Does Talent Really Matter?

Sergio "Checo" Perez. 189 Formula One race starts, in a midfield team. 691 career points, in a midfield team. 4 fastest laps, in a midfield team, 9 podiums, in a midfield team and now a race winner, also, in a midfield team. So why, at the time of writing, is he without a seat for 2021? Sometimes motor sport isn't fair.

Over the years, we have seen many a driver come and go. Some by their own accord and others with no choice. Racing drivers can be dropped by their teams for many reasons including performance and money. In this case, in regards to Checo, it definitely isn't his performance.

"Pay Drivers" have been a talking point in the world of motor sport for a long time with money being supplied from, as an example, rich parents or large sponsorships. Also, nine times out of ten, these supposed "Pay Drivers" have disappointing previous racing results and performances. So, why do the teams, F1 in particular, seem so attracted to them? Well, one word. Money. The more money a team has, the more they can spend on developing a car and thus, getting the results they want and in the long term making some kind of profit. It's all about money and puts talented drivers out of a seat and destroys any dream of racing at the very top.

However, is it really fair to call them "Pay Drivers?" When some pay their way in and make a positive impact on the sport? Examples of these are Niki Lauda, Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso; all going on to win championships in Formula One. "Pay Driver" is a very broad term and one which could use a bit more clarification as the majority of drivers bring in some kind of sponsorship money. Whether it be through an academy or business, they bring it. However, it will always be a case of who has the most dollar bills.

Sergio Perez was once and sometimes still is classified as a "Pay Driver" and still brings a large sum into the Racing Point Team to this day. So why drop him? And, why does no team want to make space for him? I don't think it is a case of not wanting him, I think it's a case of contracts are signed, there is just no space for him and my dad has more money than your sponsorship. Which is a major issue as there are many drivers who deserve to be in this sport based on their talents. 20 seats in Formula One is just not enough and again, money is the reason behind that. I mean, look at teams we have lost due to the cost of just being at a Grand Prix. HRT, Marussia, Caterham, just to name a few.

The possibility of losing Sergio Perez from this sport is a travesty. He is working his midfield car to the maximum and getting the results, something us racing fans love to see. But sometimes talent just doesn't cut it and money is the key. Or, in this case, family ties. A lot of people seem to be disappointed that Racing Point has decided to keep on Lance Stroll, the son of the owner of the team, over the more experienced Sergio Perez. I don't think I need to say much there, it's quite self explanatory. However, in all fairness to Lance, he has proved himself somewhat this year. I don't think we should write him off just yet. However, if I was to drop Lance or Checo based on performance, it would be Lance. Sorry.

In conclusion, no, motor sport isn't fair. But what is? Formula One should be about the very best racing one another to the limit not about who has the biggest wallet. But, it is what it is and nothing is going to change anytime soon. Until then, I just hope Perez can somehow get another chance in Formula One. *Glares at Red Bull.* He's not the first decent driver we have lost. And, boy, he won't be the last either.

The Real Heroes of F1

I have never felt so numb in my life. To see a major accident happen during a race is devastating, heart wrenching and gut twisting. It brings you back down to earth and wakes you up. No matter how immersed we get into the world of motorsport, racing is dangerous and I think sometimes we forget that.

I have seen plenty of crashes and accidents in my many years of watching all kinds of racing but nothing compares to what I witnessed today. I'm sure you are well aware of what I am referring to but if not watch, or maybe not watch the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix. Let's have a quick recap as to what happened.

The race starts normally. Everyone makes it through Turn 1 and Turn 2 with very little, if any, incidents. I think a couple of front wings were knocked and a bit of carbon fiber confetti was thrown over others but that was all until Haas's Romain Grosjean cut across Alpha Tauri's Daniil Kvyat. I couldn't believe what I was watching. All I could focus on was the fireball stuck in the barrier and half a car strewn across the run off area. Yes, half a car. I could not stop shaking or tweeting, for that matter. I just wanted whoever was stuck in that car to be ok. Someone was watching over Romain today. To get away from that crash with minor burns and a couple of broken ribs is incredible. You could call it a miracle but I think it is very important to recognise the real heroes of the hour and the safety regulations that enabled Romain to escape what could have easily been a tragic accident.

Thanks to many people, past and present, today's accident ended with a positive outlook. From previous drivers, to medics and marshals, these people have all had an impact on the level of safety in motorsport in this day and age.

Within moments of Romain Grosjean's accident, medics were on scene. Of course, the accident happened at Turn 3, if it was further on in the lap things could have been different but they were there, regardless. As were the marshals. All worked together in an attempt to save Romain from the fire. Fortunately, it is rare to see the medics out on track but when needed, they are there. Alan van der Merwe is the current driver of the Medical Car and is usually partnered by a certified FIA doctor. In this case it was Dr Ian Roberts. The Medical Car was first commissioned during the 1970's after the 1978 Italian Grand Prix by the late Dr Sid Watkins OBE. Sid Watkins was a big advocate when it came to safety in Formula One and we can thank him for how safe our sport has become in the last twenty or so years.

Previous crashes have also played their part in making motorsport as safe as it is today. For example, after an accident at an International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) testing session in the 1980's resulted in the death of a driver named Patrick Jacquemart, the HANS device was invented. The HANS device is a head restraint to reduce the likelihood of serious head injuries in an accident such as a basilar skull fracture that is usually fatal. Roland Ratzenberger sadly lost his life due to this injury at the 1994 San Marino Formula One Grand Prix. Then there is the halo, a controversial, driver, crash protection device which has saved many lives since it's introduction to Formula One in 2018. You can also look at the evolution of the chassis themselves and how they have evolved to protect the driver in circumstances like this one. When a motor racing car is designed, safety is always in mind.

These drivers put themselves through the risk of a serious accident every weekend for their passion and our entertainment. You come to think of them as immune to tragedy but when something happens it hits home. It hits home, hard. They are human, after all.

There are so many reasons as to why Romain Grosjean escaped from the fire ball. Some could call it fate, some could call it a miracle but we shouldn't take anything away from the real heroes of motor sport. Thank you so much to the medics, marshals, FIA, safety inspectors and anyone else who contributed to today's safety measures. You are stars.

Formula One, Boring? What are you watching?

Hello. It's me... Sorry, I haven't been around for over a year. I lost all motivation to write but I'm back and ready to bore you all with my opinions.

So, what have I been up to since we last spoke? Well, I went to the 2019 Spanish Grand Prix and then got mugged in the centre of Barcelona after the race so that was fun. Hasn't put me off returning though. What else? Hmm, I now like to run too. But that's enough. Let's get chatting about Formula One!

I want to have a chat about whether Formula One is boring or not. We are all well aware it's been a weird season but despite this, has Hamilton and Mercedes dominance almost "killed" the sport? I don't think so.

After a normal race you can almost guarantee someone on social media will moan that it was boring and that they're fed up of the same winner almost every weekend. If anything, seeing the same tweet after tweet is boring. I understand that we need more competition at the front of the field. Lets not forget the start of 2012 season! But, from driver to mechanics to team principles, Mercedes are winning. They have the perfect car, a perfect driver line up and from what I can tell, a perfect team moral. They are just the "It" package and well ahead of the pack. However, this shouldn't put a downer on the races.

Let's not lie here. Of course, some races send me to sleep. It's inevitable that some races will have more action than others. It depends on track, overtaking chances, strategies and chances of a safety car but if that is so, I enjoy what is being given to me.

First of all, let's not forget that the cars are not always reliable. An engine can blow at anytime. This always adds some spice to a race. As does incidents and penalties. Look at today's race (Monza 2020). All it took was Magnussen to break down and a corker of a race was born.

This leads me onto the Safety Car. Bernd Maylander, the driver of the Safety Car if you didn't know, doesn't appear in every race but when he does, you can be sure he's come at a bad time for someone or a perfect time for another. And, then there are "free pit stops" during the Safety Car period.

Pit stops and strategies are another thing that excites me during a race. Let's be honest, to have the perfect race you need the perfect strategy. And, when drivers try the "overcut" (overtaking a rival by pitting) or the "undercut" (vice versa), things get interesting. The Pit Team are under pressure to get a brilliant stop in and one mistake could mean the end. Sometimes, there is more drama here than the race itself.

Talking of drama, let's mention the most obvious factor which makes a Formula One race exciting. Midfield Battles. Close racing, lots of action and a couple of wheels bashing? I am all for it. It's no lie that Mercedes are in a league of their own. At least we have the likes of McLaren, Red Bull, Alpha Tauri, Racing Point, Renault etc giving us a show. It can be bloody brilliant.

And, then you have certain drivers that really put on a show. *Cough* Verstappen *cough*. Verstappen will be champion one day. I generally think he would give Hamilton a run for his money if they were in the same car. Alas, right now, it is not to be. And, it's not just Verstappen out there entertaining us. Look at Norris and Sainz at McLaren. Stroll and Perez at Racing Point. (Sometimes I still say Force India...) Even young George Russell down at Williams popping up in the midst of the midfield from time to time.

Anyway, I'm babbling on a little bit now but my point is FORMULA ONE ISN'T ALWAYS BORING. And, if you continue to think it is then maybe our sport isn't for you.