What is wrong with Formula One?
Let us have a look at the current state of Formula One. 2015 marked another oil stained chapter of Mercedes dominance, the previous chapter being the 2014 campaign which Toto Wolff and his team took by the horns of the bull.
If you rewind to previous years, there have been a selection of teams that fought for the prestigious Constructors’ Championship. The late 2000s and early 2010s are
a good example of this; the progression of Red Bull and the quality of Ferrari, Renault, McLaren and Williams have presented us some fascinating races.
Yet, despite of this overall quality, there’s always a large difference between teams. The sport’s always going to be prone to backmarkers and the odd era where a team dominates. But that’s sport for you! Engineering isn’t the easiest thing to do, so what are we supposed to expect when we see a team, such as Manor and Hispania, cruise around at the back of the grid. These teams aren’t as well funded, supported or produced as teams like Ferrari – who have been part of the sport since the inaugural Formula One championship.
My argument is, there are many minor problems with the sport. The annoying thing is that they all go under the same category. Competition.
F1 is a sport. The definition of sport is ‘an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.’ If I had to use my literature skills, I’d pick out the word I’ve bolded for you. Entertainment. Ask yourself a question for me. What is your favourite F1 season? Personally, mine is probably 2005 or 2007. Bear in mind I’m not old enough to remember Mika Hakkinen’s World Championship double in 1998 and 1999. Anyway, I’m guessing you probably won’t pick a season from the past five years. If you did, it’s your opinion and I respect that. But, my general point is that Formula One doesn’t seem to be entertaining as it once was. Now, I can’t write too much, so I’m going to make a couple points in a brief, concise manner. So, here are the things that F1 needs in order to improve.
One – The Riddance of Tilke tracks and the addition of more challenging tracks.
This piece was originally detailing why there should be more street circuit in F1. Now, I’m just going to say that I’m not someone who wants Hermann Tilke to be removed from the Formula One community. I, instead, would just want more challenging tracks added to the F1 calendar.
Challenging tracks will really separate the drivers from the cars, this will also spark another argument of mine that Sebastian Vettel is the best driver of the grid. Present him with a Mercedes and a panicky team-mate and he’ll win the championship. Anyhow, if we introduce more tracks that really demand the boundaries of both human and engineering capability it will definitely improve the quality of racing.
Tilke tracks individually are great, but if you group them together they all prove to be similar. This deters drivers and fans of the sport.
Overall, more challenging tracks means better racing and provides an aspect of danger – not noting any absence of safety which is provided fantastically by the FIA.
Two – Better funding for the back-marker teams.
What really frustrates me is the fact that we see a new team enter, Haas is an exception to this rule, and they don’t perform well, they end up going into administration and relying on an investor to buy them out. (Virgin, Spyker, Midland, Caterham).
There should be better financial rewards for these teams, we don’t want to see fewer people on the grid; in fact, we want to see the opposite. Let’s give these teams more money so they can progress. Let’s look at the likes of Force India and Mercedes.
Let’s look at the likes of Force India and Mercedes.
This will make following teams a lot more interesting and meaningful. We want to see teams stay in the sport longer. If they’re bought, they’re bought. But they shouldn’t be left on the hard shoulder.
Third and final point – The scrapping of telemetry and team orders.
It’s not a computer competition, it’s a driver championship. We should revert to the old days of how drivers would tell their engineers what they were feeling in the car, instead of being told what to do. It takes away from the pressure and skill of driving in cars such these. Not to mention the fact that apparently the cars are easier to drive.
This will lead to a host of errors and mistakes from both teams and drivers, this makes the sport more entertaining.
We should also see team orders being scrapped. You know, ‘Fernando is faster than you.’ I’m sure Felipe Massa would be eager to let his teammate pass. No, he wouldn’t. Let the drivers drive!
Anyway, these are things I want improved to the sport. What are yours, feel free to submit your ideas in the comments section below.