Unlike previous years when I was living and breathing Formula 1, where I would be literally stalking drivers and know first hand when and where they will make appearances.  I no longer have any feelings for any of this; and given how poorly Formula 1 at large continues to treat its fans, I would not at all be surprised if a queue of dissatisfied former Formula 1 fans forms behind me from all over the world.

I am at a loss to understand a sport which requires a “working group” to encourage and manufacture an on track action called “overtaking”.  It is beyond ridiculous that such a basic action of the sport has to be encouraged or manufactured by a committee for it to actually happen in the arena.

Matters are not helped either by today’s Formula 1 drivers.

Current era F1 drivers no longer have the character, personality or the true grit of their forebears.  They now have to be politically correct, conservative, not utter a word of controversy or opinion of their own to be attractive to the team and sponsors.  Their actual driving capability or race craft is now largely ignored when a team is looking for new drivers.

Political correctness by those at power is also how Formula 1 painted itself into a corner.  Take note that many rule changes in the last 15 or so years were forced through by Mosley and his cronies were made in the name of safety and cost savings.  However, any real cost saving has been nullified by constant rule changes which makes current equipment and cars obsolete well short of their working lives, and new equipment and cars has to be developed and sought.  All of which builds up costs.

Today’s Formula 1 car development is much too restricted also which takes away the spirit of Formula 1, which was supposed to be building the ultimate, the very best racing car possible…

The biggest hypocrisy of recent times however, is the attempt to make Formula 1 and motor racing at large “green and environmentally friendly”.  Let’s face it; Formula 1 leaves more than enough of a carbon footprint through its travels across the world and the building of new tracks, let alone the actual pollution made by the race cars at each event.  Motor racing is not an environmentally friendly activity, and it shouldn’t pretend it is.

Political correctness doesn’t stop there.  Today’s racetracks are no longer the challenge they once were, especially those commissioned by Mosley or Ecclestone and designed by Herman Tilke.  The sterile tracks with grand corporate facilities built in such places like Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Malaysia and Korea may be fit for a prince but they provide very little excitement on track as the track and its corners are not fast enough to provide a challenge to the driver.  Current tracks are not immune either.  Spa, Silverstone and Monza amongst others being those not able to escape Tilke’s “re-profiling”.

With every factor of their favorite sport turning against the fans and inducing sleep amongst those who tune in, perhaps the best action to take would be to tune out.  I have done so and honestly, I don’t feel like I have lost anything, as what I really clamored for and loved in Formula 1 has already been lost, and lost for good.

Formula 1 is now a business juggernaut and a marketing machine for multi-national corporate entities. It is no longer a place for racers with their plucky little teams who tries to achieve a lot with very little resources.  Perhaps it would not be inappropriate to rename Grand Prix to Grand Business.

Despite what the FIA, Bernie and their cronies would like to think, Formula 1 still couldn’t care less for its fans.  Those fan surveys that were conducted didn’t contribute to anything at all, and those who have the power to make changes will never take into consideration views of the sport’s fans.

Those active fans of Formula 1 are largely well educated and well versed on their sport.  They should not be taken for fools by the FIA, Bernie or their cronies at any time.

With very little promotion of the Australian GP this weekend by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, it remains to be seen how many schoolchildren, public servants, unemployment benefit holders and wannabe celebrities will be “encouraged” to attend to boost crowd numbers and fill otherwise empty grandstands and corporate facilities, instead of actual race fans that deserve to be there.

Me, I’m spending my GP weekend at the beach.