Exactly, I'm off to Donny to watch superbikes this weekend, **** the dim wits, oh, look there's lots of overtaking, isn't it wonderful, bollocks F1.
F1 these days is more contrived that ever. At least when Schuey was at the front - we all new he was 'allowed' to win. Now - its sets of tyres, worn or new, how many pitstops, no barging guys off the track, recycling gearboxes etc etc. We have to get our kicks staring up a Red Bull arse-end.
Driven past Donington each day this week past the transporter trucks on my way to work, Bergy, thinking this is how F1 should be so will be spending my time up there instead of watching **** F1
Sorry BLS but as you may have detected I feel very strongly about this, so the quiz may have to wait at least until after the weekend.
…And in the most literal sense, rules themselves are contrivances! I empathise with some of the feelings being expressed in this thread by Bergy and Ernie; but I'd posit that F1 has been contrived for a very long time. Indeed, to a greater or lesser extent, it has to be. Ever since Ferrari were granted their demands for 'special' treatment by a compliant governing body (as well as having a ring-master with his own, personal interest in their success), F1 has been contrived, inasmuch as one team being given all the trump cards. As individuals, Schumacher and Ecclestone were the biggest beneficiaries, although Ferrari top brass was also likely to be rather happy. Oddly enough, for Schumacher in particular, this very much included a preferential arrangement over … (wait for it) … tyres! – which he had unlimited opportunity to test and had a major role in developing! (This also applied to contriving to influence Tilke's circuit design, which he hoped would suit his driving and his tyres! Although Ferrari still have a financial advantage, the result of F1's present formula (or 'contrivance') is that all teams and drivers have a more level playing field, as well as countering what was its biggest source of criticism: a lack of overtaking. This was the result of aerodynamic excellence - itself a developed 'contrivance', resulting in ever increasing accuracy in the aerodynamicist's formula (for success). These things cannot be 'unlearned'. Therefore, regardless of romantic notions, we cannot put the clock back to a preferred, 'purer', more innocent, or more ignorant era. And this fact is the very thing which defines Formula 1 ! The most important factor in any competition is that all competitors have a level playing field; the same pole to vault with; leaving them to devise their own means of competing within the particular contrivance ('formula'). And despite the current plethora of gimmickry, we now have a situation more fair to its competitors than it has been for over two decades. One more thing I'd like to include in this post: the drivers are - almost to a man - enjoying what we currently have a lot more than what we had previously…
Fortunately, Pirelli will continue to provide the tyres we "dim wits" like. We do try but there's none so blind as those who will not see.
The British Grand Prix of '99 stands out as one which brought tears to my eyes. –Awful thing… Awful…
