The starting points were even for the all-time F1 season. It was in my strong memory Max Verstappen’s and Lewis Hamilton exciting championship fight and dramatic finale. We were waiting for the second part of the story. In addition, new cars were introduced, which were believed to improve the competition.
It soon became clear that Hamilton does not have a chance to fight for the championship due to Mercedes’ weak competitiveness. Hamilton was out of the game, but a fast Ferrari appeared in the picture and Charles Leclerc.
When Leclerc took a few important laps from Verstappen at the beginning of the season, the ingredients were in place for a duel between the two young drivers. However, Ferrari’s reliability problems and strategic blunders dropped the ball to Red Bull and the superior Verstappen. The World Cup battle was practically planned even before the summer break.
The end of the season lacked a climax.
Unsurprising races
The MM battle is one thing to look at for the interest of the series. The second is the expansion of the top level and the fact that as many teams as possible can drive from the podium places at least sometimes. We want to see surprises.
The two seasons before this year were athletically functional entities. In 2020, 13 drivers from a total of seven and winners from four different teams were on the podium.
Before that, the same number of drivers had been on the podium in 2012. Also last season there were 13 who reached the top three, but from eight different teams.
Of course, the surprising results were partly influenced by the races, where the cars of the top teams, i.e. Mercedes and Red Bull, experienced bad luck. On the other hand, even after the old rules had been in force for a long time, the smaller teams had caught up.
The challengers’ cars were competitive enough to allow a place on the podium when such a window opened.
This season, the only jolt of the weekends was felt in the qualifying sessions in Brazil, when Kevin Magnussen shook Haas, who normally belongs to the tail end, to the pole position for the first time.
During this season, only seven different drivers visited the podium. In addition to the drivers of the big teams Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes, only McLaren reached the podium Lando Norris. He, too, just once.
The cost ceiling that came to Formula 1 is a good reform, but at least it does not yet appear as an equalization of power relations. It is easier to follow with new cars, which is why the races have seen more overtaking last season. We want more color in the top fight.
MotoGP’s example
Formula 1 is perhaps more interesting than ever. This is thanks to Liberty Media, which owns the commercial rights, and Netflix’s spoken-word doc Taistelu pälupisät, which has brought a lot of new young fans to the series.
In the very important American market, people have embraced the sport and the stands are full. The Dutch spirit inspired by Verstappen can be seen in many European races as an orange crowd.
However, as interest grows, the level of requirements rises. We want to see even more interesting competitions. We want to see more drivers driving for podiums, victories and world championships.
When talking about racing on a track, the crown jewel of track motorcycling, MotoGP, is currently what formula one needs. F1 is very media-sexy, but in terms of sport, MotoGP has been waving the pace for many years.
During the last three years, MotoGP has seen at least 14 different riders on the podium every time and 7-9 winners per season.
More impressive, however, is the change of masters. During the last four seasons, a different driver has always driven to win the World Championship. The champion has come from a different stable each time.
However, a wide level is not a given in MotoGP, as it has been seen in the series Valentino Rossi and Marc Márquez excruciatingly long periods of control.
Will the peak moment of 12 years ago come true?
However, the idea that we will see more change in the World Championship victory of the Formula Ones is not a utopia. You don’t have to go until the early 2000s.
Between 2006 and 2010, a driver from a different team always reached the world championship.
Each season was also united by the fact that the championship was driven by drivers from different teams. In the 2010 season, drivers from three different teams participated, while Red Bull’s With Sebastian Vettel and With Mark Webberof Ferrari With Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Hamilton had a chance to become world champion in the last race.
Although Max Verstappen seems to be the superior driver at the moment, the series may very soon see a World Cup battle between four drivers again.
There are currently three top teams in the series, which were pleasingly close to each other at the end of the season. Mercedes showed good competitiveness in the last races. A team that is used to success doesn’t beat another season in a row.
Ferrari was very fast from the beginning of the season. If it gets the strategic department going, the Italian team will be even more dangerous next season.
Leclerc has genuine championship potential. Mercedes, on the other hand, has two championship-capable drivers. For the drivers, the ingredients are in stock. The equipment just needs to be fixed.
A good entertainment product only lasts up to a certain point. If formula 1 wants to hold on to new and old audiences, the sporting side must shine.
What thoughts did the writing evoke? You can discuss the topic until Monday evening at 11 p.m. Commenting requires a ID.