Formula 1 as the pinnacle of motorsport.

Formula 1 has been regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport. The best engineers, technicians, teams and drivers are part of this small exclusive world. They are considered as the chosen ones. With only twenty slots to be covered, most of the kids who start their racing careers dream to get the glory and money that a handful men could earn.

But is Formula 1 the series of racing cars that people were convinced it is? Hard to say. Its name has grown as time went by mainly by financial interests of many companies. As the series was guided to follow a path of a rectilinear ascent toward the summit of the automobile world, it has been losing, drop by drop, three of its main characteristics. The equality of forces on track, the opportunities drivers had to show how good and talented they were — no matter financial resources and the possibilities engineers enjoyed to have their talents at large.

The equality of forces

Up to the mid-eighties, while the Cosworth engine equipped teams, forces got a sort of balance. Cheap and reliable, any guy could build a chassis, fit a Cosworth engine, a Hewland gear box and four Goodyears and he put on track a decent car. By late 70’s teams as Ensign, Shadow, March, and others with a British DNA were part of the championship. Moreover, under certain circumstances, their drivers climbed up onto podiums. This fight disappeared when costs started skyrocketing. This was allowed by some wrong rules that opened the door to big wigs in automobile.

Drivers, suitcases with dollars and grip

Big wigs demanded more and more money. Lot of developments have been carried on to be in the front. Nevertheless, almost all these improvements never reach where they are supposed to, the common, everyday car. This meant that one of the real goals of racing cars has vanished among the smoke of dollars.

These dollars were requested from sponsors and from the same drivers. The second ones lived a peaceful time while tobacco companies fed teams with dollars. Even new drivers had to show themselves, they were a bit freer since these companies solved many of the financial problems. Thanks to them, Alain Prost, Emerson Fittipaldi, Jacques Lafitte as some examples, could get a place in 24/26 slotted grids.

When tobacco was definitely forbidden (incredible some energizing beverages are still part of this circus), drivers were demanded to bring more and more money. Millions of dollars to fill the back places of the starting grids and having in mind two goals, to bring home cars safe and sound and try not to be lapped by more fortunate fellows. (I am not talking about ore talented).

Talent is another topic here. People think that Formula 1 drivers as the crème de la crème. But great Formula 1 drivers failed in other series, such as Indycars and Formula E. Formula 3, 2 and 1 seem to prepare their gladiators to fit in a too technological world where most tracks are permanent and, with the exception of Monaco, even street circuits are not as tight as the ones used in Formula E and definitely, ovals belong to a different universe.

Not so far ago, on the same Sunday, Formula 1 and Indycars raced in Canada (the first) and Portland -U.S.A- (the second). Formula 1 drivers could show a bit of their talent and strategy when weather was changing and rain became an important factor. But on dry tarmac, technology does almost everything and drivers only have to take their cars home safe and sound. Aerodynamical grip becomes key to give F1 drivers an easy riding, allowing them to attack each turn as fast as they can.

At Indy, things are a bit different. Their grip is closer to a mechanical one. This makes drivers a more important factor handling a car along a race. This is the reason why so many Indycar drivers suffered from so many off track ridings even the tarmac condition was dry and good.

Engineers or fans

Dodging the blame of a regulation where it is hard to find any breach (except for the only engineer whose designs the whole Formula 1 is based on), engineers cannot show all their brightness to try different solutions. Moreover, as drivers must bring cars home after a ridiculous cost cap, engineers cannot try solutions under the warning of being sacked if their innovations are too expensive and they get no results. Other series share the same chassis (Formula E and IndyCars the chassis is built by Dallara) and either choose one of two engines -the first one or are allowed to build its own powertrain — the second.

This meant that Formula 1 is much closer to the eye of engineers and specialists who can spot a minimal change in a front spoiler and IndyCars and Formula E to the fans who sit in front of the TV and are sure that they are not losing two hours of their lives watching no fight, watching the same winners week after week, watching the best overtaking manoeuvres for a far and not important 14th position.

Rounding up

Formula 1 has been regarded as the pinnacle of motorsport, but it is as far from people as the winners of each GP from the fans. The love of Formula 1 fans for this series has been hardly developed by races and championship, but by an inherited feeling from parents to children and by the catchphrase “I have been there”.

Images: Formula 1; https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve-melnyk/ — https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve-melnyk/37994473894/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=79899884 ; @F1_Images;

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