Formula One; acclaimed to be the pinnacle of motorsport. In recent years it has constantly been reported that that the sport is in trouble, a mess and even so far as on its knees. However, this is something of an overreaction. F1 is in nowhere as bad a state as is claimed by any means.
Just because a team gets on top and perhaps even dominates for a few years doesn’t mean Armageddon. It’s the nature of sport. Every league or championship will have one team on the up and the winning one on its way back down the pecking order.
The new V6 hybrid turbo power units have been ridiculed by fans and it’s been quite an unfounded criticism because the engines are just as fast and reliable (if you’re Mercedes) as previous generations in history. Where are the problems? Not within the competition itself, that much I can asure you.
Where does Formula One go from here?
Ownership and Structure
Formula One is unique in that it has three functioning bodies that guide the sport. The FIA is its governing body and rule enforcer, then there is FOM run by Bernie Ecclestone who deals with the rights of Formula One, makes the deals with circuit venues and helps with the broadcasting rights. Finally, there is CVC Capital which owns the majority ownership in the sport.
I have to ask why this is the case. Looking at how FIFA guide football, it is the governing body but also the body that facilitates all the world’s football leagues. Too many chefs in the kitchen perhaps?
It’s hard to see why the FIA doesn’t work with FOM more to help the image of Formula One. CVC Capital appears not to have much interest either in helping Formula One ensure its place as the pinnacle of motorsport. It’s made the sport have more of a corporate image. While it’s nice to have a professional image, the sport often lacks the competitive flair that it once had in the 1980s and 1990s.
Drivers are often restricted with what they can say in interviews and conferences. How is that right when they are the stars of the show? Fans would like to see the drivers be honest and speak out when the time is right because it’s the raw emotional response that is the truest and most competitive, especially immediately after getting out of the car.
Strategy Group
Christian Horner’s idea of reinvigorating the strategy group with non team affiliated members has to be the best I have heard to help keep competition fair in the sport.
This idea will ensure the nature of the competitive rules will not benefit one team or another. If you were to place experienced former F1 personnel such as Ross Brawn, Gordon Murray and Gary Anderson as examples, you could help create a set of rules that are simple, fair, cheaper and more open enough for development to come into play. This way, we go back to having the best minds within the paddock going to one set of rules instead of always chasing one or two teams’ idea of what the rules should be because it benefits them.
Complaints are made as to how the rules have made it unfair and competition restricted, but it cannot be forgotten that the teams themselves voted for these rules and regulations. The chance for any team to have any say in the future of the rules and regulations of Formula One must be removed.
There are talks of a new rule set being implemented for 2017 or even 2018. What clearly worries me is that by then we will have had three radical rule changes in less than ten years. This should be a worrying sign because it’s clear that the root of problem has not been recognised. 2018 would be better because the regulations will have longer to be decided as the 2017 regulations have to be out by February next year. This will leave only six more months to get the ideas set in stone.
Formula One needs an overhaul. That much can be agreed on. However, how it needs to be scrutinised and analysed thoroughly before any solution is put forward. Whatever happens, it needs to come from within its core structure. By doing this the competition and image of the sport will become better for it by just a matter of consequence.
