Formula One Racing: Losing Its Way?

Hello, readers. This is my first report, and as a longtime lover of Formula One racing, it is a pleasure to finally share my opinions with fellow fans.

Whilst continuing to watch F1 on ITV last season and this year (as I have for a very long time), I have noticed the bias that the majority of journalists on said programme have towards Lewis Hamilton.

Their obsession with Hamilton ruins the programme, and I am relieved that the coverage will be switching back to BBC next year. It is not that I do not appreciate the skills of the man—I merely remember that he is not the only driver in Formula One!

Moving away from this subject matter, I wish to commend BMW on their fine performance so far this season.

This is of no surprise to me, as BMW has long shown promise under the supervision of Peter Sauber, with drivers such as Heidfeld, Raikkonnen, and Massa. Given the resources the team possesses, as well as the great driving partnership between the ever-reliable German Nick Heidfeld and the daring Robert Kubica, the future is only looking bright for BMW.

But the same cannot be said of Super Aguri.

This team struggles on in much in the same way that Arrows did—ironic, really, as Aguri used an Arrow chassis as their basis for their first car (the Arrow's A23 of 2002).

As in football, it would seem that to run a private motor racing enterprise one has to employ the services of a wealthy businessman, as highlighted by Force India.

Formula One is now becoming dominated by manufacturers like Mercedes, Ferrari, and BMW. Of course, Mercedes merely provides the engines for McClaren, but one may well count McClaren as an integral part of Mercedes, owing to its involvement with the German manufacturer's road cars.

It seems that teams like Jordan, who were often seen on or near the podium in the late 90s and 00s, have no place at the fore of the new field.

Without corrective action, Formula One may become a monopoly, and thus lose one of its charms: the small privateer teams embarrassing the big budget manufacturers.

This would only worsen the sports' ongoing loss of character, sparked by Mr. Ecclestone's insistence on hunting for money and removing tracks of historical and legendary status, such as Imola and the A1 Ring.

Despite the governing bodies' best attempts, it may already be too late to save Formula One. For yours and my sake, I hope it is not.