So here we are, it’s been four long months since the last time we heard the cars roar for the last time. Now, we are facing the beginning of a new season with all the doubts the winter usually casts on the teams and drivers. But they’ll be over soon, this very weekend we’ll get some answers, or maybe not…
First of all, we’ll have to get used to the halo, the new addition to the cars to make the sport safer. We are aware of the inner danger attached to this sport, there are things you can’t control, or at least you can’t keep under control if you want to maintain the nature of the F1, but every step towards minimizing those risks has to be welcomed. Aesthetics matters, but the priorities must be crystal clear here, so we are not discussing how the new cars look like with the new part. Let’s just wait and see, if the halo does its part, if it proves useful it’s all we need to accept it. Probably we’ll forget about it soon as it happens with all the not so big changes that are in life.
This year it is likely we won’t have any girl on the grid and that does worry us. No, we’re not talking about the so-called “pit babes” since we’re here to talk about racing and not about models or fashion, but we mean that this year we won’t have any female driver either. And we’d like the girls to be there, to prove themselves and talk the only way a driver should be heard when referring to the sport: racing. That’s the only reason we want women at the top of motorsport, because we believe they can and belong there.
After the courtship of the first months, now the clashes arise between Liberty and the teams. Changing the old relationships has proved tough and the unavoidable conflicts of interest have risen up, no surprise in all of it, the F1 is a huge circus with many stakeholders defending different industries and with different visions on it. Taking this into account, we think that no hard line could be sustainable, that compromise must the foundation of any rule set or agreement that emerges in these brave new times. You can’t trash all the research, investment and achievements that the latest technical specification has brought to us, we have to build up the future at the top of what is already reached, that is, the present.
We also salute the new OTT (Over the Top) services the F1 is going to serve while we can’t help but regret that in some countries (such as Spain). We are not among the first lucky fans who can enjoy the new experience. Well, to be completely honest, it seems that most of European countries will have wait for it. Maybe two in distress makes sorrow less. It’s a pity that in the agreement reached last year with Movistar this issue was not addressed. It seems we’ll have to wait some time to get it.
In short, let’s hope that the season that starts its engines right now can bring us closer racing and great races. No, we haven’t said a word about it, can we trust the tests? What can we extract from them? Are the new variety of tires going to spice up the races? Well, the waiting is over.