Disgust reading every morning the data of television audiences, which are punctually found on the Internet, from which it appears that Big Brother Vip, with a large group of hotties redone (badly), attracts much more interest than is happening in Ukraine. Other, slightly more busy programs also have a stronger response than the bombings of Kiev and Odessa, as if we were living in another world or people refusing to face reality. Equally, we do not think the fact that the Haason Saturday 5, announced the breakup with the Russian sponsor Uralkali and with the son of the owner of the same company, Nikita Mazepinrider registered in the world championship.
The International Federation headed by a Saudi, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, had issued a harsh statement two days earlier condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, after the cancellation of the Sochi GP was announced on 25 February.
Formula 1, therefore, for the first time in history is entering into what happens outside the confines of the circuits. The first hints that something was changing came thanks to Lewis’s correct, though sometimes confused, positions. Hamilton and then, more recently, of Sebastian Vettel. Beyond the support for the sacrosanct causes of inclusion which, if repeated and forced, nevertheless risk losing incisiveness, it is very nice to note how the boys (such they are, just look at their dates of birth) who are a symbol of speed, very popular and loved ones in every corner of the world, slowly make them feel what they think. And it does not matter if sometimes dystonias are created, because the important thing is to intervene and speak to those who, from their idols, do not only want motoristic opinions but an extended participation in the rest of life, that is to what – even painful – that surrounds the their golden environment. Because there are many peers of Verstappen, Hamilton, Leclerc, Sainz who – on both sides – they are fighting the dirty war that takes away our sleep. It will be said: but pilots must be pilots. True, but up to a point, because it’s time for them to come out of their shells and show themselves for who they are as human beings. Seine it has become a myth because it did not speak only of cars but sharply bordered on everything: it was listened to, followed, adored, so much so as to leave an indelible mark. Now is the time for his heirs to come out of the banality, aware of the fact that they can push those children of the same generation who, in most cases, have points of reference that are often fragile or non-existent to an awareness.
Haas’s stern note was obvious, as the Kannapolis-based team is the only American team. Now we are waiting for other teams, or all together, to make their voices heard. Of course, it is difficult to move in an environment where certain shareholdings are of opaque origin, or come from countries such as Saudi Arabia – home of the second GP of the year – which are not at the top of the ranking of those who respect human rights, so much so that Amnesty underlines how “intensified the crackdown on the rights of freedom of expression, association and assembly“With”people executed for a wide range of crimes” after “unfair trials“.
In the midst of the chaos that reigns in every corner of the planet, F1 (and obviously also sport in general) is forced to extricate itself from hypocrisy, ambiguity, necessity, doubts, putting money above everything. It has always been like this, if only we think of the Argentine Grand Prix that were disputed with the military, machine gun leveled, in the pits, in the bad times of the generals. Or even the nonchalance with which he went to run in South Africa in the midst of aapartheid bloody. In the face of shame, the justification, scandalous and false, promptly arrived (and does arrive) that competing in those places served to open a glimmer of hope to those who were subjugated, when instead the injustices of unacceptable dictatorships were further credited.
We are talking about a past that now returns, but with a different response, thanks to the information that circulates in real time, even if in some countries, such as Russia, we try to hide it with the closure of sites, newspapers, TV networks, radio, when today all kids, everywhere, know how to dodge web censorship and access news.
It is a challenging slalom that is preparing to face the Formula 1 license plate 2022, among the economic repercussions of the war that will affect the entire panorama of competitions, the difficult supplies of materials, the increase in costs, the collapse of the stock exchanges, the difficulties in transport, sponsor restrictions and so on. And since the scenario will not change soon, it is good that Fia and Liberty Media immediately start thinking about a very close tomorrow, in which the budget cap at $ 140 million will become an anachronistic joke. Woe to think of F1 as the usual golden garden, sheltered from what happens elsewhere. But woe, above all, to pretend that you are in the presence of a passing crisis. This is not the case and those who think that two overtakes and a triumph of Ferrari are enough to bring back the smile and optimism, do not realize how this moment has penetrated the consciences already terrified by the pandemic, digging deeper, where there are real values of all of us.
Then there will be time – we hope – for a return to a pseudo-normality, but it would be wicked to forget today’s context, changing the channel after the news, to plunge back into the depressing scenario of itchy programs. The F1 that goes to Bahrain for the first eagerly awaited party is different from the one we dreamed of. Suddenly we slipped into a nightmare of blood and nuclear threats. It is necessary to intervene immediately in the vital ganglia of the system without the fear of getting your hands dirty or canceling privileges. The result could be a Formula 1 reduced in size but more adherent, from a moral point of view, to these dark moments in which it is inevitable to rewrite the priority scale. The problem, however, is another: are there people of thickness to do it?
#war #rethink #FormulaPassionit