ilferrari
07-06-04, 07:31 PM
I posted this on the Alonso on pole topic but now I have the full script:
Formula One? It's the pits in 2004
By Derick Allsop
Nigel Mansell was a champion and daring racer but now his sport is driving him to distraction
NIGEL MANSELL SPECIALISED in the spectacular and dramatic. He made the outrageous overtaking manoeuvre his trademark in a long, eventful career that reached its pinnacle when he became world champion in 1992. But now the Englishman who kept motor-racing fans on the edge of their seats believes that Formula One is letting them down.
Another season dominated by Ferrari and Michael Schumacher has confirmed Mansell’s fears that the regulations would take the spectacle out of the sport and he warns that unless the authorities implement drastic measures, viewing figures will plummet still farther.
“I’m sick of people coming up to me and saying what a load of rubbish Formula One is now,” Mansell said. “I’ve tried to defend it because it meant such a lot to me for so many years, but even I can no longer go on defending the indefensible. How can you when there is virtually no overtaking on the track and little genuine excitement? The important overtaking happens in the pits. What you’re left with is three sprint races between the pit stops rather than a proper, competitive grand prix and test of driving ability. A predictable French Grand Prix yesterday only deepens his gloom.
“We’ve had a few incidents at Monaco and Indianapolis, but overall the entertainment value has simply not been good enough. It saddens me to say it, but I’m just appalled at how the regulations are ruining Formula One. And it’s not just the races. Fans are bemused and shocked at the way qualifying has been turned into a bore. Even a couple of team owners have told me Formula One is in a mess and they hate it. They don’t enjoy going to grands prix any more. I find that amazing — yet significant. I still keep in touch with what’s happening in Formula One and I’ll usually sit down to watch the start of a grand prix, but after a few laps I find I can’t watch any more and switch off. It’s that bad.”
Mansell’s dismay is shared by many in a season that had promised so much. The much-trumpeted challenge to Ferrari from BMW Williams and McLaren Mercedes has failed to materialise. BAR Honda have been the surprise threat, although they have yet to win a race. The only grand-prix victory to have eluded Schumacher was at Monaco, where he bizarrely tangled with Juan Pablo Montoya’s Williams behind the safety car and Jarno Trulli claimed first place for Renault.
The FIA have endeavoured to reduce costs and improve the spectacle by restricting technical aids, introducing a one-engine-per-weekend rule and again tinkering with the qualifying format. Mansell believes the technical changes merely scratch at the surface, while other regulations have played into the hands of a Ferrari team already capitalising on the inadequacies of the opposition. “I have to stress first of all that I am not knocking Ferrari or Michael,” Mansell, who drove for the Italian team in 1989 and 1990, said. “They have done a fantastic job, not only this season but for a number of seasons and deserve their success.
“But then the regulations, far from helping the other teams, are helping Ferrari, who have an incredible record of reliability. Michael last had a breakdown three years ago, so which team is likely to be least affected by the oneengine rule? Ferrari, of course. And if they do have to change an engine and forfeit places on the grid, they are the one team capable of making up those places. It’s a Mickey Mouse rule and what we’re left with is not a level playing field. I don’t buy the argument about saving money. It’s nothing compared with the cost of development and testing.
“A fundamental problem is that the cars are too easy to drive. The most inexperienced young driver can climb into a Formula One car and drive it competently. Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsport and engineering excellence, but it should be the ultimate test of driving ability. It is no longer that and, as a result, it is almost impossible to evaluate drivers. You can’t judge anyone until you strip the cars of the technical stuff and put them back into the control of the drivers.
“Then you get a farce such as the one at the Canadian Grand Prix, where the Williams and Toyota cars were disqualified three hours after the race. How does that make Formula One look? Spectators pay good money to see the race. They go home thinking they know the result and then some time later discover it wasn’t like that at all. We have to think more about the public and less about minor technicalities. The FIA have to address the whole situation sooner rather than later. They could turn it around quite quickly. When you hear that BMW are considering pulling out of Formula One it has to set off the alarm bells. There are only 20 cars now compared with 26 a few years ago. Grand-prix racing needs major manufacturers and new teams to be attracted to it. Formula One should be the greatest spectacle in motor sport and it’s so disappointing to see the state that it’s in.”
However, Mansell concedes that no set of regulations can guarantee to restore Formula One to its former glory unless Ferrari’s recognised main rivals get their houses in order. “I just can’t believe how McLaren and Williams have got it so wrong,” he said. “Again, they’ve made it so much easier for Ferrari. The lesson you learn from Ferrari is that stability, continuity, teamwork and absolute focus on the job in hand are vital. All the key personnel, the management, technical and design people, and the drivers, have been together for many years. As well as Michael and Rubens Barrichello, you have Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne and Nigel Stepney. They work as a team, and the right hand always knows what the left is doing.
“McLaren appear to have been more concerned about their wonderful new technical centre and forgotten that they are, first and foremost, a racing team. Williams seem to have been in turmoil and will apparently be going into next season with two new drivers. Where’s the continuity in that? It’s like having one arm tied behind your back before you start.”
Despite his admiration for Ferrari, Mansell shares the suspicion that they continue to favour Schumacher, the world champion on six occasions, over Barrichello. “It was funny how, when Michael was having trouble in Barcelona, Rubens slowed and had a long pit stop. Then in Montreal and Indianapolis, Rubens made only token attempts to pass Michael. It looks as though he is being held back.”
The one team, apart from Ferrari, who have impressed Mansell are BAR Honda. Both of their drivers, Jenson Button and Takuma Sato, have made it to the podium this season and raised expectations in Britain and Japan, their respective home countries.
Mansell, who attracted an unprecedented following for a British driver, said: “Britain is desperate for a driver to get behind and this is a great opportunity for Jenson. Unfortunately, it all seems to have gone pear-shaped for David Coulthard, but Button is in the right place at the right time and he must make the most of it. “Honda are undoubtedly making a big commitment and BAR are operating much better as a team. Hopefully they can continue to improve and compete with Ferrari. It will then be up to Jenson to take advantage and show he has the genuine potential to become a world champion. I believe he can.”
Mansell is preoccupied these days with refining his golf game and developing associated business interests. “I’ve found another life after Formula One and I’m loving every minute of it,” he said. “Golf is a fantastic game and I’m pleased my two sons have taken to it and are doing really well. I’m competing in some senior tour events, which is very exciting.” Yesterday Mansell had a 66 in the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open at Royal St David’s, his first sub-par round in a professional tournament.
But his dearest wish is to see Formula One back to where it was. “We established an incredible fan base around the world. Those fans want to see exciting racing again. Their loyalty cannot be taken for granted. The danger is that if you lose them now you lose them for ever. The fans do deserve better.”
I dare anyone to deny the crux of what Mansell is saying.
Formula One? It's the pits in 2004
By Derick Allsop
Nigel Mansell was a champion and daring racer but now his sport is driving him to distraction
NIGEL MANSELL SPECIALISED in the spectacular and dramatic. He made the outrageous overtaking manoeuvre his trademark in a long, eventful career that reached its pinnacle when he became world champion in 1992. But now the Englishman who kept motor-racing fans on the edge of their seats believes that Formula One is letting them down.
Another season dominated by Ferrari and Michael Schumacher has confirmed Mansell’s fears that the regulations would take the spectacle out of the sport and he warns that unless the authorities implement drastic measures, viewing figures will plummet still farther.
“I’m sick of people coming up to me and saying what a load of rubbish Formula One is now,” Mansell said. “I’ve tried to defend it because it meant such a lot to me for so many years, but even I can no longer go on defending the indefensible. How can you when there is virtually no overtaking on the track and little genuine excitement? The important overtaking happens in the pits. What you’re left with is three sprint races between the pit stops rather than a proper, competitive grand prix and test of driving ability. A predictable French Grand Prix yesterday only deepens his gloom.
“We’ve had a few incidents at Monaco and Indianapolis, but overall the entertainment value has simply not been good enough. It saddens me to say it, but I’m just appalled at how the regulations are ruining Formula One. And it’s not just the races. Fans are bemused and shocked at the way qualifying has been turned into a bore. Even a couple of team owners have told me Formula One is in a mess and they hate it. They don’t enjoy going to grands prix any more. I find that amazing — yet significant. I still keep in touch with what’s happening in Formula One and I’ll usually sit down to watch the start of a grand prix, but after a few laps I find I can’t watch any more and switch off. It’s that bad.”
Mansell’s dismay is shared by many in a season that had promised so much. The much-trumpeted challenge to Ferrari from BMW Williams and McLaren Mercedes has failed to materialise. BAR Honda have been the surprise threat, although they have yet to win a race. The only grand-prix victory to have eluded Schumacher was at Monaco, where he bizarrely tangled with Juan Pablo Montoya’s Williams behind the safety car and Jarno Trulli claimed first place for Renault.
The FIA have endeavoured to reduce costs and improve the spectacle by restricting technical aids, introducing a one-engine-per-weekend rule and again tinkering with the qualifying format. Mansell believes the technical changes merely scratch at the surface, while other regulations have played into the hands of a Ferrari team already capitalising on the inadequacies of the opposition. “I have to stress first of all that I am not knocking Ferrari or Michael,” Mansell, who drove for the Italian team in 1989 and 1990, said. “They have done a fantastic job, not only this season but for a number of seasons and deserve their success.
“But then the regulations, far from helping the other teams, are helping Ferrari, who have an incredible record of reliability. Michael last had a breakdown three years ago, so which team is likely to be least affected by the oneengine rule? Ferrari, of course. And if they do have to change an engine and forfeit places on the grid, they are the one team capable of making up those places. It’s a Mickey Mouse rule and what we’re left with is not a level playing field. I don’t buy the argument about saving money. It’s nothing compared with the cost of development and testing.
“A fundamental problem is that the cars are too easy to drive. The most inexperienced young driver can climb into a Formula One car and drive it competently. Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsport and engineering excellence, but it should be the ultimate test of driving ability. It is no longer that and, as a result, it is almost impossible to evaluate drivers. You can’t judge anyone until you strip the cars of the technical stuff and put them back into the control of the drivers.
“Then you get a farce such as the one at the Canadian Grand Prix, where the Williams and Toyota cars were disqualified three hours after the race. How does that make Formula One look? Spectators pay good money to see the race. They go home thinking they know the result and then some time later discover it wasn’t like that at all. We have to think more about the public and less about minor technicalities. The FIA have to address the whole situation sooner rather than later. They could turn it around quite quickly. When you hear that BMW are considering pulling out of Formula One it has to set off the alarm bells. There are only 20 cars now compared with 26 a few years ago. Grand-prix racing needs major manufacturers and new teams to be attracted to it. Formula One should be the greatest spectacle in motor sport and it’s so disappointing to see the state that it’s in.”
However, Mansell concedes that no set of regulations can guarantee to restore Formula One to its former glory unless Ferrari’s recognised main rivals get their houses in order. “I just can’t believe how McLaren and Williams have got it so wrong,” he said. “Again, they’ve made it so much easier for Ferrari. The lesson you learn from Ferrari is that stability, continuity, teamwork and absolute focus on the job in hand are vital. All the key personnel, the management, technical and design people, and the drivers, have been together for many years. As well as Michael and Rubens Barrichello, you have Jean Todt, Ross Brawn, Rory Byrne and Nigel Stepney. They work as a team, and the right hand always knows what the left is doing.
“McLaren appear to have been more concerned about their wonderful new technical centre and forgotten that they are, first and foremost, a racing team. Williams seem to have been in turmoil and will apparently be going into next season with two new drivers. Where’s the continuity in that? It’s like having one arm tied behind your back before you start.”
Despite his admiration for Ferrari, Mansell shares the suspicion that they continue to favour Schumacher, the world champion on six occasions, over Barrichello. “It was funny how, when Michael was having trouble in Barcelona, Rubens slowed and had a long pit stop. Then in Montreal and Indianapolis, Rubens made only token attempts to pass Michael. It looks as though he is being held back.”
The one team, apart from Ferrari, who have impressed Mansell are BAR Honda. Both of their drivers, Jenson Button and Takuma Sato, have made it to the podium this season and raised expectations in Britain and Japan, their respective home countries.
Mansell, who attracted an unprecedented following for a British driver, said: “Britain is desperate for a driver to get behind and this is a great opportunity for Jenson. Unfortunately, it all seems to have gone pear-shaped for David Coulthard, but Button is in the right place at the right time and he must make the most of it. “Honda are undoubtedly making a big commitment and BAR are operating much better as a team. Hopefully they can continue to improve and compete with Ferrari. It will then be up to Jenson to take advantage and show he has the genuine potential to become a world champion. I believe he can.”
Mansell is preoccupied these days with refining his golf game and developing associated business interests. “I’ve found another life after Formula One and I’m loving every minute of it,” he said. “Golf is a fantastic game and I’m pleased my two sons have taken to it and are doing really well. I’m competing in some senior tour events, which is very exciting.” Yesterday Mansell had a 66 in the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open at Royal St David’s, his first sub-par round in a professional tournament.
But his dearest wish is to see Formula One back to where it was. “We established an incredible fan base around the world. Those fans want to see exciting racing again. Their loyalty cannot be taken for granted. The danger is that if you lose them now you lose them for ever. The fans do deserve better.”
I dare anyone to deny the crux of what Mansell is saying.