Chiu’s Changes to F1: When is Rubbin’ Not Racing (Pt 4)

Formula One does not have the best racing in the world week in, week out. It never will due to the nature of the cars and the lack of close competition, which will not change soon of major changes are not made.

But when it is good, it can be up there with some of the best racing in the world. Two drivers going side by side at ridiculously high speeds, just millimetres from having an aeroplane crash is what gets people off their seats and screaming at the action.

The skill of the drivers, the trust in each other and the ability to not think about the possible consequences and just go for it and keep the throttle nailed to the floor is mesmerising.

We can’t always have that but its those moments that we love F1 for and its those moments that we crave because none of us could to that. That’s why when mistakes are made during a battle, I sometimes wonder why it does not happen more often.

When criticising a driver’s racecraft we have to remember that they are still exceptionally good, just not as good as others and F1 does have some of the best drivers in the world.

The point is that we all like a good scrap on the track and we all want it to be clean and fair. F1 does definitely not need the type of bump and grind that other motorsport series showcase but it should allow drivers to get their elbows out a little.

Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc’s titanic battle at Silverstone last year is the perfect example of this. They might not always have been on the track and it might have been right on the limit in terms of racing etiquette but nearly everyone loved it because they were putting everything on the line to stop the other driver overtaking or to make an overtaking manoeuvre.

The stewards did not penalise this and that was exactly the right decision. But, when things do go wrong and there is an accident, due to the precedent that has been set this is where the inconsistencies come in.

There have been too many examples of a penalty being given but then a worse incident is not awarded a penalty. Being a steward is a very tough job and I do think many of us do not appreciate it, but so many times the majority of fans disagree with a decision which should not be the case.

Nearly every other motorsport series in the world does not have this problem. You can pretty much tell if a penalty is going to be given in the Australia Supercars series (for example) because the precedent has been set and the drivers know what they can and can’t get away with whereas in F1 you really don’t know what penalty or if a penalty is going to be given due to the inconsistencies.

It’s remarkably similar to the current situation with VAR (video assistant referees) in the Premier League and the inconsistencies there.

Things need to be simplified.

For example, an unsafe release should always be given a drive through penalty (or a 10 second time penalty) – whatever the penalty is, stick to that penalty.

It should not matter about the width of the pit lane, whether the cars go side by side or not etc. just give the same penalty. You should only merge in front or behind a car, not alongside. Countless times, a penalty has been given for an unsafe release whereas other times it is just let go.

Look at 2019 alone. Verstappen was given a five second time penalty in Monaco but was given nothing at Silverstone when released into the path of Leclerc. Other times, a more severe punishment has been given.

If a car is released into the path of another car and it does not merge behind, give a drive through penalty – no questions asked. You can argue that no two incidents are the same but by giving the same penalty for the same type of incident then you set a precedent and you make the rules and punishments much more clear to the drivers, the fans and the teams.

That is just an example of course.

Something else that has harmed F1 recently is the less challenging and more forgiving nature of the tracks. So many circuits have been ruined or last their edge due to tarmac run-off replacing gravel traps or grass.

Spa-Francorchamps has been ruined the most due to this. Eau Rouge, Rivarge, Pouhon and Blanchimont are no longer the challenge they used to be. You can go off and simply come back on the track again, sometimes without losing any time or without being punished.

Monza’s Parabolica lost its gravel trap in 2014 so now the drivers go off the track because it’s faster, knowing that there is nothing to stop them doing so.

I understand the safety aspect so I can see why this has been done but some tracks are just not the same. I propose this solution which challenges the drivers with safety still in mind:

A strip of grass 20cm outside of the white line, immediately followed by a metre strip of gravel and then you can have all of the tarmac run-off you want. Obviously I would much prefer what we have at Suzuka for example at the Degners but if we can’t have that, why not have a strip of grass followed by a strip of gravel then have the tarmac run-off.

The drivers will be punished if they make an error, they won’t abuse the track limits and since the FIA believe it is far safer to have a tarmac run-off, the FIA can keep that following the track limit deterrents.

By doing this, there is no need to delete laptimes or have investigations etc. the action can happen on the track and the drivers will have to keep within the white lines to maximise laptime.

Most of F1’s racing problems are down to the technical regulations which have flawed the sport. Should the new 2021 rules be as good as Liberty are hyping them to be, the racing will instantly be better but there is no guarantee of the field closing up or one of the big three teams adapting to the regulations and going on to dominate.

Tomorrow (11th Feb) will see the first of the F1 car launches by Ferrari, beginning the start of another 11 month marathon for the F1 Circus.