Mad professor breathes new life into F1
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The Formula One motor racing season has finished its first Asian tour, and the phrase ‘F1 circus’ has never felt so apt. Races have been lashed by tropical storms, drivers have been disqualified, reinstated, demoted and fined. Entire teams have been created in a matter of weeks, and gone on to win races. And do you know what? It makes for great viewing!
F1’s impresario, Bernie Ecclestone, is appearing increasing like a mad professor - a Dr. Frankenstein type whose efforts to breathe new life into his creation only succeed in warping the original concept and creating a strange, new life form. F1 has always been called a circus, but it seems that now, due to Ecclestone’s endless tinkering, it’s becoming a freak show.
With his elfin stature, crazy thatch of hair, and towering model wife, Ecclestone plays the role of ‘crazed megalomaniac’ uncannily well. But he has an excellent supporting pit lane cast, including outspoken Indian airline chief and liquor baron, Vijay Mallya, Virgin’s dashing adrenaline junkie, Richard Branson, and Italy’s sharp-suited former travelling salesman, Flavio Briatore.
It’s hardly a surprise that F1 has morphed into such a strange hybrid of its original concept (i.e. getting the fastest cars and the best drivers racing round a track). The latest round of Ecclestone’s tinkering has turned the sport on its head. Slow cars are now fast, and vice versa. Teams, like Brawn GP, Red Bull and Toyota, which have struggled for years, suddenly find themselves thrust to the front, while the big boys of Ferrari, McLaren, Renault and BMW seem to be wandering around at the back like men in shock. It was Renault boss Briatore who, with characteristic candidness, recently referred to title-leading driver, Jenson Button, as a ‘paracarro’ (Italian for a concrete roadside post - apparently meaning he wasn’t very quick).
The Malaysian race was moved back to 5pm to suit European audiences, then had to be stopped because of a monsoon, and couldn’t start again because it was too dark to race. Priceless! The following race in China was started behind the safety car in almost as treacherous conditions. Ferrari and BMW have scored just seven points, while the top two, Brawn and Red Bull have 77. And all the while you can imagine Ecclestone, looking down upon his creation, laughing manically.
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