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Blundell Calls for Changes to Improve Show

Former Formula One driver Mark Blundell believes Grand Prix bosses need to find solutions in order to bring entertainment back to the sport following Michael Schumacher's domination this season.

Former Formula One driver Mark Blundell believes Grand Prix bosses need to find solutions in order to bring entertainment back to the sport following Michael Schumacher's domination this season.

Blundell, a former McLaren driver, claimed that fans could turn off next season if another season of Ferrari domination happens and called for Formula One chiefs to do something to end the processional races.

"I think F1 seriously has to have an internal look to see what it can do because in the last couple of races we have just been watching processions and that has not been helpful for anybody," Blundell told the Press Association.

"There are a lot of technical aspects to it, which is pleasing if you are into that sort of thing, but motorsport has been termed that way because that is what you expect to see - racing. And at this point of time we are not seeing a great deal of it.

"There have been Championships where teams have been dominant before but if you look back at least there was more racing going on then. You can start to pick out a lot more overtaking manoeuvres and fights on the track which we are not seeing now.

"All we are seeing is dominance and a dominance which is so big it's getting frustrating. I love the sport, I have been in it for 18 odd years, but I am beginning now to start thinking people are going to start looking away."

Blundell, who works for ITV, said that he feels television audiences could turn off next season if the opening races of 2003 see a repeat of Ferrari's victories this season, where Schumacher has been untouchable.

"The crux of it will be if we kick-off next season and we have got red cars on the front and staying at the front with huge gaps," he said. "That's when you might see some effects. But in the meantime we can only put our hands together and pray that the other teams catch up as has happened in years gone by."

But Blundell, who also drove for Brabham, Ligier and Tyrrell, admitted that Schumacher and Ferrari's success was something that has to be admired.

"Ferrari are doing what they are doing and in some respects you have got to take your hats off to them," he added. "It was only a couple of years ago that they were in complete disarray and other teams were dominant. You cannot moan about people dominating stuff, they are doing it for a reason and another team has to catch up.

"Schumacher is a class apart. If you look at his credentials they say nothing else. While he is around and there is such a dominating factor of team, driver and personnel and so forth it is going to be tough to see who is going to beat his records.

"Until someone comes to join that little club - which at the moment is a club of one - what are we going to do?

"Kimi Raikkonen looks like he has got potential as does Juan Pablo Montoya and Rubens Barrichello has driven fantastic all year long. But if they don't get equal equipment, there is only going to be one guy with a sandcastle and another load of kids who will have theirs trodden down."

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