Formula One: Write To Survive

english/italiano

Five days have passed since those deleterious last laps in Abu Dhabi that have assigned in an unpredictable way the Drivers and Constructors titles of Formula 1.

What happened on the track and especially in the post-race leads me to inevitable reasoning, someone from this situation has remained dissatisfied, and in the world dominated and connected by the network, Social becomes an inevitable field of confrontation between the respective sides involved. 

The media profile held by the two teams were opposite, on one hand, the deafening press silence of Mercedes, interrupted only by the communications of intent and subsequent withdrawal of the appeal to the court of Paris, for the work of Masi and the FIA. On the other hand a succession of posts celebrating the victory of the flying dutch Max Verstappen, who will bring back the number #1 to Milton Keynes after Seb Vettel in 2014.

In all this contrast, only one factor unites these two large teams, the comments of users under their social content. Some have tried to limit them (Mercedes) others have left free rein to their followers (Red Bull), the result is almost the same: a river of insults and anger.

Of course, Formula 1 is not and never will be an easy sport to understand, with its (too) twisted rules, its secular traditions (woe to touch them) and a thousand other factors that engage our minds.

Since 2019, however, the highest category made in the USA has opened the doors to a new type of entertainment, television or rather digital.

The streaming giant Netflix (hence the crippling that gives the title to this article) has won the right to produce a show that reveals the hidden sides and behind the scenes of an atypical world like F1. So far nothing strange, except that television most of the time tends to show off what happens, adapt the plot to generate an audience.

Drive to Survive (this is the name) has generated from the outset a contrasting opinion in drivers and adepts to the work, on the one hand, some have shown themselves favourable to the show, also key to attract new audiences, others such as the same Verstappen and Sainz, have highlighted the presence of rivalries and tensions, non-existent in the reality of the facts.

This leads me to reflect, how many of those who expressed/civilly imposed their opinion on Social Media, have been interested in Formula 1 following the publication of the show.

How many before then had heard of "undercut" "fuel-saving" or knew the existence of the ERS of the MGU-K and key mechanical components? We'll never know that.

What is certain is that from 2022 the FIA and Liberty Media will have to find an agreement on the way to Formula 1, a way made of shows, rodeos on the track, unbridled rivalries or a way made of technological research, innovation, fight on the track but separate correlated by Fair Play and sportiness.

In addition to the celebrities that populate the starting grid, we should teach and remind our fans of the history of this sport, the values that it transmits, the roots from which it comes.

Only in this way everyone can enjoy the show on the track and exchange opinions with other fans.

Federico Longo