As a Formula One fan I’m constantly asked why I watch the sport. “It’s boring” the critics say. Well, obviously not to me or the millions of other Formula One fans around the world. Still many ask what exactly makes F1 stand out in a crowded motor sport arena where we have DTM (German touring car) and BTCC in the U.K, NASCAR and IndyCar in the USA, V8 Supercars, endurance racing, and so many other motor sports series?
Well for me it’s can be summed up in one word “Tradition.” Formula One has the greatest names in motor sport competing annually for the constructors championship.
Ferrari being the most famous mark not only in Formula One but in all of motor sport. Lotus (reborn), McLaren & Williams also have a great heritage, and couple this with decades of having run the best drivers in the world from Fangio and Moss, Jim Clarke, Jackie Stewart, Hunt and Lauda, Michael Schumacher and of course arguably the greatest Ayrton Senna. To today’s drivers Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Kimmi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton form a strong current crop of world champions.
Formula One is the pinnacle of motor sport, the highest mountain to climb. Once a driver reaches the top and drives in the tracks of the greats who have come before, and that driver becomes The World Champion it’s not just for that year. It’s like being president or king said driver will have the title “FIA FORMULA 1 World champion” for life!
So where am I going with this?
Well as I said tradition is what Formula One is all about so what happened to the Laurels?
It’s as synonymous with motor sport as the champagne one podium and the milk at Indy so why have they disappeared? I’m told by a respected Formula One journalist on a radio phone in that it was a sponsor driven decision as they didn’t want the Laurels covering the logos on their racing suits. Really? I can’t accept this. They are happy enough to take the sponsors hat off and replace it with the tire manufacturers cap! Surely someone could sponsor the laurels?
So come on FIA and Mr. Ecclestone please please bring back the laurels and prove that it’s not all about the money and that Formula 1 has one eye on its heritage as well as the future.
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