Jeremy Clarkson on Improving F1: Eliminate Tracks Where Overtaking Is Difficult

      Jakub Porzycki

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      The Suzuka race was a real snoozer; even the Formula 1 drivers acknowledged this. Personally, I’ve always found the Japanese Grand Prix enjoyable and can’t recall having seen such a dull race there before. Over the years—from the celebrated Senna-Prost period, through the early Schumacher days, the Alonso-Renault phase, and more recently with Vettel, Hamilton, and Verstappen—Suzuka has usually offered a solid mix of strategy, overtaking, and overall challenge. Unfortunately, this year was disappointing, leading to widespread criticism, including from Jeremy Clarkson, who expressed his frustrations on X. Interestingly, he made a valid point this time.

      “I have an idea to make F1 racing consistently more exciting: don’t use tracks where overtaking is difficult,” Clarkson stated on social media.

      Usually, the simplest solutions are the most effective, so perhaps the popular television host has a point. If something isn’t working, then why not change it? If circuits like Albert Park, Suzuka, Monaco, and others no longer suit today’s vehicles and their drivers, they should be adjusted, right?

      In theory, that makes sense, but Formula 1 is a complicated sport and a multi-billion-dollar industry, so it’s not so straightforward.

      When a follower suggested in response to Clarkson’s post that the issue might lie with the cars instead of the tracks, he shifted the blame to F1's corporate owners and the significant payments they receive from contracts signed with local governments.

      “Of course. The cars are larger, so accept that, disregard the 'incentives,' and use tracks that are appropriate. Ultimately, revenue comes from fans. Always,” he remarked.

      It’s not entirely clear what Clarkson means by “the revenue comes from the fans,” but I suspect he is referring to fan attendance. If that’s the case, it’s somewhat misleading. While ticket and merchandise sales can generate substantial amounts annually, this isn’t why Liberty Media owns F1. The real profit comes from television viewership—in other words, broadcasting rights and partnerships. The more people who watch the races on Sundays, regardless of attendance in the stands, the more revenue F1 generates, allowing it to charge companies like Louis Vuitton, Paramount, Aramco, etc., for sponsorship.

      Naturally, the more thrilling a race is, the better it is for everyone, whether viewers are at home or in the stands. The more excitement generated around a race, the more buzz on social media, which again benefits sponsors by increasing their visibility and return on investment. If you're interested in the business side of racing, here's a detailed overview.

      For decades, everyone has criticized Monaco, primarily due to its processional style with minimal overtaking and the increasing size of cars, which are too large for the streets. Is it likely to be eliminated anytime soon? Not a chance.

      While Clarkson's comment was a reasonable (and logical) one, we’ll have to add this to the "Never Gonna Happen" list.

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