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| Once upon a time in the paddock – the appeal of F1 |
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We have heroes and villains, wicked stepmothers and damsels in distress, and the occasional dose of magic. While much of the Formula 1 soap opera plays out on the track, the off-season doesn’t lead to a break. Racing may be where the action is in our beloved sport, but often the story is elsewhere. Many of my friends don’t understand motorsport, and see Formula 1 as cars going round in circles for two hours. I know F1 fans who think NASCAR is two hours of left-hand turns. In trying to explain why circuit racing is so much more, I’ve had to resort to well-known archetypes and tell them a story. Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin. F1 has long been referred to as the Max and Bernie show, although adjustments will need to be made now that Max Mosely has been dethroned by his chosen successor, Jean Todt. Todt’s role in the F1 fairy tale has yet to be clearly defined, but over the coming seasons we will discover if he’s a puppet Max or a president in his own right. Until then, I’m keeping Max in the role of wicked stepmother. In a fairy tale, the wicked stepmother tends to have a big vision, and one that puts her in a position of power. She will use witchcraft, trickery, and abject manipulation to get what she wants. Max was certainly a man of vision and power, and one who faced numerous accusations of unfair play and backroom deals. The damsel in distress is an odd one, as it’s an ever-changing role. To keep her story interesting, the damsel must be in danger, either from the wicked stepmother or some form of ogre, witch, or monster. In 2009, the damsel role was filled by Brawn GP, who also wore the mantle of plucky underdog, the David to the other teams’ Goliath. The team started 2009 in peril, and spent the latter half of the season in danger of losing its early championship lead. If I really wanted to stretch the metaphor, I’d put Interlagos down as the dragon which must be slain to ensure the damsel ditches her distress. Any one of the new teams could be 2010’s damsel in distress – three hours ago, I might have assigned the role to Peter Sauber. Heroes and villains are almost too subjective, depending as they do on team allegiances. We all have our hero drivers and those we don’t want to see on the podium for whatever reason. I’m nowhere near brave enough to open that particular can of worms. As far as villains go, however, the FIA is a good all-rounder: no matter which team you support, you can argue that they’ve been treated unfairly by the boys in Paris. One of 2009’s great villains must be Flavio Briatore, for his role in Crash-gate. Unwilling to fight for his innocence at the WMSC, the former team principal has appealed his FIA ban in the French courts and now must wait till 5 January to hear the results. A personal villain would be Bernie, for not paying for the British GP himself (I wish!), but if I’m honest the man’s more of a Rumpelstiltskin. Magic in F1 comes from a variety of sources, although it shows itself on the track. I still find endless wonder in the engineering of the cars. While I understand the scientific principles behind the design, the fact that a millimetre here or there, or the smallest bit of added downforce can make the difference between front and back of the grid? It’s magic. Very precise scientific magic, but still – 150 years ago personal transport meant horses, and now look at what they can do! The driving itself is magic. Sure, every season fans complain that there’s not enough overtaking, or that there’s no wheel-to-wheel action. I’d be surprised if people weren’t making those complaints after the first single-seater race back in goodness knows when! In 2009 we saw some truly magical performances on the track. Interlagos alone gave us the defensive manoeuvres of Kamui Kobayashi (love him or hate him, it was good to watch) and Jenson Button’s championship-winning drive. Lewis Hamilton giving it hell for leather at Monza was nail-biting, even if it did all end in tears. Possibly the most magical thing was Abu Dhabi’s island in the desert. Sure, the circuit left a lot to be desired, and the atmosphere could be improved upon. But an island in the desert? How is that not magic? It may have around 6,000 workers years to complete, hauling materials around the desert in extreme heat for hours at a time, but I never said all magic was good magic. Who do you cast in your F1 fairy tale? Will Max continue to pull strings behind the scenes, or is there a new wicked stepmother waiting in the wings? by Kate Walker for Girlracer Magazine www.girlracer.co.uk ***
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