During the course of an interview with the BBC last Saturday, Mr Ecclestone invited us to consult a dictionary to check the meaning of the word ‘conspiracy’.
For those of you who either missed the interview, or failed to take up the invitation, allow me to clarify the definition of this word. A conspiracy is ‘a secret plan to carry out an illegal or harmful act, especially with political motivation’.
You will have guessed that the word, recently much-used by the media, came up in the context of what has become known, by the media at least, as ‘Crashgate’. You will decide for yourselves whether or not the unusual strategy employed by the Renault team at Singapore in 2008 was, in fact, a conspiracy. Certainly it was a secret, it might well have been harmful, and the motivation could be seen as political in the broadest sense of the word. But whether or not it was illegal is open to debate. The FIA, and the World Motor Sport Council, would undoubtedly see it that way. A civil court of law would probably have difficulty in establishing that an illegal act had been committed.
I mention this for two reasons. Mr Ecclestone, as is his prerogative as the public face of sport’s commercial rights holder, stoutly and oh-so-cleverly defended the FIA’s decision not to ban Renault from taking any further part in Grand Prix racing while at the same time suggesting that Mr Briatore’s lifetime ban was perhaps, and upon reflection, a little harsh. “You don’t get that for murder,” said Bernie. Well no, you don’t. And nobody died. But what is slightly worrying is that neither Mr Ecclestone, nor Mr Mosley, appeared to accept that the sport had suffered any serious damage as a result of the controversy
Some might beg to differ. Among those, presumably, are the senior executives of ING, the Dutch financial conglomerate.
While on the subject of conspiracy, it was surely a mighty relief to many, if not to Romain Grosjean, when the number eight Renault was safely parked in its garage after just three laps. The brake problems encountered in qualifying had not been solved. The prospect of Alonso’s team-mate visiting the wall during the course of the race was surely too awful to contemplate. A relief all round then.
The Singapore Grand Prix may not have been the most exciting motor race you’ve ever seen, but it was without a major controversial incident. Furthermore, it was a spectacular occasion and the grandstands were full. Not only that, but we saw Lewis Hamilton at his majestic best, the renaissance of McLaren gathering speed, and the silver MP24 looking superb under three million watts of street lights. Not to mention Toyota in the top three, just a week before Suzuka, and Jenson Button taking one more small step towards becoming the 2009 World Champion. And, last but not least, the BMW team admitting to a mistake with the ballast weights and taking a penalty on the chin.
All we need now is for Mr Button to triumph in Japan and return home with the biggest prize of them all. Just as, all those years ago, we crawled out of bed at dawn and sat nervously in front of our televisions to see James Hunt come through the mist and rain to win his world title. I do not wish to be overly patriotic, but this would surely be the right result for a team and driver that have achieved extraordinary things this past season.
We have had more than enough conspiracy, however it may be defined. Albert Einstein is credited with saying that the only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once. I think we’d all agree that more than enough has been said, and the dents will only be beaten out with time. For now, we should sit back and enjoy what looks like being a very intriguing and exciting end to the season.
Telling Webber to let Alonso AND Glock through was just a minor controversy? It was nice to see Toyota up there, but how much of that was down to penalties?
I thought it was supposed to be about racing, not finding reasons to deduct points off people? If that track, or the layout isn’t conducive to passing what is F1 doing there? Why?
Last week we refuted the old chestnut about publicity. You’re only as good as your last sale, or your last film, or your last race? That race bore comparison with a very dry IT exam. At least if you pass the exam you’ve something new for your CV and possibly a pay rise.
I fully agree with Alastair’s comments on this race. I found it boring to watch on TV. The only decent pass I saw was Webber overtaking Alonso on the outside and of course, the officials ruled this move illegal.
Street circuits lend themselves to processional racing no matter what the category. Let’s be rid of them.
I agree that it was not a thrilling race. But I think it’s a little unfair to blame street circuits.
Monaco can be exciting, as we have seen on many occasions, and certainly Long Beach provided some great racing, as did the streets of downtown Detroit and Adelaide.
Valencia and Singapore are dull because of the design of the circuit. Clearly, the layout has to be such that cars can overtake each other. And this is possible, given the will to do so.
Webber and his feisty moves. Well, if you accept that rules are rules, then the stewards were correct in enforcing the rule. Again, it is the rules that are barmy, not the race administrators. Any rule that prevents overatking is mad, unless it involves something dangerous – i.e. forcing someone into the wall or off the road. So, for me, it’s the rules that need to be addressed, just as it is the way the tracks are layed out that needs to be examined.
Let us hope they have got it right in Abu Dhabi. We need to end the season on a high.
RW
Many years ago I took a motor-cycle racing pal of mine to a car-race meeting at Oulton Park. In one race a slower car signalled another to overtake (on the outside as it happened). My chum asked what that was all about and I said it was a courtesy to the faster driver. “Blow that for a game of soldiers” he replied ” In bike racing we make our own arrangements!” Would that that applied to today’s Formula One.
Absolutely! Many of us car racing fans love motorcycle racing and I try never to miss the Moto GP weekends. So damn exciting. Every time.
Let us fervently hope that Moto GP does not get dragged down into the mire of politics, health & safety and battalions of bureaucrats who wouldn’t know a race if it hit them where it hurts.
If only we could somehow get rid of some of the highly sophisticated aerodynamics, and avoid circuits where overtaking is nigh on impossible, then we’d be making real progress.
Good old Oulton Park – lovely place to watch motor racing.
RW
Bernie and Max are conspiring to send us to sleep. I can only wonder what crimes F1 fans have committed to be served up Grand Prix like that one?
Rob,
In the old days a new F1 team would be lucky to be within 3 seconds a lap of top teams year one. However, with a lot of dumbing down in F1 the past few years do you see the new teams coming on within 1.5 seconds per lap off top teams or do you still see a slow climb for them?
I must be watching a different race than everyone else…I fail to see the “glamour” of the Singapore GP. The track looks like a cross between Long Beach (concrete and chain link fence) and the no man’s land on the east side of the Berlin Wall (barbed wire and combat ready soldiers with dogs wandering around). The beautiful skyline is invisible behind the glare of the lights and the smog from Indonesia. It’s seriously hot and humid, and only devine intervention can have kept that race dry two years running. All that would be acceptable if there was a race, rather than a parade, to watch.
I overstate the case (a bit) but my point is…a lot of hype about very little…it’s a pretend GP.
There’s a San Marino/Guantanamo Bay like solution?
The rent a proper circuit somewhere and call that the Singapore Grand Prix?
The Singapore Grand Pix at Silverstone? Nothing comes closer to Bernie’s heart?
although I agree the Singapore race was a parade, looking back through history there have been a lot of parades and I don’t mean in the last 20 years. Even in the super-competitive 60s and 70s there were times when circumstances dictated a parade. Sometimes I think we have been all duped by the excitement that comes when there is a close race, like Dijon ’79. We anticipate that there’ll be one at every race, but it ain’t so. Same thing over here, that’s why NASCAR and the IRL throw yellows for too many hot dog wrappers on the track……
I like this little debate. It has all been said before, but it is the core problem, or challenge, for GP racing in this age of aerospace technology.
We are all correct, in that yes, there are many very dull races, and that yes, there always have been throughout the history of the sport. Remember when McLaren won every race bar one? Remember when Andretti and Petersen ran away with everything. And Schumacher winning everything in sight?
This does not make it any better, or excuse places like Malaysia, China, Singapore et al. But it does tell us that GP racing is not very often thrilling. It is more often absorbing and/or intriguing.
Of course the Americans have it right. They understand that this is upposed to be entertainment for those who have shelled out their dollars to sit there and watch. Why not throw a yellow for hot dog wrappers? Is it really so naff? It may be a little clumsy and manipulative but it makes for excitement and that’s not all bad.
What about the new teams for 2010? Will they be on the pace? Well, that’s if they turn up at all. The word on the street is that not all of them will make it to the grid and if they do, how competitive will the new Cosworth engine be? None of them are in the Brawn league. My feeling is that they will be at the back and some may even be in the way. It takes exceptional abilities to do what Brawn has done – i.e. Honda money, Brawn intelligence, Mercedes power and two very experienced drivers. We shall see. A Lotus designed by Gascoyne, with money from Malaysia, may be the best of the bunch.
RW
Rob’
RE:SINGAPORE DISCUSSION
Having watched the highlights of the Revival meeting last night on ITV4,one can only add “THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT” and it’s a pity that it does’nt seem to get through to the F1 Brigade.What an event that is,and not an FIA man in sight.Hallelullah!!!
Was F1 as ever hyped as it is now? I felt disappointment until possibly two events on Monday afternoon and evening. It was a disappointment a bit like when Hamilton didn’t win the 2007 Championship.
I am getting myself too pumped up with excitement by visiting websites and reading magazines?
I am investing too much expectation in F1, or it’s being hyped up? Or a mixture of both?
“we crawled out of bed at dawn and sat nervously in front of our televisions to see James Hunt come through the mist and rain to win his world title.” Excuse me but the race was live on BBC Radio only, not telivised until later in the day.
Yes, you got it, the Goodwood Revival is a truly wonderful event and not to be missed. Glad you liked the show on ITV – the real thing is twice as good! As always, when it comes to TV and the actual event.
Hype or expecttation? A bit of both, I suspect. As with the Revival, F1 is actually a lot better ‘live’ than it is on TV. We still do not get the full spectacle on TV despite some improvements over the years.
We are recording a new podcast today so we will try to address some of these points during the casting of the latest pod.
If you think that modern F1 is full of hype and bullshit, you should try tuning in to the New Labour party conference in Brighton. Hype and hyperbole, not to mention jargon and correctness, are the common currencies of our world.
RW
Please forgive me David, I seem to have had another senior moment and my memory is clearly playing tricks on me. Just as well I am on holday next week. At least I think it’s next week……………
I thought we watched it on BBC TV but I;m sure you are correct. My apologies. Perhaps I was glued to the wireless and my imagination gave me such good pictures that I thought I actually watched it ‘live’.
The images are still very clear in my mind, even if they were recorded and shown later.
The great thin about working for Motor Sport is that the readers often know more, or remember more, than the writers. Keeps us on our toes.
RW
Rob, we certainly DID see highlights of the race in the afternoon on BBC TV. I do agree with you about how exciting it was. Have a good holiday
A note on being there versus TV – although I live 4 hours from Indy, I always watched the good coverage on ABC here in the US of the Indy 500, but it wasn’t until I went there in 2002 that I saw something that TV could not replicate – the relentless pace of the race and being a part the massive crowd.
I have not missed one since and won’t unless I physically can’t. (Would be the same if they still ran F1 there……)
For me, there’s just no comparison between being there, and watching on a TV screen. You have to be there to get the noise, the colour, the speed and the crackle in the air.
This is more than usually true of the race this weekend, at Suzuka. A wonderful, flowing and very fast circuit where you can see the driver make a real difference. Some sections are VERY quick, and there is just no room for mistakes. Once a car is off line, or off the road, it’s almost certainly going to hit something hard.
I’m about as much use as a fire-damaged apricot at five in the morning – another reason for actually being there – but I do try to watch the race at Suzuka because it so often produces drama and excitement. As we saw in qualifying today. Looks like the championship will go to Sao Paulo which is good – because Interlagos is another terrific place to go racing and a dramatic theatre in which to win a world championship. Even if you’re not a Brazilian. They just love their GP racing, the grandstands will be shaking and Rubens will hear the support from his car………………………….!
Or maybe Button will inch it tomorrow. Guess that depends whether or not young Vettel stays on the tarmac until the chequered flag. Enjoy.
RW
I did it. Did you?
In the UK it meant getting up at 5am if you wanted to wake up, make the tea, let the cats out and still be ready for the start.
Was it worth it?
Not if you are a big fan of Jenson Button, it wasn’t. I realised that if I did not make the effort, it would mean catching half the race on the car radio en route to the airport. Or watching recorded highlights with Greek commentary late at night in a bar on the island of Corfu. So I got up.
The title race will go to Interlagos, then. And that’s a good thing unless your name is J.Button. He will win the drivers title, yes, but I do hope he does it with some more sparkling drives than he has managed of late.
Vettel will surely be champion one day. Next season, on paper at least, things look rather good. Alonso in a Ferrari, Vettel in a Red Bull and Hamilton in a McLaren is surely a battle to look forward to. They are working hard at Maranello even now to get a good car ready for their new driver. And McLaren is unlikely to be caught out again at the start of the new year.
Meanwhile, it’s getting a bit squeaky at the top of the table as we head to Sao Paulo. It only takes one Desperate Dan to spoil Button’s party. And there are little signs of desperation.
Not a great Grand Prix of Japan, but an interesting result. A very talented youngster got his head down and won at a driver’s circuit. Good to watch.
RW