Formula 1 motor racing is great!
What’s harder to explain is why fun in the sport seems harder to spot than a sponsorship-free... well, anything, really.
I’m copiously aware that not everyone shares my passion. For many, the foots balls win their hearts, and it is true to say that there aren’t many F1-related chants (unless you count an inappropriate and un- sportsmanlike booing of German multiple-winners).
But the passion and fervour is there, from the long-suffering fans of great British teams like Williams (who have been forced to keep a very stiff-upper lip whilst the team underperform like Boris Johnson at a subtlety contest) to the red-hot Italian passion of the Tifosi, for their beloved Ferrari.
After a promising start to the season, it rapidly became clear we were once again facing a Sebwash from the brilliant young German, Vettel. Having achieved four World Championship titles in a row, he is clearly up there with the all-time greats of F1. And yet his dominance isn’t anything that hasn’t been experienced in a multitude of other sports, by other great talents.
Whilst the booing that has occurred following some of his many victories this season is truly shameful, it is hard to figure out why he’s receiving it. The last person to dominate so fully was fellow German Michael Schumacher, under a decade ago. Whilst ‘Schumi’ regularly played the villain in the F1 pantomime, his understudy has (largely) avoided that faux-pas since taking on the role.
Maybe it is just a sign of our modern times. With the ability to express instant favour or dislike for something via website clicks, reality TV phone-ins, or simply mouthing off on Social Media, having tainted the minds of some so sufficiently, showing a little respect for someone at the top of their game is no longer the norm.
Strangely, F1 really isn’t helping itself to provide a better show. Had Vettel not won the race at which he wrapped up the title, he wouldn’t have been presented with a trophy, or have got to stand on a podium, spraying champagne, to celebrate his success. Oh no – you only get the trophy after the season. At an award ceremony. Which is invite only and not on TV.
Similarly, driver Mark Webber, and Passenger Fernando Alonso, got into trouble when the former stopped to pick up the latter after his car conked out at the end of a race. And the recent “doughnuts” performed by Vettel saw his Red Bull team fined £21,000. With most drivers unwilling to speak their minds for fear of upsetting sponsors, complete dominance by one driver and team, and anything that could be described as fun being slapped with a fine or reprimanded, it’s a wonder anyone is watching.
Next year, the dominance may end, as new rules mean the cars will change dramatically, as the teams start from scratch with unfamiliar designs.
Let’s hope someone fits an “entertain the viewers” button on the steering wheel the drivers can press now and again.
This post first appeared as my "Thank Grumpy it's Friday" column in the North West Evening Mail on the 8th of November 2013. You can view the version the paper used on their website here - they retitled it "Time to put the fun in F1". Unusually, not only did it lose 32 words, it also got partially re-phrased too. What you have here is the whole, badly written, original. Normally, just a few words go, and any stupidity from me on the tense front gets corrected, so this is unusual. But admittedly quite dull for you. Sorry about that.
Apologies also for the delay in posting this - I've been in the Deep South until this afternoon. Hampshire, to be vaguely precise. It's still late summer there, y'know.
(Compilation CD run-through continues - A Q Magazine freebie, called "Really Free" tonight, from '94.)
I’m copiously aware that not everyone shares my passion. For many, the foots balls win their hearts, and it is true to say that there aren’t many F1-related chants (unless you count an inappropriate and un- sportsmanlike booing of German multiple-winners).
But the passion and fervour is there, from the long-suffering fans of great British teams like Williams (who have been forced to keep a very stiff-upper lip whilst the team underperform like Boris Johnson at a subtlety contest) to the red-hot Italian passion of the Tifosi, for their beloved Ferrari.
After a promising start to the season, it rapidly became clear we were once again facing a Sebwash from the brilliant young German, Vettel. Having achieved four World Championship titles in a row, he is clearly up there with the all-time greats of F1. And yet his dominance isn’t anything that hasn’t been experienced in a multitude of other sports, by other great talents.
Whilst the booing that has occurred following some of his many victories this season is truly shameful, it is hard to figure out why he’s receiving it. The last person to dominate so fully was fellow German Michael Schumacher, under a decade ago. Whilst ‘Schumi’ regularly played the villain in the F1 pantomime, his understudy has (largely) avoided that faux-pas since taking on the role.
Maybe it is just a sign of our modern times. With the ability to express instant favour or dislike for something via website clicks, reality TV phone-ins, or simply mouthing off on Social Media, having tainted the minds of some so sufficiently, showing a little respect for someone at the top of their game is no longer the norm.
Strangely, F1 really isn’t helping itself to provide a better show. Had Vettel not won the race at which he wrapped up the title, he wouldn’t have been presented with a trophy, or have got to stand on a podium, spraying champagne, to celebrate his success. Oh no – you only get the trophy after the season. At an award ceremony. Which is invite only and not on TV.
Similarly, driver Mark Webber, and Passenger Fernando Alonso, got into trouble when the former stopped to pick up the latter after his car conked out at the end of a race. And the recent “doughnuts” performed by Vettel saw his Red Bull team fined £21,000. With most drivers unwilling to speak their minds for fear of upsetting sponsors, complete dominance by one driver and team, and anything that could be described as fun being slapped with a fine or reprimanded, it’s a wonder anyone is watching.
Next year, the dominance may end, as new rules mean the cars will change dramatically, as the teams start from scratch with unfamiliar designs.
Let’s hope someone fits an “entertain the viewers” button on the steering wheel the drivers can press now and again.
This post first appeared as my "Thank Grumpy it's Friday" column in the North West Evening Mail on the 8th of November 2013. You can view the version the paper used on their website here - they retitled it "Time to put the fun in F1". Unusually, not only did it lose 32 words, it also got partially re-phrased too. What you have here is the whole, badly written, original. Normally, just a few words go, and any stupidity from me on the tense front gets corrected, so this is unusual. But admittedly quite dull for you. Sorry about that.
Apologies also for the delay in posting this - I've been in the Deep South until this afternoon. Hampshire, to be vaguely precise. It's still late summer there, y'know.
(Compilation CD run-through continues - A Q Magazine freebie, called "Really Free" tonight, from '94.)
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