Why Medals Won't Work

With Button’s fifth win out of six races, it just goes to show why Bernie’s deluded winner take all plan would be terrible for the sport.

The Formula One season has eighteen races. Button now has five. If we were running the winner take all system this year, Jenson would only need to win four more times. So in theory, in two months, Button would be crowned champion. Let’s be fair, when you see the stunning form the Brit is on, entirely possible.

Personally, I don’t even think you would need to cross that line. Last year Massa won six races, a season high. Button will no doubt blitz that marker.

Even with the current points system, Button is in a commanding position. At this stage, he could almost afford to finish each race second and he would still do it. This is the problem with the current points. Once you are up and in front, you can take it easy. Alonso had a similar situation in his championship years, where he was stunning in the opening part of the season that he could afford to let off the gas in the second half of the season.

Yet, somehow, some people believe that such a medal system would be good for the sport? You are seriously having a laugh, Bernie.

A Farcial Mess

Been a little time since I’ve made a decent contribution here. Honestly, with all the goings-on in Formula One, I have had a serious lack of motivation to write anything conductive about the sport right now.

With the ‘deadline’ for teams to sign up rapidly approaching, the sport remains mired in a mess. We have two sides that want their own way, struggling to find the middle ground. I think Formula One fans must feel like the only child in a divorce, with both parents vying for who gets the fancy cutlery. I feel like the fans are getting the short-shift here.

The fact we are at this point is pretty pathetic. Both sides are at fault here. It reminds me of why I hate politics. At the end of the day, they don’t really give a fuck about anything but themselves.

First off, Ferrari. Looking for a court injunction solo was just nuts. At the very least, it should have been a FOTA thing. Ferrari come off looking after their own interests. FOTA are supposed to unified, yet if the last few weeks are anything to go by, that doesn’t appear to be true.

The FIA themselves tried to drive a wedge, informing teams of Ferrari’s special veto. This was a case of two shots in the one foot. On one hand, how can the sport be seen as fair to all if Ferrari has a veto over rule decisions? Better yet, why did the FIA give it? Letting us know it is there just reminds us why people view the FIA so poorly.

This reminds me of what a debacle the WRC has become. A few years ago, it had numerous manufacturers involved. Then the FIA decided to start chopping and changing the rules. The result so many of the manufacturers leaving the sport and public interest waning in it. You would think the FIA would learn that if you start messing with the formula consistently, it is going to cause trouble.

We have had rule changes this year. We have a spate of them coming next year. I thought Formula One was supposed to become more ‘fan friendly’. Anyone else see the contradiction there?

The whole situation is a mess. Whatever happens, Formula One yet again finds itself with a black eye because of how they choose to air their dirty laundry in public.

Irish Smiles

This year continues to be a fantastic one for Irish sport in general. The international football team is looking somewhat capable of a decent go for World Cup qualification and in rugby, our Grand Slam triumph in the Six Nations has also being joined by Leinster making the Heineken Cup final, after coming through an all Irish semi-final.

Irish motorsport has also enjoyed what can only be described as its best year ever. Not since the days of Jordan Grand Prix have we had much to celebrate here. (And for those boffins not in the know, while Jordan was based in the UK, it ran under the Irish flag – hence the reason Amhrán na bhFiann was played when the stewards didn’t cock up the ceremony.

The year started with the Irish Rally as the opening round for the World Rally Championship. Granted, it doesn’t feel like the WRC has the same sort of lure as it used to, but it was a fantastic achievement nonetheless in the days where everyone is starting races anywhere except in Europe.

The icing on the cake came this weekend, with Adam Carroll winning the fourth A1GP series for Team Ireland. The victory is the first time an Irish national has taken an international motorsport title. Carroll took it in dominating fashion, with pole position and race victory in both the Sprint and the Feature.

It is a fantastic achievement that will hopefully put more emphasis on motorsport back in this country. Currently, it has handled very poorly and even when Formula One as shown on terrestrial television, the commentary was down there in the basement alongside that of James Allen.

'B' for the Beeb

We now stand four races into a season that has been met with many unknowns.

For most of us who were stuck with the narrow-minded views of the majority of the ITV team last year, we awaited the BBC coverage with bathed breath. Surely, it couldn’t be worse than the abysmally bias coverage we had to endure over the last few years.

I could’ve easily written something up after Australia, but felt it was unfair to judge after just one race. With the first four flyaway races, it is much easier to gauge how the BBC have done, much like F1 teams regroup before heading into Europe.

I have to say, I am very impressed thus far with the BBC coverage that I have watched. Okay, that probably wasn’t going to be too hard given how low an opinion I rated Ryder, Allen and Blundell. But I fully admit I was concerned that it could’ve turned out worse.

The coverage is by no means perfect. After Austraila, I was worried about new race commentator, Jonathan Legard. It felt like he was commentating on the radio. A good deal of his commentary sounded more suited to the Curragh than it did on the Formula One circuit. But to his credit, he has toned it down as the season has gone on.

Together with Martin Brundle, they form a great front team for the BBC. Small mistakes are made, but the nice thing is that they are capable of picking up on them, unlike recent years where they were oblivious to such. Some might see me as a hard ass with my views on the ITV, that I require perfection. It isn’t so. Mistakes will always be made. That is how we learn. But at the very least, one expects to correct those errors. While the odd few slip through the net, it is nice that most are caught now.

The man who has impressed me most is David Coulthard, who has seamlessly transitioned from driver to pundit. In the off chance that you are reading this, Mark Blundell, this is how a former racing pundit is supposed to be. Coulthard is a breath of fresh air and has provided valuable insight for the viewers.

Jake Humphrey, as anchor, is another astute choice by the BBC. I didn’t know much about him myself, with the exception of the odd appearance on a BBC show as I flicked the channels looking for something decent to watch. Like Coulthard, he has taken to it like a duck to water. Given that he is the youngest team member of the team, he is nothing but assured. His recent interview with Lewis Hamilton that was shown before the Bahrain grand prix was brilliant and intelligent, showing off the more human side of Hamilton that was missing during the ITV interviews that felt very staged.

The only part of the team that doesn’t appear to gel just yet is Eddie Jordan. Personally, I expected better. This is Eddie Jordan, the man famous for the quick-fire response and witty banter – a man who could talk his way out of a paper bag and still come out with the better deal.

Yet at times, Eddie seems a little at sea in front of the cameras. Maybe it will take longer for him to adjust to life as a TV personality. But at this stage, he is the only real chink in the BBC team at this time.

I would comment on the extra features bit via the red button, but I haven’t tried them yet. While I don’t mind getting up early for races, I quite like my bed on a Friday and Saturday mornings! With the European season starting up, I hope to sample these and see how the expanded coverage of the BBC does.

All in all, I feel like the BBC has started with a firm footing with the coverage. If I was signing a report card, I would give them a solid B, with room for improvement. It is so nice to not to wake up on Monday morning hoarse from shouting at the television anymore.