Ferrari Mailing List: Grahame's F1 View

[Charles Perry (charles]

Grahame: “P.P.S. I have struggled to maintain any enthusiasm to watch F1 this year – very sad – have not even bothered to watch many races.  Maybe Ferrari will come out of the blocks next year running more competitively under the new rules next year. However, I guess I am still a tragic as I will be going to both the Melbourne and Shanghai rounds next year.”

 

 

Agree. I don’t know if the rest of the world was this bored watching Schumacher collect everything during Ferrari’s heyday, but I can’t stand Hamilton, so watching his Sunday parades over the last two years hasn’t been worth my precious weekend time. I’ll scan the last few minutes of each qualifying session and usually have a replay of the race on in the background while I’m working on something else, just paying attention or rewinding when the commentators react strongly to something. I dearly hope Nico pulls it out this year, but that’s really the only item I’ve cared about this season.

 

My gut says that even during the Schumacher years, the racing wasn’t this boring because there were so many more elements of development and strategy present – whole field qualifying, no limitations on tire choices, refueling, in-season testing and development – all things that could unexpectedly change a race outcome or even a season at the last minute. Now the whole season has been like an episode of The Price is Right: “Oh, you have a Renault this season? I’m sorry – you won’t be appearing in the Showcase Showdown. Make a better choice next year.”

 

What I’d be interested to see (and I know it’s probably not out there since F1 finances are so closely held by everyone) is an analysis of whether all of these terrible changes they’ve made to the sport in the name of cutting costs and keeping backmarker teams from disappearing have actually saved anyone any money. The constant changes in Formula (recapitalizing completely new engine designs every year or two) and the inability of an uncompetitive team to have any hope for advancement through the season because of the testing and development limitations (and resulting inability to keep sponsors) can’t have justified the reduction in interest in the sport.

 

I’m sure you all saw last week that Ron Dennis has been forced out of McLaren (although he still owns 25% and a seat on the board). Word is that came primarily because he couldn’t replace Vodafone as a primary sponsor after the disastrous Honda years. For that to happen to a team like McLaren is ridiculous, even given the snail pace of Honda development.

 

Bleah.

 

-- charles

-- considering trying out for List Curmudgeon since Rick Lindsay is too busy in retirement working on cars  J