Smoking the Peace Pipe

Peace has returned to the world of Formula One. But at what cost?

Yet again, after everyone makes kissy-faces and make up, the sport is left with a black eye in terms of public perception. Actually, a black eye would be lucky. It feels like the sport got dragged through a ditch backwards and left on the road.

Hasn't anyone learned from the past few years? You would think the experiences over the past few years would make people think 'hey, lets try to keep a lid on this?' Instead, we get a public mud slinging match that overshadowed a good weekend of racing. Now, only half a week after that, everyone is friends again, more or less.

For a group that was so willing to be public about things, they are being closely regarded about the particulars of how peace was made. Now that everyone is back in the same bed again, does that mean the fans once more are shut out with everything decided behind closed doors?

Formula One has a serious image problem that it needs to fix. It will take time to mend the bridges that were blown up during this civil war. Di Montezemolo was right about one thing, the sport does need to be relaunched.

Now, that apparently everyone is back at the same table, is the time to fix issues that are up with this sport. While steps have been made to make the sport more accessible, such as the interviews after each session of qualifying, the sport can do so much more to become more fan friendly. The spectacle itself needs much work. Despite work by the committee for overtaking, we still have cars unable to get close when they get around a second behind another.

Of course, that may just be wishful thinking. Only time will tell.

Stig-meister

Did anyone see that one coming? Really?

I for one was shocked when the Stig removed his helmet, revealing Schumacher. I have to say bravo to the BBC for it. If you want to unveil the Stig, someone they have touted as a driver of immense talent, who better to 'play the role' than one of the greatest motorsport drivers in history.

It also feels like a cheeky slap from the BBC to the media outlets that were reporting on the 'true' identity of the Stig earlier this year.

Obviously, the idea that it was Schumi all along is far fetched. White Stig has been in use since 2003. Not to mention, in the hands of the seven-times F1 champion, a car went seven seconds faster than anything before around the Top Gear test track. While I'm sure the car is fast, we have seen plenty of speedy cars fail to be super quick around there. I wonder just how much that had to do with the driver.

Admittedly, it would have been fun to see him do a proper lap around in the 'reasonably priced car', if just to see where he matched up against the other F1 racers that have been on the show.

A guy can dream.

Formula Fucked

I've spent the last month wondering what to do. As I watch the sport I love implode, I find myself in a situation where I don't really want to write anymore. As both sides bicker as they look to take the biggest slice of the cake for themselves, we fans are left, given the royal screw job as is usually the case.

Tonight, as the FIA and FOTA sat on either side of the poker table, the dealer said to call. FOTA have called the FIA's bluff and finally, many years after the idea was originally thrown around, decided to set up their own series.

Suddenly, the prospect of the British Grand Prix this weekend seems pretty forgotten. Is there much point in watching Formula One for the rest of the year now? Really? With eight out of the ten teams leaving for their own championship. Chances are the World Champion won't be on the grid – heck, will any of them be?

I just keep thinking about the Indycar split. The Indy Racing League took the prestigious race. CART took the drivers and the teams. The latter was the more popular one for many a year. Formula One may have the name, but without the Ferrari's and the McLaren's, the Alonso's and the Hamilton's – is it truly the pinnacle of the sport.