04/04/2010
NEWS STORY
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has warned that despite the drama of Australia and Malaysia, the sport risks a return to Bahrain-style processions unless it takes action and seeks positive means to improve the show.
Having received a mauling following a dire season opener in Bahrain, F1 was able to put on a better show in Melbourne and Sepang, thanks largely to the weather.
Mixed conditions in Australia saw a number of epic performances while in Malaysia, similar conditions during qualifying saw some of the leading contenders for the 2010 title start the race from the back of the grid. However, in both races, drivers were only able to work their way so far up the field before they found their progress stall, mainly courtesy of the aerodynamic regulations.
Fearing that when F1 returns to Europe, we might see more of the processional type races witnessed in Bahrain, Ecclestone has called on the teams to act.
"Don't be fooled," he said prior to Sunday's race. "We have been lucky with the rain. However, we have got to do something. For the first time the teams have realised that they have to do something about it. We don't need reverse grids, we just need more overtaking."
Asked how this might be achieved, he replied, according to the Daily Telegraph, and echoing what F1 fans have been saying for years, that he would "make the front wing smaller and get rid of the double diffuser".
However, speaking just a couple of days after April 1st, the man who previously suggested that the sport introduce short cuts to improve overtaking, came up with a novel method of deciding the starting grid. "Why not just get a beautiful girl in and draw out the drivers for the top 10?" he said.