My views on the way the aerodynamics of current Formula 1 cars adversely affect the actual racing are entrenched in the absolute belief that, for some time now, the ridiculous designs of the monstrosities that grace the front of a Formula 1 car are at the very root of the demise in interest from the fans in the sport.
Fans around the world, spectators at the tracks, pundits on TV and even the drivers, have been vocal in their dislike of these sculptural masterpieces. Not so much the actual aerodynamic devices themselves but the effect they have on overtaking. Contraptions that would not be out of place if they were seen in a Transformers cartoon but would be ridiculed and called a mockery if ever they were to appear on a road car. Perhaps that is applicable to many things on race cars but in this instance these aerodynamicists 'wet dreams' are actually harming the sport.
This last week or so, the so called Formula One 'Strategy Group' had a meeting and were presented with the ideal opportunity to simplify, by regulation, much of the parts on a Formula 1 car that force the drivers to follow, not overtake, due to the aerodynamic effects of multiple bits of carbon fibre 'managing' the air around a car.
The chance to simplify these bits was not, as one would think, driven by the wish to make overtaking easier but by the perceived need to make them simpler to display sponsors logos. To optimise these billboards with no regard to making the racing better and by doing that, once again, those in charge simply thumb their noses at racing fans.
If ever there was a case of the tail wagging the dog, this was it.
No wonder interest in the sport is waning.
The 'Technical Working Group', seemingly yet another Formula One version of a Government 'Quango', had earlier looked at other parts of the cars and have recommended adjustments to them, notably the 'barge boards' on the side of the cars and the rear wing end plates, to once again make sure that sponsors logos are not 'compromised'.
Have these people gone completely mad?
In figures recently released concerning the 2017 season, it plainly shows that overtaking during that season had been reduced by something like 50% so I would surmise that the boredom level of the casual watcher of the sport went up by a similar amount.
It is reported that in making the front wings simpler with the hope and wish that they would have less effect as well as being more attractive for a sponsor, the Strategy Group considered it would have too great an aerodynamic impact to justify doing it on "non-technical grounds."
So, that opportunity to actually improve the racing has been ignored by the very people whose apparent job was to improve it. Am I, together with countless others, going mad here? Is it the old saying concerning 'lunatics and asylums' coming to the fore?
This group of 'experts' have chosen to completely snub the wishes and hopes of the fans and totally ignore the need to improve the racing, not to mention the plea of some of the poorer teams to try and take cost cutting measures. If a driver manages to destroy the elements of a front wing, not unheard of in the first corner melee, a team is looking at the thick end of a $200,000 bill.
Surely the simplification of these current highly intricate, incredibly expensive, stupid looking, aerodynamicists dreams, constantly developed and modified in a battle fought out in multi million dollar wind tunnels, would answer all of those questions.
In a flash of pure brilliance Mario Isola the motorsport boss of Pirelli, suppliers of tyres to the sport, was last week quoted as saying "My personal opinion is that we should have more mechanical grip and less aero grip. With more mechanical grip you encourage overtaking, it gets easier. Because when you're following another car you lose less downforce and it's easier to try to overtake. You can follow the other car closely. So in the future I would like to see more mechanical grip and less aero grip."
It is a horrible expression but I will say "well, duh!".
When did one of the movers and shakers of the sport suddenly wake up to that which mere mortals have been preaching for a very long time and why on earth is it that, although the sentiment is shared in public forums, driver interviews and every possible outlet one can think of, this golden opportunity to correct the wrongs has not been taken for the right reasons?
Why is it that there is so much talk from the sports owners and regulating body about making 'the experience' better, yet they blithely carry on in the mould of Emperor Nero and the famous fiddling?
These aerodynamic, monument like follies, the spawn of highly intelligent minds no doubt, are turning into 'white elephant technology', harmful to the sport in the extreme.