Chinese Grand Prix: the conflict that shows the best and worst sides of Formula 1

Formula 1 chiefs have been caught up in the debate, recognizing the superficial appeal of the back-and-forth of racing, but worrying about what the new cars are doing to the sport they grew to love because they were drawn to its essence as the ultimate test of driver and machine.

World champion McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: “In qualifying, there are some aspects of driving that can be counter-intuitive.

“For example, sometimes there are comments from our drivers that once you make a mistake, you actually save some energy, you go faster overall in a sector, because the energy you saved with the throttle delay due to a problem will reward you at the end of the straight.”

“From an entertainment perspective, I think what we saw today between Ferrari and McLaren was a good race. There was a lot of overtaking,” said Mercedes Formula 1 team principal Toto Wolff.

“We were all part of Formula 1 where there was no overtaking, literally. Sometimes we get very nostalgic for the good old years.

“But I think the product is good in itself. We’ve seen some racing in the midfield as well. That, I think, is a positive.

“Now, from a driver’s point of view, when it comes to the qualifying lap, it’s different. It’s obviously difficult to adapt and digest for someone like Max, who is a complete attacking guy.

“Qualifying fully would be great. But when you look at the fans and the excitement that is out there, the cheering when there are overtakes and also on social media, the younger fans, which is the vast majority, from all demographics, like the sport is at the moment.

“So, yes, we can always look at how we can improve it. But at the moment, all the indicators and all the data indicate that people love it. And I spoke with Stefano (Domenicali, Formula 1 boss). He says that too.”

The cancellation of the Grand Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia gives the sport more breathing room to consider all of this.

There is a team bosses’ meeting with Formula One and the FIA’s governing body this week, and another race in Japan in two weeks before a five-week break before the next Grand Prix in Miami at the start of May.

There are already a number of ideas to reduce the degree of contamination of the purity of the driving experience, such as removing the minimum energy recovery currently in place at a certain stage of straights. Others may appear.

“Do we want to be true to the DNA of racing in the traditional sense? Do we accept that this counter-intuitive situation is corporate or not? This is a high-level philosophical question,” says Stella.