Controversy in F1 - Good or Bad for the Sport?
By Aghorri
@Aghorri (86)
United States
August 6, 2007 10:56pm CST
These days Formula 1 seems to be dogged by one controversy after another. This year already we have had the banning of movable floors, the fuss over apparent team orders at Monaco and the huge scandal of the Stepney/Coughlan/Ferrari documents espionage affair.
In the weekend just gone, more controversy erupted with Fernando Alonso's extended pit stop that prevented his McLaren team mate, Lewis Hamilton, from getting one last timed lap in qualifying. The result was fury in the tabloids and forums, intervention by the stewards and penalties that affected both the race and the championship.
I have had my say on all this in my blog, F1 Insight (http://f1insight.madtv.me.uk/), but I wondered if anyone out there takes the view that all publicity is good publicity and this kind of constant drama is great for keeping F1 in the headlines and therefore in everyone's minds.
Any thoughts?
2 people like this
2 responses
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
7 Aug 07
They say that headlines sell newspapers, maybe newspaper headlines sell the sport, but most of what is going on isn't exactly sporting. Although the constant intrigue may keep fans of F1 and bloggers busy sorting it all out, in the end it interferes with the focus of the sport - superior cars, talented drivers and strategy.
@Aghorri (86)
• United States
7 Aug 07
I agree with you, Rollo, especially about the controversies providing material for the media, fans and bloggers to argue about - I should know, I'm one of them! But you're right that, in the long run, it interferes with the image of the sport and makes it appear nothing but a bunch of self-absorbed and over-inflated egos arguing over the spoils of a deeply flawed business.
F1 has been and remains much more than that and I hope it reaches a point where it can once again be truthfully described as a sport.
@Philxav (733)
• Malaysia
9 Aug 07
i'm a F1 fan.. its really sad to know such controversies and scandals. Latest issue is about McLaren's drivers.. its really sad for me to say.. why Alonso do such things.. after all Hemilton is only his team mate. I dont understand Alonso's attidute.. Hey where is the sportsmanship!.. meanwhile, i agree with u.. its a good publicity.. but at the same time.. i guess this is only a set-up... i dont know.. who knows this is just a gimmick just to turn peoples head and forget about the controversy between Ferarri and McLaren issues.
@Aghorri (86)
• United States
9 Aug 07
Hi Phil, good to meet another F1 fan!
To be fair to Alonso, his action was in response to Hamilton refusing to obey radio orders to let Alonso pass during the qualifying session. Hamilton prevented Alonso from getting an extra lap in qualifying by doing this and Alonso wanted to show him that his action was bad sportsmanship and unfair.
Having said that, it would all have been sorted out very quickly if only the stewards had not interfered. It was a team matter and not one needing decisions from the officials. Now they have handed out their penalties and we have more scandal and court cases in F1 as a result.
It may gain F1 a few more headlines but essentially it brings the sport into disrepute. Sometimes I wonder whether we will ever be allowed to get back to racing without constant disputes breaking out!
