Schumacher Domination Raises Fear of TV Turn-Off

Ferrari's Michael Schumacher was asked about loneliness and boredom after he had cruised to his fourth victory in five Formula One outings this season.

The loneliness was his, that of a World Champion in what is clearly the fastest car lapping around a second quicker than his rivals in Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.

The perceived boredom was that of the huge global television audience and the fear that some may start turning off their sets if Ferrari's prancing horse continues to be the only runner in the race.

"Ferrari fans would love this symphony to last forever," commented Candido Cannavo, editor of Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, in a column on Monday. "But if I were Bernie Ecclestone, the ringmaster, I would be beginning to get worried."

Logic suggests that having a one-sided Championship sewn up long before the end of a season cannot be good for business at a time when money is in short supply. Both the Jordan and British American Racing (BAR) teams recently shed 15 percent of their workforce and, although Jordan expect to break even this year, other teams are fighting for sponsorship.

International Automobile Federation (FIA) President Max Mosley said recently that some teams were currently spending $20 to 30 million more than they had got and raised the spectre of two or three teams going under. Formula One needs to put on a strong show, particularly at a time when the soccer World Cup is about to take over the airwaves, but it has been here before.

Mansell Era

Ten years ago, Briton Nigel Mansell became the first driver to win the first five races of a season with only his Williams teammate Ricardo Patrese providing any opposition. Television ratings began to drop and several international companies dropped their Grand Prix coverage as viewers outside Britain lost interest.

But then, in the next two races, McLaren were suddenly triumphant with Brazilian Ayrton Senna and Austrian Gerhard Berger. That same year also saw the first victory for a young Michael Schumacher. Berger is now motorsport director for Williams' engine supplier BMW and, as he remarked on Sunday after the race, the unexpected always lurks around the corner.

"Forget the Drivers' Championship, there is no chance," said Berger. "But you never know what happens."

It is only a few weeks since commentators were raving about the track duels between Ferrari and Williams after three opening races rich in drama and incident. While Schumacher is 21 points clear of Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, the gap between Ferrari and Williams in the Constructors' standings is only seven.

While some may find Schumacher's supremacy tiresome, others take each race in isolation and feel privileged to watch an artist at work and history in the making as he heads for a record-equalling fifth title.

Schumacher's first Formula One boss Eddie Jordan, without a point this season, has called for measures to give entrepreneurial teams like his a fighting chance. But he is also thrilled to watch Schumacher in action, likening his prowess to that of golfer Tiger Woods.

Berger did not believe Schumacher's form would hurt the sport either. "It's no problem. If someone does a good job, he should win. For us it is a challenge, something we have to think about and it just shows that it is an honest game."

Schumacher, who won last year's title with four rounds to spare, made the point that races are about far more than merely a battle for first place.

"There is racing going on as well for other positions and you have to look at this as well," he said when confronted with the boredom question. "I had this group of people in front of me at the end and I was watching them. It was sort of interesting to watch the battle for sixth position."

With Schumacher in a race of his own, there was plenty going on behind him with David Coulthard overtaking fellow Briton Jenson Button and Brazilian Felipe Massa charging into the points for Sauber.

For the Arrows mechanics, who lifted German Heinz-Harald Frentzen high on their shoulders when he scored the team's first point of the year, sixth place was a triumph.