And if this Formula 1 really must be a show even before being a sport, how can we be okay with these qualifying sessions?
Where is the show? How many were thrilled this morning?
We are at the levels of the 2016 ‘hot seat’ – which lasted less than a cat on a highway (2 GPs): a decisive, clear, peremptory, and rapid intervention is urgent to save one of the most romantic parts of F1, the qualifying lap. The one where the driver throws their heart over the obstacle, the one where they show their talent, the one where they can build their personal legend.
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Instead, we witnessed a Suzuka disfigured by the new regulation that turns fast corners into charging opportunities and transforms them into medium ones, a nightmare superclipping, minimal smudges that cause the recalibration of the delivery software: how can we live these qualifying sessions with enthusiasm?
Why does one driver finish ahead of the other? Because they are better at not going to the limit?
From Miami, it is necessary to change course, there is a month to understand how and where to intervene. But qualifying is the first item on the list of things to change. Because these are soulless qualifying sessions.
And it’s the drivers themselves shouting it.
Read more Antonelli understood where to push, Ferrari did not
Lando Norris: “It hurts the soul to see your speed drop so much, up to 56 km/h on the straight”.
Fernando Alonso: “The challenge of Suzuka in qualifying has disappeared. I told you in Bahrain that even the team chef could drive these cars, now I believe that at least 50% of the team members could lap at Suzuka. High-speed corners have become battery charging stations, so you go slow to recharge and have power on the straight. Much driving skill is no longer needed.”
Carlos Sainz: “The more I pushed, the slower I went. We drivers have made it clear that things must improve, I hope they will listen to us and not the teams. I am concerned that some teams will oppose for their own interests”.
Charles Leclerc: “Every time you go over the limit even slightly, every time there is a small bump, this entails a cost in terms of energy from the power unit side that is not a small price, but triple, on the straight. Consistency pays more than courage, and it’s a shame because qualifying is a bit less challenging. If in Q3 you try things you haven’t tried before, the system has to re-optimize everything while you are driving. I hope we find a solution as soon as possible”.
Lewis Hamilton: “In the first part of the lap you are at the limit, but then from Turn 6 you can no longer push because you have to manage the battery. This not being able to have maximum power for the whole lap is definitely one of the less pleasant aspects”.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli: “Obviously there are parts of the track where you are a bit limited, a bit constrained in driving because of the energy. On this type of circuit there is work to be done to find a solution that can allow us to push more and drive without thinking about it too much”.
Max Verstappen: “I’m not frustrated, I’m beyond that. For me all this is not fun and it’s not for the others either. When you are away from home for 22 races you have to do something you like in life… This applies to all athletes, the first answer to give your best is to have fun. If you don’t have fun, you can’t give your best. The superclipping at 130R? That says it all…”.
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