Okay Formula One fans – another race is done, another season is over and another decade is in the history books. It’s time to celebrate right? Perhaps not. Let’s get into the final talking points for 2019 to see what’s up and why Lance Stroll might have some company in this column next season.
A snoozefest race for a snoozefest season and a snoozefest decade
I always hate to be that guy when it comes to being a negative nelly, but this race really did sum up the season and the decade as a whole. There was some real potential for this to be a great race, with an interesting grid and some good early racing that was good to watch. There was even the added benefit of the drag reduction system being disabled due to a technical issue which saw a rare chance to see the natural ability of the best drivers in the world put to the test.
But in the end that all went out the window and the one thing that we all knew would happen eventually happened – Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton won. A perfect summary of the last season and decade.
Sure, there has been highlights and it all hasn’t been bad. But that is completely overshadowed by the sole fact that we end the 2010s knowing it has been the most one-sided decade in the history of the sport – and it’s a shame. Especially since the sport is at peak popularity and really gaining some traction in new markets and new generations who see this sport in the one way they do without perhaps knowing just how amazing it can be with a little more excitement.
Let’s just hope the last race of the 2010s was a closing chapter on this period in the sport – and that the Australian Grand Prix in less than 100 days gets us back into an era of Formula One that we will remember far more than simply for a silver car inevitably coming out in front.
(Clive Mason/Getty Images)
DRS is overrated
I’ve always been sceptical of driver aids such as DRS and this race showed that it really isn’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to exciting racing. For 17 laps of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a ‘technical issue’ – later revealed to be from a data server crash – prevented the use of the system and made drivers actually use their own skill rather than that of a button on their steering wheel to give them an extra boost.
Now I for one was actually the most entertained watching the drivers genuinely race for those first 17 laps, knowing that it all came down to their own skills as a driver in wheel-to-wheel racing and seeing a variety of different styles against each other. There was something extra special with the likes of Max Verstappen – a renowned hard racer – speeding along and using his supreme talents more so than knowing it had the additional help of reducing some drag to increase top speed.
Also seeing someone like Valtteri Bottas having to not just rely on a faster Mercedes to work his way through the field was great to see – give the Finn some added props for being someone who often doesn’t get the credit he deserves.
We all know that DRS is here to stay and isn’t going anywhere off the back of one short failure, but it was refreshing to see that drivers still know how to race hard and it perhaps should be something the powers that be look at in the future – especially when we inevitably change the rules to increase overtaking in the mid-2020s when the 2021 regulations don’t work as expected.
Pretty doesn’t always mean good
The Yas Marina Circuit really is the supermodel of Formula One. It’s incredibly beautiful to look at but incredibly dull under the surface – and that’s no disrespect to supermodels. I’m sure that there are some that are great under the surface and great to know. But given my life doesn’t really see me crossing circles that much with them, I can’t really comment. I will perhaps try and change that up slightly by asking the question of when was the last time we had a good race at Abu Dhabi? I’ll give you a moment to think.
What was your answer? None right? Yeah, me too – and that’s my point. In the ten years we have been coming to Yas Marina we have never had a good race there – 2010 perhaps was the closest, but even then it all really came down to the situation of a season finale and a certain Spaniard being held up by a certain Russian, rather than actually the race as a whole.
The circuit will remain on the calendar for as long as they continue to inject the millions and millions of dollars that they ultimately do into the sport. But if we are going to continue to come to Abu Dhabi, can we move it to a different slot on the calendar? Brazil is the perfect choice for a season finale and when we – hopefully soon – return to a season ending title decider I want the race to be a good one, and not just a pretty thing to look at with a dull interior.
Hibernation mode activated
Are we entering the most uninspiring off-season in recent memory? This isn’t another post for me to try and be negative – although clearly I’m failing bad at that – but look at what we have to look forward to ahead of 2020. Pretty much no changes to rules or regulations, only two driver changes for next year – that’s it. It seems weird to me that a sport such as Formula One actually has very limited changes ahead of a new season, but perhaps that isn’t a bad thing.
We do really enter a hibernation of sorts next year, as pretty much everyone looks to 2021 for a new boost with all the changes that are planned. With that in mind it’s probably foolish to expect too much change at the top, however if Red Bull and Ferrari can keep their late season form into 2020, then perhaps we can actually have a genuine three-way fight that we all crave.
We also have two new races in 2020, with the new Vietnam race and the return of the Dutch Grand Prix. That is genuinely exciting, so perhaps we need to remember that and try and help this little black duck writing this column each race to put a smile on his dial.
(Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Stroll watch adds another in 2020
Always time to check in on my man Lance Stroll. The positive? He made it out of Q1. The negative? Well, he didn’t finish the race. But I have to mention something even more positive when it comes to the little legend and that is the exciting prospect that he will be joined by another Canadian on the grid in 2019 F2 runner-up Nicholas Latifi. For this Australian Canadian lover, that makes me extremely excited.
It is the first time in the 60-year history of the sport that two Canadians will be in Formula One at the same time – incredible right? It also gives me even less space in 2020 to write about them, but you know I will make the most of it.
Let’s make 2020 a year for Canada to showcase that it is more than simply a home of the best food in the world in poutine, the second greatest sport in the world in ice hockey and the most entertaining former World Champion currently involved in spouting controversial opinions in Jacques Villeneuve. Help us Stroll and Latifi, you’re our only hope.
Goodnight 2019 and the 2010s. Let’s wake up in a new year and new decade with a smile on our face. See you in Melbourne.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
1. Of course it hasn't been the greatest and, now I think about it, the points margins that a world champion has won by have been quite significant. I don't think I notice the lacklustre racing as much now as I'm writing my article, contributing to Jawad's blog, looking at Twitter etc. 2. I'm just worried that at some tracks Ben, we would lose overtaking entirely. You've got to remember that the current cars do not exactly encourage overtaking. And depending on the length of the DRS zone, you still have to send it down the inside in true Ricciardo style. On the whole, I think DRS will just be something that we have to agree to disagree on. 3. Agreed. 4. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating there Ben. The narrow nature of the circuit could force drivers into mistakes which would be test them a bit. I think I'm biased on that one due to being a Verstappen fan. The track at Vietnam looks great with that long back straight with the left-hander in it but I just don't like the fact that it's in Vietnam. The circuit will just about be ready in time, part of the track currently goes through a swamp and it's a 22nd race that, in all respects and purposes, we don't need. 5. When I first got into F1 in 2012, we had Hamilton and Button at McLaren (the dream team) and Paul di Resta at Force India. Once Button retired, it was just Hamilton at Mercedes so I had to endure two whole seasons of people asking me why I don't support Lewis because I'm British, which was so annoying! Now, with four drivers to choose from, I can say I'm a Lando Norris and McLaren supporter. That's in terms of my British support, there's still a special place in my heart for Max Verstappen, who I hope will win a world championship one day because he can do it! The verdict's still out for Stroll. I don't want to stir things up but his move to Racing Point has ended up kicking Nico Hulkenberg out of our sport. (Lawrence Stroll buys a controlling stake in Force India, now Racing Point, Lance signs for the team (cue feined surprise), Esteban Ocon is dropped despite having a superb season, Ocon signs for Renault for 2020, Hulkenberg has nowhere to go and leaves.) That doesn't make me happy! Probably just a bit bitter that's all...
Dexter The Hamster
Roar Rookie
Yep, a snoozefest is right, at least from 2013 onwards. Still I managed to somehow sit through pretty much every race of the decade. Hoping the next decade throws up a few better years, but methinks we might have to wait until 2021 at least. Look forward to yours and Jawad's analysis of the decade.
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
1. I think the main difference over people having that opinion is that the large majority of F1 fans can agree that this decade hasn't been the greatest. No decade has ever seen so limited amount of World Champions and such a dominance from one team/driver without any significant changes to curtail that. Two seasons of great fighting sure, but the remaining 8, not so much (with a few exceptions). The early 2000s were bemoaned for being boring but even then you had tight fights in 2000 and 2003 and then every other year turned out to be fantastic for title battles. This decade is just far too outweighed by the lacklustre. 2. Overtaking shouldn't be easy. That's my point. These are the best drivers in the world. They should fight for it and not be aided by something to help them do that. Watching them battle without any assistance is great and one of the reasons I watch this sport. I agree with you above about strategy being apart of it and I'm not one of these people who want the sport to increase overtaking for the show because it's not all about overtaking. But when it is, I prefer it to be natural and not aided. 3. Brazil rarely throws out a bad race. So yes, it is a perfect finale for the season. 4. I think the Dutch GP will have issues as the circuit is notoriously tight and difficult to overtake. Yes the atmosphere will be incredible, maybe the best we've ever seen. But sadly an atmosphere does not make a great race. Vietnam will be very interesting and I'm excited to see F1 enter a completely new territory. 5. I remember when Ricciardo came in and Webber was there too. That was the first time I ever got to experience having two Aussies in at once. I remember growing up we had no Aussies so getting Webber in was a massive deal. So having two Canadian drivers to me almost feels the same as having two Aussies in at once. It's exciting. And you will like Stroll one day I swear...
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
I'm also planning on doing some decade articles so it'll be interesting to see what we come up with as I think we'll have some very different viewpoints it sounds!
Ben Waterworth
Roar Guru
If I could agree with your comment anymore I would hug you. I think you summed it up well. People seemingly distinguish this era in a similar way to the early 2000s, but they are completely different based on how things changed up. Sadly I think the early 4 years get lumped into the decade in general as people perceive them as 'boring' too given Vettel won every year. But you're right, two and a half of those seasons were gems, and even the latter half of 2013 and 2011 were memorable for different reasons. I'm planning on doing some articles on the decade in general, and it's definitely not the greatest highlight for the sport when the majority of highlights happened in the first couple of years.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
1. I started watching Formula 1 in 2012. I remember falling asleep during the 2013 Italian Grand Prix then waking up and noticing that it was still Vettel in 1st, Webber in 2nd and Alonso in 3rd. I went back to sleep. Of course, if you look at the stats, it was complete dominance by Red Bull and Mercedes. But, for the first half of 2017, Ferrari and Vettel were giving Mercedes a run for their money. And who could forget the great championship fights of 2010 and 2012? F1 is still exciting, you just have to look elsewhere for your battles but, unfortunately, those tend to not be shown live on the world feed. (see my comments on Jawad's live blog of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for more on that). Also, F1 has always been considered a 'snoozefest' in some people's eyes - it is a strategy-based sport and it cannot be expected to be anything else. In my opinion (and it may be controversial), if you don't like it like that then tough luck because there are hardcore fans like myself who do. F1 is not designed to be action-packed all the time. 2. Oh come on Ben, if we didn't have DRS in Abu Dhabi, it would definitely have been a snoozefest. Just because they had DRS didn't make the overtakes easy! 3. Brazil needs to be the final race of the season. Abu Dhabi always seems so anti-climactic and not a good way to end a season at all. Yes, the title may be sealed but Brazil lends itself to a good race and we have had one for at least the past four years (my memory is struggling before 2016!). 4. It's nice to have some consistency. Hoping that the season we had post-France (Austria onwards) can be seen throughout the entire 22 races. Not looking forward to Vietnam because I honestly think there's no need to go there apart from to boost F1's coffers. Can't complain with the addition of the Dutch Grand Prix - can't go to see my man, Max Verstappen, as part of the Orange Army in Zandvoort next May as I've got exams but I will definitely save up for a trip in the future. 5. I still don't like Lance Stroll (sorry Ben) but it will be interesting to see how Nicholas Latifi ranks against George Russell. Glad you get to experience what I had this year (and what I will have in 2020) in having FOUR British drivers on the grid in Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, George Russell and Alexander Albon. Will be good to see what support Stroll and Latifi generate in Montreal next June.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Howdy Ben, I'm actually putting together a whole reflection piece about the last decade of F1 and in agreeance with you, it has been largely a 'snoozefest'. Mainly because, even though we've gone through a couple of different regulation changes - that it has been two teams that have dominated the sport for the past 10 years. That being said though, there have been close seasons such as 2010, 2012 and 2016 was enjoyable also to watch in my view. Individual races are aplenty also and the establishment of youngsters like Verstappen and Leclerc has been a refresher. A key moment for me was the sale of F1's commercial rights to Liberty, as that is going to shape the next decade - given that a lot of what was in this latter part was still a legacy of F1's past failures. Onwards and upwards for F1 beyond 2020 and too for both your favourite Canadian drivers! See you indeed in Melbourne.
anon
Roar Pro
The hybrid era has been a snoozer, not the decade. 2010 and 2012 were incredible seasons and 2013 close until the mid-season break. 2011 was a "dominant" season for RBR, but McLaren still managed to win 6 races. Ferrari didn't have a truly dominant season until 2002, but didn't waste time in immediately changing the rules to even up the competition for 2003. Ferrari dominant again in 2004, massive change of the rules for the 2005 season to take away their advantage. I don't know why Mercedes have been allowed to completely dominate for 6 consecutive seasons by the FIA when they blunted Ferrari's dominance after only single season dominance.