I had a lovely summer break from social media and writing. Enjoyed the summer with my friends on many festivals, the circuit and in Macedonia. However, we are back, and it seems a lot has happened in those few weeks I wasn’t active. Perhaps the most interesting news, besides McLaren’s breakdown after the summer, are the plans to “increase” the amount of races and sprint races. While on the other hand, the races have to become “shorter” because the rubber tile generation can’t keep their focus for more than 2 minutes. Please don’t do it!
Probably I’m late with these subjects as it seems they already passed the pressure of the rubber tile generation and the insanity of the FIA or FOM whomever is behind all these ideas that came to the surface.
The first thing I read was about the amount of races, sprint races and the idea for a reversed grid. In the past, I wrote a couple of times of the current situation in the Formula One. While they come up with the same idea’s every now and then I don’t believe it will fix the issue on the grid. The lack of competition and the lack of excitement is because of the current Formula One cars on the grid. They are too bulky and therefore, I believe, unable to proper overtake on the track. Neither does DRS help. I’ve never been a fan of this artificial way of overtaking on the track.
Sure you can say that we had this issue as well 20 years ago, yet I believe it was different. While Ferrari was dominating the sport in the early 2000s with Schumi and Rubinho there was plenty of action on the track. Especially in the back where teams like Minardi, Jordan, Prost and Arrows were doing their thing. Of course, you had teams like Toyota and Jaguar Racing who burned their money. Though, at that time there were plans to, on purpose, set tracks under water to give more action on the grid. Rumoured was also the reversed grid back in early 2000s.
All these plans came from Bernie Ecclestone; while he saw the sport as a cash cow he was dedicated to the sport where he basically stayed his complete professional life. Back then, we were shooting as well on the plans of a reversed grid. I recall this was introduced in the WTCC (correct me if wrong) I liked the idea. Though, it is just unfair for those who are the fasted and the best. Imagine a reversed grid on Monaco, he who qualifies as first is doomed to wave his podium finish goodbye. I don’t think it will bring the spectacle to the track.
Neither will the increase of sprint races. I still don’t understand why the FOM is not introducing races on the Saturday for test drivers and young talent. They will get the feeling with the Formula One and eventually be able to promote as one of the drivers. Yet, it seems, they choose for more sprint races for the current drivers on the grid. Why? I mean, there is no need to do so they have to prove themselves during the race on Sunday. There used to be a lot of support series that appeared during the weekends as well. Yet, as we saw in Zandvoort, only a few are left. While the way they try to entertain the fans on the track is poor. Especially if you see what people paid. Indeed, my opinion which some of you won’t agree on.
Same goes for more races on the calendar, last year the FIA acknowledged that they don’t see it happen to have 25 or more races on the calendar. I believe it isn’t either healthy for anyone that works in the Formula One. People need their rest; people need their own private time. If they kept on pushing and adding new races what kind of pressure will this bring those people?
What triggered me even more is the idea to shorten the races on Sunday. I wrote about this before. It is not the first time they came with this plan. The issue with this is that the current rubber tile generation fails badly in keeping their attention. If something takes longer than a few minutes, they get distracted and bored. Because TikTok and Insta Reels are more important. They don’t understand they are overstimulating themselves by watching and scrolling through all those random video’s. Why shorten the races to a hour or so? Why not make the races no longer than 30 minutes. I just don’t get it. Probably has to do with my own mindset and the days I woke up at 4 at night to watch the Australian Grand Prix with Minardi on P17 and P15 on the grid.
Perhaps I’m a Formula One boomer as I live in a world that seems to have disappeared, perhaps i can’t cope with todays low-level of fandom and dedication to the sport.
