Why F1 is sitting on a timebomb of contradictions
Formula 1 faces a series of 'Who?', 'What?', 'Where?', 'When?', 'Why?' and 'How?' questions as it bids to achieve ambitious goals in 2018 and beyond
As Formula 1 nears the end of its first year under the commercial management of Liberty Media, grand prix racing's new owner could do well to use the winter break to take stock of exactly what it is it has bought. At first glance the answer may seem straightforward enough - the rights to the world's premier motor racing series - but as Liberty digs deeper it may find it needs to redefine the constituent parts of F1.
Is it, for example, a motorised sporting series for highly skilled drivers, or is it simply a technological platform upon which motor manufacturers and component suppliers are able to demonstrate their expertise, using human guinea pigs to push the envelope? Combination of both? If so, what split?
Vettel: Last Ferrari step back to winning F1 titles will be hardest
Vettel: Last Ferrari step back to winning F1 titles will be hardest Vettel: Last Ferrari step back to winning F1 titles will be hardest
Revealed: What F1 teams really spent in 2017
Revealed: What F1 teams really spent in 2017 Revealed: What F1 teams really spent in 2017
Aftermath of Hamilton Baku clash Vettel's 'worst feeling' of 2017
Aftermath of Hamilton Baku clash Vettel's 'worst feeling' of 2017 Aftermath of Hamilton Baku clash Vettel's 'worst feeling' of 2017
Lewis Hamilton hopes Fernando Alonso is in 2018 F1 title fight
Lewis Hamilton hopes Fernando Alonso is in 2018 F1 title fight Lewis Hamilton hopes Fernando Alonso is in 2018 F1 title fight
How teams lost patience with F1's new era
How teams lost patience with F1's new era How teams lost patience with F1's new era
Michael Schumacher doubted himself, reveals ex-Ferrari F1 boss Todt
Michael Schumacher doubted himself, reveals ex-Ferrari F1 boss Todt Michael Schumacher doubted himself, reveals ex-Ferrari F1 boss Todt
Why Todt's reign is eight years longer than planned
Why Todt's reign is eight years longer than planned Why Todt's reign is eight years longer than planned
The change F1 must make to bring back classic races
The change F1 must make to bring back classic races The change F1 must make to bring back classic races
Inside the adaptations needed to realise NASCAR's Le Mans return
Inside the adaptations needed to realise NASCAR's Le Mans return Inside the adaptations needed to realise NASCAR's Le Mans return
WRC Chile: Evans leads as Lappi, Loubet suffer high-speed rolls
WRC Chile: Evans leads as Lappi, Loubet suffer high-speed rolls WRC Chile: Evans leads as Lappi, Loubet suffer high-speed rolls
Aston Martin: 2026 gearbox “a golden opportunity” for F1 to cut costs
Aston Martin: 2026 gearbox “a golden opportunity” for F1 to cut costs Aston Martin: 2026 gearbox “a golden opportunity” for F1 to cut costs
Bagnaia can take “deep breath” after solving Ducati MotoGP braking issues
Bagnaia can take “deep breath” after solving Ducati MotoGP braking issues Bagnaia can take “deep breath” after solving Ducati MotoGP braking issues
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle When Mansell and Senna settled their differences in an F1 pitlane scuffle
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold The F1 treasure map where Hamilton hopes Mercedes hits gold
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose The two F1 rules problems Perez’s recent mishaps expose
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.