I love auto racing – especially F1 racing – but I have to admit that the last few years have been pretty weak. NASCAR, F1, Indy . . . BOOORING!
Here’s the bottom-line – racing is too predictable. The teams with large sponsorships have a greater advantage than teams without sponsorship. The governing bodies of the different organizations mandate specific rules (cars must weigh this . . . engines must be this size . . . fit this template, etc.), but there is a HUGE amount of wiggle room to get extra horsepower out of a car. Teams with money don’t have to cheat – they can just spend the money on R&D and for specialized components, which are fully legal, but give an extra 10 – 20 horsepower. In racing, that equates to a lot more speed than the competition.
The primary driver behind auto racing is the fan. If nobody watches or attends, then there is no sponsorship money – no endorsements – no manufacturer involvement and so on. What’s a governing body to do? Listen to the fans, that’s what.