FUMES #464

September 24, 2008

The End of Formula 1.

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Detroit. Max Mosely seems to be hell-bent on destroying Formula 1 - because what other explanation can be attached to his ludicrous notion of turning the once glorious, but long since faded endeavor into yet another "spec" racing series - with all the appeal of, dare I say it, NASCAR? Max's latest "brainstorm" would have F1 going the full-zoot Daytona Beach route with spec engines, ICUs, tires, suspensions and gearboxes. Think about that for a moment. The racing series that once prided itself as being the "pinnacle" of motorsport reduced to an irrelevant footnote by one horrifically bad idea, to hell with tradition, history and any other now painfully quaint notion of romance as portrayed in the classic movie Grand Prix.

Here we have the future of racing placed on a silver platter before the powers that be in F1, a chance to redefine the sport so that it can play a crucial role in helping the world's automobile manufacturers develop advanced technologies and propulsion systems. In other words, a chance to make F1 more relevant to our transportation future than at any other time in its history, and Mosely comes up with an idea for a spec racing series revolving around the absurd idea of lowest common denominator mediocrity? I've often said that I'd rather watch a good Formula Ford 2000 race than be subjected to the monumental tedium that F1 has become (the last race at Monza the clear exception), but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that a notion like this would ever see the light of day.

The auto manufacturers contemplating a move to their own F1 series have every reason to do so now, because if advanced technology isn't being pursued and developed, what's the point? Mosely can argue that it will reduce the staggering costs associated with F1, but if the manufacturers sit back and really think about it, they will find other racing series - ones that explore the use of advanced propulsion systems and relevant future production technologies - to their liking and more worthy of the investment.

That Max Mosely has lost his grip on reality is no longer the issue here, because I am convinced that left unchecked to wallow in his own delusions he will destroy the sport of Formula 1 once and for all.

The real issue is whether or not the powers that be who actually understand what's going on - at the manufacturers and the FIA - care enough about the sport to save it before it's too late.

Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

(Ford Racing Archives)
Brands Hatch, England, July, 1970. Jochen Rindt stands with Team Lotus' Colin Chapman during the British Grand weekend. Rindt would start from the pole and win the race in his No. 5 Gold Leaf Team Lotus-Ford followed by Jack Brabham (No. 17 Brabham-Ford), Denny Hulme (No. 9 McLaren-Ford), Clay Ragazzoni (No. 4 Ferrari), Chris Amon (No. 16 March-Ford) and Graham Hill (No. 14 Lotus-Ford). Rindt won five Grand Prix races in 1970 but was tragically killed in practice for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, Italy, on September 5. Rindt's point total that season was never eclipsed and he became Formula 1's racing's first (and only) posthumous World Champion. Rindt also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1965 with American Masten Gregory driving a Ferrari 250LM.