The recent duel between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, the Netflix series “Drive to Survive”, and the youth engagement scheme put in place by Liberty Medium, have allowed a rather boring F1 for the masses to become one of the most growing sports in recent years. The innovative drive given by the owners of the circus seems unstoppable, but if in some ways it is a panacea for the visibility of the competition, for others risks changing the DNA of the sport we all know.
Waiting increases (goes) desire
The 2023 season calendar, and there are 24 races. As for the sprints of Saturday, the figure passes from three to six. If a sprint covers a third of the distance of a normal grand prix, with six of those it's as if the calendar went up to 26 races, a frightening figure if you consider the number of months you have available to dispute them. The agreement of concord signed by the teams sanctioned a maximum number of 24 matches, certainly respected on paper, but promptly circumvented with the ploy of the Saturday Garetta.
The direction that the circus is taking worrying for two reasons: the first, for which it seems that according to Liberty a greater quantity corresponds to a greater pleasure of the public in watching an event (the concept of quality over quantity does not seem to apply); and the second, much more important, which concerns the physical but above all mental health of the workers.
Behind the scenes of an F1 under stress
Shopping of such a busy schedule are first and foremost the insiders. Mechanics, engineers, journalists, cameramen, editors, staff and FIA men are those who come jostle between planes to reach the circuits, work, sometimes sort out when the tender is not over, and start again. Between one stopover and another, moving from time zone to time zone, working under the pressure of having to do well and in the most diverse climatic conditions, from weekend to weekend they're always there. Next year, insiders, they are called to face three hat-tricks and five braces, far too many.
It's easy to be surprised by a wrong pitstop or incorrect preparation of the car, but when the health of those who are least considered by the top management is put to the test, one wonders if this was not to be expected. There FIA, despite the many criticisms it has recently received, imposed a sacred curfew for the mechanics, guaranteeing them extra hours of rest that they did not have in the past. On the other hand, Liberty Media continues its crusade aimed at ever greater opulence, sign of the increasingly evident rift between the sport business unit and its legislator.
An F1 with the sin of greenwashing
Investors' pockets are getting fuller in this upward spiral, and throughout it all the environment watches wistfully. The stated direction complete with slogans and posters is that of the massive reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, but the gestures seem to point in the opposite direction. It is easy to boast of a lowering of the maximum temperature of the electric blankets to reduce the use of electricity; however, the contradiction arises precisely when totally senseless shifts are introduced into such a massive calendar.
Some examples: in a week the teams will have to get married from Azerbaijan a Miami, I am eleven thousand kilometers. During the European phase there is a 'away' from Spain al Canada, to then return to Europe again… A useless coming and going to say the least. Impossible not to mention the fact that the Middle Eastern grands prix (Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Qatar), and the trio of US races (Miami, Austin and Las Vegas) will be held on dates interspersed with other grand prix. The alternative more eco-friendly would obviously be to deal with sets consecutively, thus avoiding a goosebumps ride.
It would be foolish to imagine a calendar that follows a perfect process step by step to minimize the kilometers traveled by planes and trucks. There are too many interests at stake, without forgetting the need to compete in certain areas only in a specific period for minimize the risk of bad weather, hurricanes and typhoons; However, Liberty's commitment to reduce emissions in this case is clearly insufficient.
A strange way to create entertainment
The issue of the maximum limit of the components that can be used in a season is not negligible. with a distance to go of 26 races (including sprints), then adding up the kilometers of qualifying and free practice, the prospect of having only three power units for the entire season is not exciting. You will only see one aggravation of departures from the back of the grid. In short, the concept of reverse grid it is not foreseen by the regulation, but it is there. the direction is clear and the hope is that it's just a gray phase of sport that will settle down over time; the feeling, however, is that an approach to change from 'reform' to 'reform' is being preferred to revolution, and note well, the final result is the same.
