Minimal

Hit F1 for help

The end of today’s Austrian GP was a joke. Rubens, you have my utmost respect. Michael, the only respect I have for you is that I reserve for single-minded sportsmen who must win at all costs. You’re certainly no gentleman racer. Today’s contrived result was a disgrace.

Or was it?

I’ve read a fair few opinions that have said that F1 is no longer a sport, only a business. I’m not so sure that accusation can be thrown with much justification. Sure, the nature of the sport may have become a little more apparent today, but it’s still a sport. The only difference now is that we realise it’s more of a team sport than one focussed on an individual’s talent. And I’m not denying that it’s a business too—nearly all sport is—but the two are not mutually exclusive.

Ferrari have demonstrated today that the team’s ultimate good is at heart of every racing decision they make. Forget the drivers, it’s the team—and only the team—that matters. They believe that they have the best chance of winning both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships if Michael wins as much as possible, especially given his existing lead in the race for the drivers’ crown. Frankly, this is little different to a football club’s star player being rested for the FA Cup final. If it means the team has a better chance of winning the league, so be it. If people viewed formula one as a team sport rather than supporting individual drivers, I’m sure there would have been none of this outrage. The sport is growing up and maybe we need to do the same.

I still feel deeply sorry for Rubens, mind. :(