should be green with yellow wheels. But the years have made such views seem antiquated and it is too easy to be seduced by such excellent color schemes as the John Player Special's and Brabham's Parmalat blue and white. Even so, you are correct - that was the moment when F1 started on the road to selling its soul. We may never get back to the purity and innocence of those days but the important thing is that we try. In striving for the simplicity of yesteryear, we cannot do anything but good for the sport.The dip in popularity of NASCAR is indeed interesting but the problem is that open wheel racing is in no position to take advantage of such a trend. I fear that motor sport in general loses supporters, not just NASCAR. Date Added: 23/10/2009
Guilherme Teixeira Clive, absolutely fantastic... surely one of the best pieces I've ever read about Formula One.I share the same point of view as Roger - I love F1 as it is, and I've been watching it for less then 25% of the time you have been (began watching it in 1998). Although the only F1 I remember is that Schumacher's reign, I never felt we need more close action, more overtakings, more "entertainment".But I tend to disagree with Lotus' search for sponsorship being the beginning of F1 damnation. I believe it was selling it for Bernie and CVC. All they want is to make money, and for that they seek high artificial entertainment levels or someone rich enough to take F1 to a place without a single drop of tradition.FIA (read: Max) had their fair share of guilt in this subject too. Not only because they sold it as if it were a object, but this technical restrictiveness (such as engine freeze) let people to think it was getting boring (due to the aerodynamics evolution, which is engine-freeze fault) and something needed to be done.And I can't picture a better prospect...Sad. Date Added: 23/10/2009
donwatters Far and away your best post ever, Clive. I've been an F1 fan since the early 60's and your concise and insightful review of the sport is absolutely spot on. Have the money-grubbing suits (Max, Bernie & CVC) ruined the sport? Probably. Is there a workable cure? Probably not. I hate to sound so negative, but I just don't see the sport turning around from its drive towards stanardization and boring sameness that is the spec series mindset. All us old guys can do is constantly remind ourselves and others of how glorious the sport used to be and reminese about the glory days of Gran Prix racing. To that end, I make it a habit to watch the movie "Gran Prix" at least 4 times a year. Ah yes, those indeed were the days. Date Added: 23/10/2009
verasaki True from start to finish. I'm afraid my die-hard status has been losing it's pulse in the last few years. The news I saw first thing this am as I pulled up the BBC front page just makes this post that much more sad. Todt: how does that song go? Meet the new boss, same as the old boss? I'm not exactly hopeful. Date Added: 23/10/2009
The Tru7h The Mosley era continues. What a tragedy. Date Added: 23/10/2009
Gusto F1 turning into NASCAR. Clive, now your scaring me, I`d rather F1 dies a respectable death now than go down that road. Another excellent article Clive, when you gonna write an F1 book. Date Added: 24/10/2009
Nick Goodspeed Fi will have to return to respectability before it's demise if it is to die a respectable death and I doubt very much this is going to happen with a Mosley puppet at the helm. I judge by Ecclestone's comments on Brawn's salary politics that he (Ecclestone) is feeling every bit as cocksure about as his position post Mosley as during. He obviously knows there is no reason to feel out a new president who was previously playing a major part in a company he successfully bribed. Elections aren't what they once were. Date Added: 24/10/2009
Journeyer The sad thing now is that F1 has become so dependent on commercial interests, that if fans lose interest and leave, then the sponsors might go too. Teams lose funding, and the sport may die.But I disagree that TV ratings aren't the measure of F1's success. Really, who decides whether the championship has any value or not? It's the fans who watch. If there's no one watching, does the championship have any value? The more fans watch, the more people agree that the championship has value, and therefore the more fans, the better it is for F1.If auto racing wasn't popular in the start, it could easily have been banned (too dangerous, people get killed) and it wouldn't be around today. Ultimately, it's the fans that explain why it's alive and kicking today.As for Todt, Joe Saward says he intends to hire someone who hasn't been involved in F1 previously as commissioner - agreeing in principle with what Jackie Stewart has said for some time. It's a start. Date Added: 24/10/2009
Journeyer Ultimately, will the true fans depart? It could've easily happened this year, more so than previous years.We've complained, we've ranted, but ultimately, we've stayed. It has always been thus and it probably always will be. Date Added: 24/10/2009
Nick Goodspeed Journeyer: In the begin people raced on public roads. Getting together on race tracks was seen as a step forward from risking the average drivers safety. If car racing is banned it will become a huge underground sport. Human nature is, after all human nature. The idea of the media or the manufacturers leaving, being the end of it all is ridiculous. It is basically the modern modus operandi used by the media to instill fear and raise awareness to sway the public. No matter what the greedy fools and incompetents do, they will not succeed in filtering out the car nuts of the world. If they had a recipe for this they would be part of a much higher echelon of control and propaganda. Date Added: 25/10/2009
Journeyer Exactly my point, Nick - car racing wasn't banned (and became what it is now) because of the fans. Therefore, the fans come first and foremost here - they decide ultimately what value a championship has.Also, the sponsors will leave only if the fans leave first. You may have misread my message a bit. Date Added: 25/10/2009
Nick Goodspeed I think the fear is that the TV bean counters read the viewer ratings as a sign that fans are lapping up F1 as a virtual sport / soap opera and pump more Coronation Street shenanigans into the circus. The electing of Todt is a sign that who ever is in charge has a different agenda than is being voiced. The idea that anyone from Ferrari, specially the Schumacher period of Ferrari, should be president is ludicrous. No one with an inkling of what fair play is all about could have lasted anytime at all under that regime and to think that one of the ring leaders is now top man is a sign of what is to come. In some ways this is the sleaziest thing to happen in F1 yet and Mosley's crap is a hard act to follow. still, the cars go round and round.... Date Added: 25/10/2009
Fractal Well said sir. Wonderful.... Whilst there is racing, there will be fans.AFC Date Added: 26/10/2009
Nick Goodspeed I am starting to get the impression there will be a great disparity between the leaders and the tail-enders next season. I wonder if the 104% rule still applies or if the brain trust has thought better of it. Date Added: 27/10/2009
Journeyer Nick, 107% rule was abolished when oneshot quali was introduced in 2003. It hasn't been reinstated. Date Added: 28/10/2009
Nick Goodspeed Interesting Toyota's exodus comes soon after a Ferrari man becomes the president of F1. Date Added: 04/11/2009
Clive Nick: I doubt that Todt's election had much to do with Toyota's withdrawal actually. More likely is that the rumour regarding the team having one more year to win a race was true and, pretty obviously, they failed to do this. The company needs to save money and F1 has always been a huge drain on resources. Without success to justify their presence, Toyota had no reason to be in the game. Date Added: 04/11/2009
Nick Goodspeed I am certain that the antics that have gone on over the last number of years have been taken in to account by all three teams who have left. It is one thing to sign up for a fair fight, another completely to continue after it has been admitted publicly that the game is tilted. In retrospective it would seem as if Mercedes decision to buy Ilmore was an extremely sound move. Date Added: 04/11/2009
Nick Goodspeed http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=a5zmD.xbYcsk Date Added: 05/11/2009
David That’s more like it!Manufacturers entered the F1 arena to showcase their auto racing ability and thus promote their road cars - although in reality there is little comparison one to the other. The FIA’s rules increasingly forbid competition in way of engines, chassis, tires and design talent. There is only to weight-handicap the drivers and these clowns will have realized their spec. agenda. Competent management does not chase away the heavyweights in favour of a bunch of minnow wannabes, unless the ambition is to create a second class series - or the management are fools. Indeed, the FIA did exactly that - and few would argue they are qualified fools. As if that’s not enough for their tiny minds, they then dip into a little race manipulation to raise the excitement level. There are a minority of ignorant fans, and competitors, who gain excitement from such behavior, but rational people are not to be found amongst them - so they too will eventually drift away.So, it comes as no great surprise that the manufacturer’s walked - or is it more correct to say, they are walking? They spend a lot of money on marketing and employ some of the field’s brightest talent - only to be foiled by dictatorial stupidity. More logical avenues are available to them. No, don’t look to Todt for improvement, for he’s merely a replacement spoke in the established wheel. Date Added: 05/11/2009
Nick Goodspeed I'm in total agreement David. The fools have employed a confrontational manner while holding the little end of the stick. They have pushed the teams around and destroyed the credibility of the sport. Now they find themselves having lost three of their biggest drawing cards and their tire supplier. Todt, the latest fool, has been named captain of a sinking ship, a ship that has been pillaged by Ecclestone and Mosley. Mosley has conveniently blamed escalating costs but in truth what has happened is that he and Ecclestone have reduced the value of F1 to a point that it is no longer worth the price. Now we are left with two problems; Mercedes and Ferrari are to big for the rest and if they are to remain, they will need dumbing down. Mercedes may find themselves in a position where they are the only team left with factory backing, which will make them look like bullies. This may be their reason to go, as, by themselves they will have nothing to prove. Ferrari doesn't care if they end up as a big fish in a little bowl as long as they can come out on top. They struggled to keep up with the other big teams, needing under the table cash influxes to keep them on a par with the rest. When and if Mercedes and Renault go they will be the great problem. At this point Todt's position will most likely become untenable for obvious reasons. The fools have fouled the nest. Date Added: 05/11/2009
Nick Goodspeed I see the fool, Ecclestone, is freaking out and venting his displaced hostility on Silverstone. Hopefully they'll tell him to shove his £12 million per race tithe. Hopefully Montreal will do the same along with Germany. Hopefully this will bankrupt the greedy little scrooge. Date Added: 05/11/2009
David Bankrupt the gnome?Such a thing shouldn’t be too difficult - especially with Bernie’s self-destructive assistance.Big money contributors are deserting F1 by the day, leaving just the pittance minnows can afford. Significant sponsors tend to invest money wisely - which puts the new F1 out of contention.Dwindling audiences - Turkey in particular - suggests the public have already settled on genuine three ring circus’ in lieu of F1’s blatantly ersatz show. It’s a costly mistake to underestimate your audience’s intelligence - or judge them on personal standards either, especially when they are so sadly lacking.Bernie’s wife, Slavica doesn’t need an MBA to pluck 50% - and hopefully plus - from his chest of diminishing loot. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23742289-f1-boss-bernie-ecclestone-pockets-15-per-cent-pay-rise-while-sport-loses-millions.doMmmm - the clouds are clearing ... Contrary to the FIA’s latest assertions that costs drove the manufacturer’s away - was it not the manufacturers’ primary argument all season long that they did not want a budget cap, ie., they were free to spend what they wished? Indeed, birds of a feather stick together - so one should not expect the FIA’s resident propaganda/psychology clown to excel either. Date Added: 05/11/2009
Nick Goodspeed I wonder if Renault is keeping quiet until year's end in hope that Briatore gets reinstated, so they can sell the team to him? More doom forecasts from Canada: http://www.thestar.com/wheels/article/722104--is-formula-1-on-its-last-legs?bn=1 Date Added: 06/11/2009
Gusto Remember Clive, We fight the good fight because We Know it is right, It`s always darkest before the dawn. Date Added: 07/11/2009
Madmin Just a test don't mind me Date Added: 01/12/2009
Nick Goodspeed Clive, how do you feel about Schumacher being backed by Brawn with Todt at Mosley's desk? Date Added: 23/12/2009
Ylan Marcel But Button goes to McLaren. Schumacher and Nico will be fight, as Button with Hamilton. Date Added: 27/01/2010
Chrisess Clive, I am sorry but I think it is ungracious of you not to let us know what is going on with the website, you have built a great deal of good will with your insight and I,for one, still check regularly to see if there is any news on what has clearly been the best forum on the interweby thing. A statement of intent is not too much to ask, surely? Chrisess Date Added: 31/01/2010
Clive Fair comment, Chrisess, and I would love to let everyone know what I intend to do with F1 Insight, if only I knew myself. I have been thinking about it ever since it became clear to me that I had nothing left to say (for the moment at least) but have reached no conclusion as yet. It may be that the new season rescues me but that remains to be seen.So my apologies, certainly, but no definite answers. Date Added: 31/01/2010
Peter Glad you are otherwise ok anyway Clive!Best wishes Date Added: 01/02/2010
Steve Ellis CliveI do hope you find your voice as I found this site to be particularly good. Best of health. Date Added: 06/02/2010
RSS comments feed
Back to the main blog
You may use some HTML in comments. For bold text use <strong></strong> and for italic text use <em></em>. If you know what you're doing feel free to use more complex mark-up but please no deprecated tags, break tags or JavaScript.
Enter the code shown above: Name * Comment * Email * URL
