F1 | From the calendar full of races to the freezing of the engines, dear Formula 1, why do you keep hurting yourself?

Dear Formula One, do you like to self-harm? It would seem so reading the various news outlets that (unfortunately!) seem to await the premier class of motorsport in the near future. In the past few hours we have read the statements of the outgoing CEO of the Circus, Chase Carey, and of Liberty Media's desire to include up to 24 events in the calendar. Next year, net of any downsizing due to the pandemic, 23 GPs await us, including the new entry Saudi Arabia. An idea, the American giant will allow us, absolutely illogical where those extra days of the race weekends could be used differently.

For example in test sessions. Tests (public and private) were a practically essential condition in the Formula One of the past, where teams and drivers had the opportunity to run non-stop, refining their feeling with the single-seaters and trying out new parts that would debut in the race. Ferrari, for example, built its hegemony in Schumi's golden years precisely at Fiorano and Mugello by being able to test without stopping and limits.

Now, however, it seems like a sin of lèse majesté to be able to test on the track. Indeed, among the various ideas proposed, the concrete possibility of eliminating even some test days is being examined. The fault also lies with the teams who accept these solutions, only to then raise their voices in vain asking for a Formula One without "barriers" that allows them to close the gap with the competition. Let's take for example the Young Test Driver day which will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 15th.

But why not extend the session with additional days that also allow the regular drivers who will change teams (above all Vettel, Ricciardo, Sainz) to which the returning Alonso is added to begin to become familiar with the new reality? A small bureaucracy that limits this category, with the teams that instead of giving their drivers a pass, preferring to make them remain tied to their contracts until the last day. Except then being subject to the same treatment by the other party.

Mystery. Unfortunately, contemporary Formula One is made up of mysteries and realities that are difficult to understand rationally. Let's also consider the issue related to engine freezing. In recent weeks it seemed that Ferrari and Renault wanted to avoid this risk for the entire category being considered by Red Bull, which will find itself orphaned by Honda at the end of 2021 and has not yet signed any motorsport partnership. But it seems, according to what the authoritative reports Car engine and sport, that the Cavallino and Diamante teams have instead opened up to this solution. Which honestly is difficult to understand if you consider that the new regulation will come into force from 2022 and a possible strategic design error would mean nullifying the work from a future perspective, especially for a team like the one in Maranello called to recover the current distance with the competitors relating to the cavalry.

It would be an authentic own goal that the category and especially the teams cannot afford which in this way would nullify the efforts made in the factory, with future titles that would already be beautiful and ready to be awarded. It would be the definitive death of Formula One which is continuing its slow path towards decline…