Two years in

The French Grand Prix in 2006 was where I started as motor racing correspondent for The Times. As I begin my third year, here are a few thoughts on what has been going on.

The old regime
All along this has felt like the beginning of the end of an era. Formula One has been dominated by a small group of big players over the last 25 years, both to its benefit and its cost, and there is a sense that this period is coming to an end.

All the big players are now much nearer the end of their careers than the beginning and soon several of them will move on. Thus the landscape of the sport is going to change fairly dramatically over the next, say 3-5 years, and my guess is we will look back on this phase as a sort of fin de siecle(and a pretty dramatic one at that).

My impression, coming in "new" to the sport is that Formula One carries way too much baggage. There are too many people who have been around too long whose motives at any moment are based not on the best course of action available to them, but on a need to settle scores and so on.

Formula One has thus become far more "political" than it need be, far more dominated by a small group of highly egotistical individuals than it should be. As a journalist this, of course, produces extraordinary stories and sub-plots away from the race track, all of which makes Formula One what it is: a compelling soap opera with a bit of racing thrown in every now and again. But, standing back, there is a clear argument to be made for a new approach, for new people at the top and for the focus to shift back to the racing, the cars and the drivers.

The FIA
If this is the end of an era for the sport, one suspects and hopes it is also the end of an era for the FIA. The past two years has witnessed a disproportionate level of intervention by the FIA together with the painful(to him and everyone else who is witnessing it) death throws of the career of its president. Jean Todt is a very debatable way forward, even if he is among the best qualified(in a technical sense) for the job. As JYS has argued, the depoliticisation of the FIA is long overdue.

A few fairly random highlights and lowlights(from a very short time watching Formula One for a living)

Best drive
Michael Schumacher at the Brazilian Grand Prix 2006. The great German driver went out with style with a riveting display at Interlagos. This was the best example of someone leaving at the top of their game. I can still see him getting inside Kimi at Turn 1 with three(or so) laps to go and thinking 'I am going to have to re-write this'. And thus the story that day was not about Fernando winning the world title for a second time but Michael "stealing the show" on his retirement.

Second best drive
Fernando Alonso, Hungary 2006. This was the day Jenson won but it was also the day I saw for the first time what a brilliant pilot(to use the continental expression) Fernando is. Unlike almost any other driver, Fernando seems to dominate his car with his skills and personality. You can't mistake him. Exciting, committed, brave, I have said all this before. If he was a footballer, he would be one of those players who, every time he gets the ball, you would be thinking "something's on here"...

Most memorable moment
Sad to say this was not on the track but the "meet the press" session at McLaren in Hungary after the infamous "pitlane-gate" episode last year. Etched in my memory is the vision of Fernando saying nothing, sitting on a stool and eating a pear with a ferocity never seen before in the history of fruit eating. All around him the press pack was baying for blood and McLaren was falling apart before our very eyes.

Worst memory
Turning up for my first Grand Prix at Magny Cours to find my hotel locked at 1.00am. The note on the door invited me to enter my "booking number" into the machine on the wall - the "reception automatique". I did not have a booking number. After trying in vain to find alternative accommodation, I ended up "sleeping" in the aforesaid car in a square in Moulins. This was all about travel technique; knowing which flight to catch; knowing where to fly to and knowing that it is better to travel with Kevin Garside whenever possible.

Worst hotel
Suzuka 2006. I don't know what it is called but if you can imagine sleeping in an ashtray, that would be roughly the idea. (The worst hotel of my entire career is still a place on the Iran/Iraq border which was so appalling that even a smokefest in Japan doesn't get close).
 
Best track
Difficult one. I like a lot of the tracks. Some you like for the racing, some for the atmosphere, some for both. Among my favourites are Suzuka(racing), Spa(monza in the hills), Monaco(you can't not love it), Interlagos(drums), Silverstone(a field of battle), Montreal(big test), Monza(tifosi in the woods). If I had to pick one it would be Spa for the circuit, Monza for the atmosphere and Silverstone for nostalgia(just shows I can't pick one).

Venue city
The best venue city is Barcelona. The worst, by a short head, Bahrain.

Comments

[Maverick]

Congrats Ed on completing 2 years in F1. Nice to see tht you have shared your thoughts abt the experiences you had coming into F1.
Just a point...you mentioned abt the best drive by Schumi in Interlagos...how abt the worst drive ? By a competent drive / team and not the backmarkers...

Looking fwd to more interesting posts frm U in future!!

[Keith]

Ed, I have to ask, in your two years who's your favourite driver?

[Aaron James]

Who is your most admired driver during your time in F1 Ed?

[Kohque]

"eating a pear with a ferocity never seen before in the history of fruit eating."

HAHAHAHAAHAHA

...ufff... what a moment...

[F1-Insider]

Ed
I don't agree with all you have written above, but hey this is your blog.
Maybe you can enlighten us as to your passion for the (so called) sport of F1, if you have any? Doing your job and reporting on F1 in particular have you become a true fan or were you a fan before getting the job?
You are correct on the politics but incorrect on the time-scale, Ecclestone and Mosley have been at it ever since they came to power and the FIA has been their tool for doing this.

The saying 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely' was never more true. Let's hope lessons are learnt and fresh blood is introduced and most certainly not an ex F1 team boss as that would be nothing but problems for the future.

The likes of Martin Brundell should have a role in the governance of F1, he knows the goings on but has never been painted by them, is fair and is not afraid to speak his mind.

[Anon (the real one)]

Random post. Here are the point differentil for theas. After seven races, this is the amout of points gathered this year minus those gathered last year.

BMW= +31
Red Bull= +15
Toyota= +8
Toro Rosso= +7
Ferrari= +2
Honda= +2
Williams= +2
Force India= 0
Renault= -16
McLaren= -33

So many more drivers are in the points this year (only three aren't- Piquet, Fisichella, and Sutil. The teams are also in the points- Honda and STR, for example. The downfalls of McLaren and Renault have made for a far more generous and exciting season. BMW, of course, have made the bigges improvement.

[Alex]

It is not just the FIA that needs depoliticising, the local track stewarding is easily as biased if not more so. Many tracks on F1's annual route display blatant agenda for and against certain teams, based on the local population's nationality and prejudices and frequently clearly use that transient power to maximum effect.

Nobody has yet really explained how Kimi's mistake in Monaco was somehow blameless, yet Lewis and Nick get punished for their mistake in Canada, especially when this very same light had caused problems for 2 drivers last year.

[Richard]

@ Alex

I've posted about the inconsistencies of stewarding on the other blogs. I think each case needs to be taken on its own merits. It's hard to see what else they could have done to Lewis and Nico under the circumstances (both drivers last year were punished), but errors made out on the track whilst racing always become more subjective, unfortunately. One could argue that Nico committed a second offence by reversing in the pitlane for which he escaped punishment (an offence which has been seriously punished in the past).

There is definitely a great deal of inconsistency at different races throughout the year, and I thought the FIA tried to address it by having one steward monitor all the races (in addition to the local stewards at each event).

Surely the most obviously biased decision was taken when the stewards at Monza decided Fernando Alonso had impeded Felipe Massa in...a Ferrari. Surely, even the most loyal tifosi would agree that that was a bizarre decision.

[Weasel]

Silverstone, Ed???? Are you certifiably nuts? One of the most boring and terrible spectator tracks ever and not even exciting to race there.

Obviously you have never been to Brands Hatch on the long course - ups, downs, twists and turns in and out of trees, plus good spectator vantage points - now that's a race track. But it's at one end of the country, so for a promoter it has demographic drawback$$$.

Putting the British GP at Silverstone for so many years was one of Eccle$$$tone's typical money centric, fan hostile moves. As the Yanks would say Silverstone sucks, big time.

[Lucy]

Cheers for the image of Alonso i've now got in my head, that made me laugh.

[Aaron James]

Have to agree, Silverstone is one of the most soulless tracks on the Calendar.

Maybe it's better in the paddock, but Ed should try spending the weekend with a general admission pass and see what he thinks then.

[D]

^
Doh! Two years in the job and you still haven't got the priorities right!

You forgot to tell us which was your favourite meal. :-)

There's no hope for you.

v

Congratulations, Ed, and many thanks.

Coming new to it probably enabled you to see the wood for (dead) trees. Many will soon collapse, even if they aren't felled.

The contrast between their increasing redundancy and you growing into the job has been marked; your sharing of it with us a much appreciated privilege.

You've fledged and turned into an eagle. Long and happily may you soar.

Thanks, and all the very best,

Douglas.

PS. As it's your anniversary, here's a very special little treat for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WDmMWF83x4

(I understand it's one of Ron Dennis's favourites.)

[Richard]

@Weasel - 'One of the most boring and terrible spectator tracks ever and not even exciting to race there.'

Fernando Alonso on Silverstone: "it was very competitive and tough, but that is always the way at Silverstone. It is great fun to race here as there are some great corners."

Kimi Raikkonen on Silverstone: "it is a great track to drive and one of the most challenging of the season for us drivers, with some very fast corners. For my driving style and my experience of quick corners, I love the challenge of Silverstone, which reminds of other great fast tracks like Spa."

I agree that Silverstone may have its issues, but driver enjoyment and excitement certainly isn't one of them!

Go to an F1 test day there and you can see why the drivers love the place. Unfortunately, the spectating is rather more restricted at the GP.

[nicki, california,usa]

Lucy, if Fernando eating a pear made you laugh, the world roared when Hamilton was lifted by a crane.

[Reena]

Re: Martin Brundle being in charge.
Nobody in F1 is totally fair/ unbiased. They each have their own agenda- when there's so much money to be made, its only natural they will try to 'plug their own product'.
Martin Brundle has even tried fitting DC's name in as many times as possible during commentary!

[elcrowley]

Hi Ed,
you said:
"Most memorable moment
Sad to say this was not on the track but the "meet the press" session at McLaren in Hungary after the infamous "pitlane-gate" episode last year. Etched in my memory is the vision of Fernando saying nothing, sitting on a stool and eating a pear with a ferocity never seen before in the history of fruit eating. All around him the press pack was baying for blood and McLaren was falling apart before our very eyes."

Did you know what Alonso said when he left that meeting between reporters? he said "That's incredible. Incredible..." with a ironic smile on his face. It sounded as he was said to "say this and that and keep your mouth shout" by Dennis and Haug.

[elcrowley]

Ed,
the best moment probably was when Alonso ignored Ron Dennis in front cameras just after Q3.

[elcrowley]

Hi Ed,
please see this video
http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=6LMyn47Pk2Q&feature=related

"Best" moments:

Alonso after meeting in Hungary saying to reporters "That's incredible. Incredible" 6:24

Alonso laughing about Ham's comments 6:09

Dennis throwing his headphones and catching Alonso's personal fitness trainer 3:55

Alonso being asked why McLaren seems to be on a funeral after he did the pole. Alonso replied "Because I did it instead Ham. Team wants Ham ahead of me."

Alonso saying he didn't get the extra lap it was for him on that track. "Extra lap hasn't existed. Why? Another question for the team." 2:08

[javiervivaespania]

Regarding that delicious pear, everyone knows that Magic has a very healthy diet which confirms "mens sana in corpore sano".

However, if Magic has done something memorable in the history of fruit eating, it is because everything he does as that little something that makes the difference.

Glad to see that you acknowledge the fact that Fernando did the best driving ever in Hungary 06. If you mention it as the second best drive (people usually chose one or three moments, but not two) it is because you can leave it out, because you know it is the first, because you do not feel well overlooking it, because you cannot deceive yourself saying that Shummi did it and forgetting what the best one really was.

[CHIUNDA]

Stewart's proposals for the way forward for Formula One before the.... Max's June 2008 vote have so far been the most logical and professional i have read. He should be given the job to turn around the sport. I imagine (and could be totally off the mark as i don't know him personally apart from what i read in the media)that he would be the kind of man to walk away after 3 or 5 years if the job was done in that time.

[Ed Gorman]

There are a couple of questions to answer. D asked about my favourite meal. To be honest most of them have disappeared in a blur. One I remember well was a dinner at the original Fogo de Chao in Sao Paulo with an old friend who lives in the city and was able to choose all the right cuts. The meat was out of this world. I got in trouble for ordering a sausage along with everything else which is not the done thing at all.

Aaron James and Keith asked about my favourite driver during my time in Formula One. Tricky. It would have to be between Michael, Fernando, Lewis, Felipe and Robert. In every case it is impossible to judge the man in the car without being influenced by the man out of it. The last two I like because they are wild on track in comparison to most(who are much smoother, more classic stylists). Robert and Felipe are virtuoso artists who have never had the rough bits drilled out of them. They are inspired behind the wheel and both are great out of the car. Robert is a laugh and the most modest and down to earth driver in the sport; Felipe is a genuine individual with good manners and a fine sense of sportsmanship. Felipe is also a fragile temperament which makes his high peaks all the more impressive.

Then there is Lewis and Fernando. Lewis is riveting when he is on it, so to speak. Think of those wonderful starts last year and that move on Kimi at Monza. There is no doubt Lewis is exceptional on his day and is great to watch. Fernando, as I have already said, is just superb to watch. If his "politics" were as good as his racing, he would be walking away with Formula One by now. Then Michael. As many of you who have been reading this for a while will know, I am a big fan of the German legend and I found him very impressive to watch during my first - and his last - eight races. It will be a long time before a more "complete" driver comes along.

Splitting the difference? I would say, at this stage, as we are now, taking all other things into consideration, without wishing to make too fine a point of it etc etc etc: 1, Michael, 2, Lewis, 3, Fernando, 4, Robert, 5 Felipe.

[GP]

Ed, congratulations on your 2 year anniversary!

When I was reading your comments about the politics of F1, I was reminded of what has happened in US open wheel racing. I'll take the politics over the 2 diluted championships that we have witnessed over the last 10 years. Besides, F1 is such a great soap opera! Mix the last 2 races (Monaco & Montreal) and Max getting a whipping, what more do you want?!?!

[Lucy]

Nicki there's no need to get your knickers in a twist i wasn't being bitchy i was just saying it made me laugh in a light hearted way i'm sorry perhaps i should have said smile instead.
And besides the crane joke is so old now it's boring.
God some people ........

[LAK]

Congratulations on your 2nd year anniversary! It happens to be my 2nd year anniversary as well! If you don't mind me asking, why is the Bahrain venue the worst for you? I found it to be one of the most child friendly & family oriented circuits.. Since I haven't been to all of the circuits I can't judge like you, but I'm just interested in knowing what you think Bahrain lacking as a venue? Thank you for sharing with us your very interesting thoughts LOL @ the pear..

[Alex Reed]

Hats off for Ed! Happy anniversary! And may there be many, many, many more to come. Your fresh perspective on all things Formula 1 has given us, your readers, a new and much welcome window on the circus. Many thanks for all your efforts that have made for a much more lively and dynamic journal of Formula 1 than anything else I've seen.

[Anon (the real one)]

My current five favorite:

Fernando
Robert (gettng closer)
Sebastian Vettel
Heikki
Rubens

I have to say though, I love seeing the drivers in the points. I loved DC's podium appearace even though I thought he had become a louy driver. In other words, five drivers to pick as favorites is inadequate, but it sure would make for a great thread, don't et me wrong. Please make it the subject of the next thread, it'll easily carry us into Magny-Cours. Or even better, ask the question who are the five BEST, not FAVORITE (which is what I did up there) drivers driving now.

[brian armitage]

Seconding the vote for Bahrain - for me one of the best circuits in terms of looking after the punters and one of the best cities I have visited to attend a Grand Prix (7 venues and counting!)... perhaps the corporate hostility was not up to scratch for you?

[Gary M]

Hi Ed,

Just wanted to say Happy Anniversary. It has been a pleasure reading and taking part in your blog.

Keep up the good work!

Cheers

[Carleton Twitchell]

Congratulations on your two years rewriting the way journalism tackles F1! It just shows its never too late to change "horses"..
Down the local tonight no doubt ! I raise my glass ( Boddingtons 41'F:)to you and yours! Cheers Gormo F1 CDM w/Bar!

[IDR]

Ed,

I’m pretty sure you remember this:

March 12, 2007 “Welcome to a new season”

“Welcome to my Formula One blog. A newcomer to the paddock with so much to explore, I intend to do a lot of it right here. So let's go...”

You have to wait until March 17th, to have your first comment (Gary Pepworth) Thanks God! Someone read my blog!

And now, after little bit more than one year, your blog is one of the most interesting in the web, many other envy your success.

As in every sport, to become an expert, one need time, and you still are a “newcomer”.

There are other blogs, as Pitpass, F1 fanatics, grandprix, autosport… having the most actualised F1 news.

So, why we love this Blog?

Those who love F1’s History, Technicalities, Glamour, specific Driver, Pit babes, photos, menus, politics, just talking or even just discussing with others, are here from every part of this world.

All of us come here because we know you read what we say, you take our thoughts in consideration, and you give us what we want to know.

You are not just a journalist writing threads, allowing people to put some comments.

You TALK to us, Ed.

We are not reading your blog. We are having a conversation with you and many other people who love F1 for many different reasons and from many different parts of this world.

Big thanks for that, ED. Keep on talking with us, we will be here to answer all your questions, feelings, and thoughts… always.

The rest of the Blog’s F1 Masters will still be asking themselves why the hell they, with all their expertise and knowledge, are not as successful as you…

As always, the easiest answers, are the most difficult to find...

[Kathryn S]

IDR,

I couldn't agree more with you! I was trying to find a way to express that sentiment, but I don't think I can do it any better.

Thank you Ed for making your blog a great place to hang out.

[CHIUNDA]

This is a very different sort of blog - you actually make friends on this blog - and make up with enemies :-)On all other blogs, the relationship is top-down, master-servant but on this blog everything is round-table and when a group takes a tangent and slugs it out on an off-topic, it feels very much like witnessing a bar brawl.

When i first read this blog last year, i was struck by how vividly it brought human-ness into the online formula one discussion!! It was love on first sight - one of those things you just feel are intuitively right! You must be congratulated for bringing such a real life simulation to blogging Formula One issues.

Sometimes when you give us feedback on Lewis, i feel i was only one person away from him. I could hear Fernando crunching the pear crisply - as history was made in the art of expressing anger. And i felt the cars could run into my face with the Monaco truck-side photos. Thank you for giving us this unique product and congratulations for this great achievement. We hope that you will remain a free-spirited rookie for the rest of your Formula One journalism days.

[Henkka]

IDR, Kathryn S and Chiunda,

I very much agree with your comments.

Ed, to me it seems that some of your bloggers may be gradually falling in love with you... (NOT me, I'm just a fan of the blog, and a male!)

Best Regards,

[IDR]

Henkka,

I have the same things between my legs than you, and in love issues, I prefer the other part not having it.

So, as you, I'm just a fan of this blog!

[carmen]

Thank you Ed for a most enjoyable blog, and thank you also to all that post here. The blog is becoming really addictive.

[D]

^
Henkka >

(Explanation by Site Translator)

Do not be offended.

The part he's referring to is the fan in his beloved MacBook Pro, which he prefers to rest on his lap, between his legs, when he blogs.

I trust this clarifies the comment.

[Henkka]

IDR and D,

Your comments were most enlightening.

Thanks,

[IDR]

@D

Thanks for your clarification!

You know, my English is not good enough and some times I'm in trouble!

The only thing I would like to add is that mine is 17 inches...

...the Laptop of course. ;-)

[Kathryn S]

Oh my, I was going to maintain a dignified silence but I have a case of the giggles now...especially since I read the series of comments on my son's Mac. So I guess my claim would be that like Henkka and IDR, I, too, am just a fan of the blog. It must be Chiunda with the crush.

[D]

^
IDR >

Thank you for your own clarification.

Long may your 17" inches give pleasure to you and to the world. :-)

[JR]

It was an apple, not a pear :)