Dragracing: A Question of Overtaking

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It is a bone of contention now, and has been perhaps for a long time in Formula One. There is not enough overtaking taking place. I've never heard genuine fans complain about this aspect of Formula One, except perhaps during the 2002 season when, perhaps, the people saying it had a point.

However, the question of improving overtaking is a difficult one. On all levels there are problems to consider, and 2009 will see drastic changes to the grip and aerodynamics of Formula One cars by the FIA to improve overtaking.

The question is: What's wrong with the state of play now? If we go back and think of races we remember certain aspects of them all. For instance, we remember that blowout of Nigel Mansell's in Adelaide, we remember that horrendous incident at the beginning of the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix, and we remember the endless displays of dominance in 2002 of Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. But do we not also remember The 2003 British Grand Prix?

With it's endless overtaking and wheel to wheel battles? Or the pass last season on Felipe Massa by Fernando Alonso? Or, (and we all knew it was coming) THAT move by Mika Hakkinen in the 2000 Belgian Grand Prix? We do, and it is because overtaking in Formula One is so noticeably difficult that we as fans and the drivers themselves feel the satisfaction of having performed them and seen them.

The truth is, Formula One is a difficult sport, it is the top of the motor racing tree and to make certain things easier such as overtaking is not what the sport needs. The measures taken to decrease aerodynamic efficiency will also not necessarily increase overtaking. And the idea to ban tire warmers for 2009 is frankly, another hair brain scheme from the FIA which I feel may lead to disaster.

Overtaking is the bread and butter of racing and it should be difficult to perform in the most advanced cars in the racing world.

We've seen over the years, whatever the era, it is far from impossible if a driver is determined.