The Formula 1 circus sometimes takes on strange traits, and this was clearly visible at the last Grand Prix in Austin. The financial pressure made it so unbearably difficult for the smallest teams that they collapsed under it: Marussia and Caterham had to file for bankruptcy and did not take part in the race, shrinking the driver field to the almost unbearable.
Financial problems of the smaller teams explosive
In view of these glaringly difficult conditions, the other small teams even threatened a boycott. The plight of the small teams is serious. "We simply wanted to send a clear signal. What still has to happen before there is finally a reaction? That's what it was all about for us," says Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn. The small teams are demanding a higher share of the revenues from the marketing of Formula 1. Currently, the strong are getting stronger and stronger, the weak weaker and weaker. If Formula 1 is to become an exclusive sport, it is threatened with extinction, because the big masses don't need a polo on four wheels. The unequal battle must be steered in a fair direction, otherwise the sport will be over. Ex-Formula 1 team boss Eddie Jordan was also critical: "The way Formula 1 is currently being run makes me sick. It's completely unfair, while the sport should be a fair competition," said ex-Formula 1 team boss Eddie Jordan in an interview with 'Reuters'. The former boss of record world champion Michael Schumacher knows the financial tightrope walk in Formula 1 from his own experience. During his time as team manager, however, the conditions were somewhat better.
The problem runs deep: Formula 1 is too driven by money
Much more than in the past, and especially in its early days, Formula 1 is determined by the financial resources of the racing teams. Teams with little money don't stand a chance, teams with plenty of money have a good chance of making it onto the podium and are even encouraged by the compensation system. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. It's an unequal fight that seems unfair and that makes for a lot of boredom, because it's no longer the driving performance of the individual driver that counts, his character, his personality, but only the race car, whose performance increases in proportion to the capital invested. The result is that year after year, at the beginning of the year, it is determined who has the best car, which in the end determines which team is on the podium. Last year it was Red Bull, this year it's Mercedes. This makes the outcome of the world championship and virtually every race too predictable, which means the excitement is lost and boredom sets in. Inventiveness, human strengths, great characters are too often missing; sterile engineering and money dominate too much of the action.
In view of these simmering problems in Formula 1, the race on the beautiful race track in Austin, Texas, almost degenerated into a sideshow. Apart from that, it was clear anyway - and that makes Formula 1 very boring anyway because it's predictable - that one of the two Mercedes drivers would win. The only thing worth mentioning is that Hamilton managed to take the win and extend his lead despite his stablemate Rosberg's pole.
Results USA Grand Prix 2014
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2 Nico Rosberg, Mercedes 56 +4.3 sec.
3 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing, +25.5 sec.
4 Felipe Massa, Williams, +26.9 sec.
5 Valtteri Bottas, Williams, +30.9 sec.
6 Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, +95.2 sec.
7 Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing, +95.7 sec.
8 Kevin Magnussen, McLaren
9 Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso
10 Pastor Maldonado,Lotus
11 Romain Grosjean, Lotus +1 lap
12 Jenson Button, McLaren +1 lap
13 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari +1 lap
14 Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber +1 lap
15 Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso +1 lap
Retired, Nico Hülkenberg, Force India
Retired, Sergio Perez, Force India
Retired, Adrian Sutil, Sauber
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