Has the magic gone from Formula One?

Speed, controversy, conflict, drama.  All are aspects of the racing franchise which we grew up with in our childhood.  The cars were from a dream world, adorned with bright colours and brand names which served as a reminder that the I.T. revolution was about to take over.

The drivers had the height of fame, chisel-jawed, rarely without a pit girl on their arm yet utterly determined to succeed in their sport.  Bill Shankley’s remark of sport being “more than a matter of life and death” refers more tragically to Formula One when Ayrton Senna‘s death brought the sporting world to a standstill in 1991.

One of the primary reasons for the staggering support of Formula One was that it was one of the only sporting events which were available to Irish viewers who up until recently have only had the four native television channels.  Peter Collins, now presenter and part-time commentator for football on RTE will always be a reminder of the great days of the sport when he presented RTE’s coverage.

Watching grand prix on a Sunday would be one of the highlights of the weekend for the average primary school boy or girl.  They would be broadcasting from the most glamorous destinations on the planet, Melbourne, Montreal, Tokyo, Barcelona etc.   The shrill noises of the engines sent chills down the spine and the sight of mirages on the horizon reminded us of the warmth which was of such stark contrast to the damp conditions which were outside our own windows.

Everybody had a favourite driver, a favourite team.  There would be fights in school between groups of Schumacher and Hakkinen supporters, groups of Ferrari and McLaren followers.  Personally, I always supported the underdog.  As a result my support switched on many occasions between the brash, arrogant German and the reserved, determined Finn.  However, my loathing for Ferrari never changed, mainly because they were so unbeatable, the Manchester United of the racing world.

Another reason for our addiction to the sport was its Irish connection.  We always kept an eye on the ‘Jordan’ team, led by the flamboyant character of Eddie Jordan.  His fantastic press conferences and his undeniable ability to run a successful Formula One team are reminiscent of Ian Holloway, current manager of Blackpool.  The sight of his two cars racing against the biggest car manufacturers in the world was a huge source of national pride. 

Even the cars will never be forgotten, the black and yellow colours splashed across the body with ‘Benson and Hedges’ never out of view.  It was no coincidence that the steady decline of the ‘Jordan’ team and the end of Eddie Irvine’s career also saw a drop in the interest of the sport in Ireland.  New teams were entering every year as the biggest team names in the sport’s history slowly realised it was not viable to continue entering a team.  Similarly, new drivers were taking the place of the old guard.  Schumacher had no competition and subsequently dominated the championship over a stretch of five years between 2002 and 2006.

Formula One also had to put up with competition from other sports which were getting more and more time on the television.  Viewers wanted excitement and they weren’t getting it from Formula One.  The rivalries had gone, the biggest names in the game had left and the integrity of the sport was beginning to be questioned.  Drivers now had to abide by team orders and resorted to dirty tactics to try and succeed.

This new age of racing was epitomised by the controversy of the Singapore Grand Prix in September 2008.  A seemingly innocuous accident involving Nelson Piquet Jr of Renault meant that a safety car had to be deployed to clear the track.  As a result, Piquet’s team-mate Fernando Alonso was able to close the gap on the leaders and subsequently went on to win the race.  Renault’s Team Principal Flavio Briatore was found guilty of the act and has been banned for life from the sport.

That seemed to be the breaking point for Formula One’s top brass who decided that changes were needed to maintain the excitement and integrity of the sport.  And haven’t they done well.  Youth and new thinking have been central to Formula One’s evolution over the past few years.  Young, talented exciting racers have replaced the cautious, conservative drivers of yesteryear.  The battles between Vettel, Hamilton, Button, Webber, Alonso and Massa have been incredible to watch with those behind the wheel being given free rein to race against their team-mates. 

New car features such as KERS and DRS has seen a dramatic increase in overtaking during races.  The season has been lengthened to bring incorporate new circuits such as Korea, Abu Dhabi and the incredible floodlit track in Singapore. 

Those broadcasting the sport have also had to up their game.  BBC’s coverage over the past few years has been excellent with the afore-mentioned Eddie Jordan accompanying former drivers Martin Brundle and David Coulthard in offering up informative discussions on all aspects of Formula One.  Drivers and Team Principals are much more forthcoming with their opinions than the elites of other sports.  As a result, their interviews are actually worth watching.  Drivers aren’t hesitant to criticise their team or fellow drivers for mistakes made during the race week-end and will happily confront the accused in full view of the cameras, something which Felipe Massa showed when he sarcastically congratulated the interviewed Lewis Hamilton after the pair collided on track In Singapore.

Is the magic gone from Formula One?  I don’t think so.