Accord has always been difficult to achieve across any of the sport’s spectrums, whether it be between the FIA and the commercial rights holder or either of the two and any number of the teams. That a number of measures have made it to the WMSC stage for immediate implementation means all parties agreed unanimously, which is itself a modern miracle for this sport.
The feat is made only more impressive by the fact that the key measure, applied retrospectively, is the granting of a fifth engine above the current four for any first-year power unit manufacturer. Mercedes, Ferrari, and Renault, despite standing steadfastly against awarding Honda any concessions prior to this season after years of the Japanese company quietly talking up its performance, appear to have finally seen the light and put the sport ahead of themselves.
The unusual amnesty didn’t stop there, with the WMSC ratifying immediate changes to power unit penalties in order to avoid the comical accumulation of grid place drops seen at the Austrian Grand Prix, during which each McLaren driver copped 25-place penalties on a 20-car grid. Now cars will be sent to the back of the grid if the size of the penalty exceeds the number of starters.
These regulatory successes are backed up by changes proposed and investigations launched by the strategy group after its meeting before the British Grand Prix, the results of which were generally positively received for the first time in the short history of that administrative body.
It is an unusual change of mood for the sport, which has been feeding from its own negativity in recent years, to agree on a strategy that is not titled “double points” or something equally as ludicrous. What has prompted the change?
A hint was dropped during the team principals press conference on the Friday of the British Grand Prix. Ordinarily a dry affair, sparks flew between the team bosses and the press when the subject of the sport’s downtalking was raised.
“I think the negativity does come from the press. Honestly I do,” said Lotus CEO Matthew Carter.
“The fans read what you guys write… and if your stories are negative, they will read those and they won’t read the positive [ones].”
McLaren racing director Eric Boullier similarly pointed the finger at the press for the sport’s ills.
“The perception of the sport… is a bit wrong. It is the pinnacle of motorsport with all the technology, but the perception now of the fans, through the media, is wrong.”
The back and forth continued, with the team principals defending their interests as competitors of Formula One, regardless of the fact that Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner had called the strategy group not fit for purpose earlier that week or that Bernie Ecclestone, two weeks prior, had reportedly described the sport he’s charged with promoting as a “crap product” — with both examples generating their fair share of negative press.
As this writer sat in the conference, somewhat incredulous to be witnessing what looked to be a dressing down of the sport’s press, Force India principal Vijay Mallya at last presented a moderated point of view.
“It’s a question of the media’s option on how to present it,” he started. “Having said that… if the stability of all participants in Formula One is addressed as a matter of priority, we will have more exciting racing and we will get a lot more positive media.”
Could it be that the strategy group and sport more broadly, realising the error of their ways, are ready to launch into a campaign of positivity? Was this a rallying of the (media) troops?
If that is the message, than the reply is simple: more, please. The ball is rolling, and the media and fans alike are ready to move with you.
These might be baby steps, but they’re movements in the right direction.