Formula 1 is heading towards the most anticipated season of the last decade. On the one hand, the technical front introduces what, according to Adrian Newey and other authoritative technicians, it is one of the largest revolutions ever in the history of the category. In addition to the traditional curiosity towards the interpretations of the regulations, which at the dawn of a new technical cycle often give rise to a discreet differentiation between the cars, there is also the hope of a reshuffling of values and a wider range of teams candidates for the victory, at the end of a historical period that saw Mercedes monopolize 15 of the 16 titles awarded since the beginning of the turbo-hybrid era. Compared to the recent past, supporters of Ferrari, McLaren and Alpine in particular have high expectations for 2022, who could seize the opportunity of the new regulations to return to the top after years of absence, like Haas and Williams who aim to return in the center-group scrum. The unpredictability of the implications of the regulatory revolution therefore increases the expectation of medium-long term fans, to which must be added the interest of newbies after the recent growth in popularity of Formula 1, at the end of one of the most hard-fought seasons in history of motorsport and sport in general.
There would therefore be the ideal conditions to be able to ride the emotional wave of the moment and to further increase the media coverage in a context in which Formula 1, between the expansion of the calendar and the introduction of sprint races on Saturdays, has revealed the desire to increase the events capable of attracting the attention of spectators. Yet, in this long-awaited winter break, organizers and teams seem to be working to extinguish interest and keep the public as far away from the much-hidden 2022 cars. in Barcelona, also the most awaited of the last decade, it will not have television coverage, there will be no availability of live timing e fans will be denied access to the circuit. Later, with the first introductions of the cars, the fear has slowly spread that the same teams will try not to reveal their cars before taking to the track, preferring to use the Federation’s standard models to show off the livery.
At present, only two teams have carried out their own launch event, which is why there is still hope that similar concerns will fade with the next presentations. Haas showed the world the VF22 in the form of a render, which the team claimed depicts the actual car from the US team. The differences with the standard FIA model are in fact numerous, suggesting that the renderings may be based on a common basis with the car that will actually take to the track. However, indiscretions reported by the national and foreign press insinuate the doubt that some details have been graphically altered or obscured in order not to reveal the choices of the technical department in advance. Subsequently it was the turn of Red Bull, queen of the last drivers’ championship, whose launch event was however based on a livery applied to the standard FIA modelcompletely different from the real RB18, a situation that is now feared could be repeated with other teams.
On the one hand, the team’s willingness to jealously guard their secrets to the last is understandable and legitimate, also creating a slight aura of mystery that emphasizes engineering competition. However, it is impossible not to notice how the secrecy is now extreme, a context opposed to when the presentations centered around the car unveiled in the presence, with real shows sometimes set up in the main European cities, from the Red Square of the Kremlin to the streets of Valencia, which on some occasions was followed by an exhibition of the same car. And although the presentation of the livery alone is still a reason of interest for fans, as well as an indisputable need to give visibility to those sponsors who make the team’s activities possible, however, it is hoped that the event will be indicated as such. As has already happened on some occasions in previous years, one can only feel disappointment, frustration and even a hint of derision when you see announcements, statements and videos that enhance a car which, not too subtly, is not the one shown. If you choose to hide the car until the last useful moment, it is desirable that at least the promotional event is explicitly announced as a presentation of the livery of the new car, without pretending to reveal its shapes as well. There are still eight teams left to hope to attend presentations without shadows or misdirections, but so far, considering the enormous curiosity that had been created towards the new cars, the feeling is that of a missed opportunity.
#Missed #opportunity #FormulaPassionit