Today we saw a race that featured three drivers from three different teams all fighting tooth and nail for a win they all thought was possible for them. I found that fact alone very enjoyable and exciting. Also, irrespective of which car they were driving, it was a close and exciting race with overtakes, aggressive strategy and great, on the limit, driving. Despite the fact that this season has featured some very exciting races I think that the spectacle and marketability of F1 can be improved by ensuring that no team has the kind of advantage that Red Bull have enjoyed until a couple of races ago. I got a bit fed up with pundits asking "who can take the fight to the Red Bulls?" (or words to that effect), and wished for the day when there were at least three teams that were all about equal. Now it seems that this day might have come. If there are about three equal teams then the drivers' individual talents come more to the fore, and also how each team deals with the challenges of each individual track has more importance. For me the last two seasons will be tainted by the fact that Red Bull have run a car that clearly has a movable aero device which contravenes the rules, but the FIA have done precisely nothing to enforce the rules. I guess that McLaren have got about on terms by throwing wads of cash at the problem, and Ferrari have now successfully got a flexible front wing of their own. The result of this is near equality between Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren, is a dramatic, exciting race. This must be the case all the time, and the FIA need to act to make sure that no team exploits the regulations the way Red Bull have for nearly two years. It is a depressing fact, to the detriment of F1, that one team has had one of their drivers on pole for at least the whole season so far. Why should all of the other drivers bother turning up if they know that no matter what they do they will never get on pole, despite them being just as good, or better than, a Red Bull driver? FIA, enforce the rules and regulations, to create a level playing field so that F1 will survive.
We saw a fantastic race didn't we, it was very exciting. If Redbull win, let them... they deserve whatever they get in terms of wins, a team rarely brings itself to the top like that.. I am happy for them whether there is competition or not F1 remains the same. The team at the top is always a benchmark to hit when your a challenging team, then success will be sweeter when you finally hit the top spot. Winning when you know it has been made easy is as not as good as when it has been hard.
I understand your instincts Basil. Unfortunately F1 cannot always prevent a team from dominating - even though, as you say - the actual racing is more exciting when there is more competition. The 'problem' (from the viewers' perspective) is that F1 teams are competing with each other through technology and innovation, as well as with their drivers. [And of course this is what makes F1 "F1" and maintains it as the pinnacle of motorsport, since designers such as Adrian Newey are in direct competition with one another]. Over the years, we have seen ever greater restrictions on the technical aspects of F1. This has gone some way toward keeping costs down as well as making it more likely that performance differences between teams will be smaller. (If one looks back through the history of F1, one finds that the differences between fastest and slowest were bigger - in general - the further back in time one goes); and that in recent years we have seen some of the most hotly contested Championships in history. This is a direct reflection of prescriptive regulation and technological restriction. But these guys are competitors and will naturally seek out any and all advantage (hopefully within the rules). And of course we then have the problem of policing the regulations in a wholly transparent, even-handed manner which neither persecutes, nor shows favouritism. This is very very difficult. For instance, I know for absolutely certain () that I personally have been disadvantaged through what I perceived as over-tolerant scrutineering of other people's interpretations of regulations. But then I'd always feel this wouldn't I?
I agree with all points made so far but one thing I'd like to see is other teams getting a bit of a look in aside from the big three. The Renaults had a podium apiece but that's it this season, I think. Last season there were Rosberg and Kubica, that's all. I'd like to see more variety but otherwise the new regs have certainly improved the entertainment.
I think we should enjoy what was a genuinely exciting race where the result really wasn't decided until Alonso made his final pitstop. The top 3 drivers drove fantastic races, all had their chances to win. I am sure there will be more races like this later in teh year, I am also sure there will be races where one team will dominate and the others are in their shadows. But that is F1. I will be watching the highlights of this race again. A great advertisement for F1.
I'd 'like to see' more variety too. I'd also like to see 15 cars covered by less than a second on the last corner of every Grand Prix. This would be tremendously exciting wouldn't it? I mean, so long as it's not contrived (of course). Now, hang on a sec; I'm back in the USA very soon. I promise I'll try to make a point of paying attention for some more research…
