The Formula One season started today at Melbourne’s Albert Park with the Australian Grand Prix, to yet another boring season. How can I predict that? Come on, haven’t we seen this all, last season? Sebastien Vettel takes up pole and podium for Red Bull, while Lewis Hamilton plays catch-up for McLaren – that is how, ladies and gentlemen, I predict this year is going to go by. You need not watch any race this year at all: it is all going to be boring sets of cars going around in circles; at least these circles were interesting to watch in 2004 because they were fast, these are slow.
The sights of a German singing the German national anthem race after race reminds us of the 2004 season, when Michael Schumacher blazed through all circuits with aplomb. It was boring. I am a big Schumacher fan, cause without doubt he is still one of the best drivers ever to live on the face of planet earth who provided enough controversies, entertainment and glitz in a sport where the final displacement of cars is zero after the end of the race.
2004 was interesting, in part, because of V10s and the unpredictable retirements, along with the bitter-sweet relationship between Barrichelo and Schumacher. But, and most importantly of all, it had pure racing. I am not talking of defending racing lines, but about speed. Yes, 2004 had speed. People watch formula one because of speed. 348 km\h, I think, was recorded at the Monza circuit. And, I bet, Albert Park had a similar story, about 320 km\h in comparison with the current top speed of 310 km\h.
FIA is making the sport slower, despite adding all the aerodynamic and kinetic improvements in the name of KERS and DRS. I just don't understand what will happen when Formula 1 does not remain the fastest motor-sport of the world. Loss in popularity, that’s what gonna happen. Already Formula 1 has lost much ground after the debacle of the disastrous 2005 Indianapolis Grand Prix.
After Schumacher retired, the regulations on fuel load caused some of the best seasons in recent history. One can especially recollect Kimi Raikkonen’s last gasper 1-point victory. Even 2009 brought up Force India with their high-down force configurations dominating (well, almost) Hungaroring and Monza.
The point is that the race wasn’t over till it was over. Anything and everything could have happened as the strategies, including tires and fuel load, played a crucial role in deciding the winner. Teams had tricks up there sleeves, and it was very interesting to watch them play out on the field. People would expectantly wait for the pit-stops to happen.
BUT NOW! If something is messed up on the first lap, the race is messed up! No longer can you think that a driver in 11th can jump up to podium finishes. And is it just me or is overtaking technically forbidden in Formula one?
IT seems now that as Formula one is getting less interesting over the past season, people would comfort themselves by watching the Premier League, as Chelsea still sniff some blood at the top of the table. There is dynamism, which is completely absent in Formula one. FIA needs to consider new markets and try to make Formula One a little bit more exciting, a little bit more wild, a little bit more unpredictable. And allow overtaking once more.
Otherwise, it surely is going to lose out to other more exciting series like the Le Mans. Otherwise, who wants to see boring cars go circling by through a road. We all drive, and we all see enough traffic already.
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