100% F-1
How a Postseason Playoffs Could be Integrated Into F-1
F-1 is a very fast growing sport almost entirely because of two key factors that I will talk about later. But there are a few problems with the sport as well. How can F-1 solve these problems to grow to become one of the most popular sports in the world? The 2 main reasons F-1 has become one of the fastest growing sports is Drive to Survive which is a documentary on Netflix and the battle last year between the two top drivers on the grid and their teams. You have to remember F-1 is more entertainment than sport.
Drive to Survive has been on Netflix for 4 seasons now and has been renewed for a fifth. Drive to survive takes you into F-1 to see the tough decisions, practice and races from the drivers perspectives. The voice over interviews add a great touch for the show and explain to you how the driver is feeling. It makes F-1 very dramatic and makes you feel like you know the drivers, team principals and even the pit crew. Also unlike many other sports docuseries it focuses on the whole sport instead of just a player or a team. Each episode is about something different from Valtirerie Bottas and George Russel fighting for the 2nd chair in Mercedes to Toto and Hoerner talking about their relationship (which apparently there is no relationship).
Last season was almost certainly the best and most exhilarating season and it wasn't just at the top. Sub plots like who will get the 2nd chair at Mercedes next season, Mick Schumacher carrying on the family tradition, his teammate Nikita Mazepins Dad and Yuki’s energy. But as we all know only one thing matters in F-1: winning. Hamilton vs. Verstappen, Bottas vs Perez, Toto vs Christan and Mercedes vs Red Bull. Every single person on each of these teams hated the opposition. When Verstappen wiped out Hamilton in Monza, a crash that could have easily killed both of them, the pressure only grew. When Hamilton won in the 2nd to last race in Saudi for the first time in… forever the constructors and the drivers cup were still up for grabs. In an electrifying race which ultimately could have ended either way (some very controversial calls), Max Verrstapan had broken Hamilton's streak of 7 straight championships and 7 straight years of Mercedes pulverization of every other team.
This is probably the best thing that could have happened to the sport. Coming into a year with new rule changes now the season feels completely up for grabs. Whereas if Hamilton had won it would have been demoralizing for every driver, team and fan not for Mercedes. The season is still fresh in everyone's minds but it looks like we have a new power house that is taking the place of Mercedes and has the number 1 and 2 point scorers on the grid: Ferrari. Sure there are big incentives for drivers and teams to do well even if they don't win. But for fans not so much.
One of the things that I think Drive to Survive did really well is showing every team. This makes fans a little bit more diversified. They gave large amounts of screen time to Mclaren, Williams, Haas, Mercedes, Red Bull, Alpine and Scuderia AlphaTauri. This will allow a team like Ferrari to cruise to a victory but fans to stay interested.
If teams winning championships midway through the season isn't that fun of an idea how could we allow great teams to be formed but still have fans stay engaged all the way through the season. Every other sport has them basketball, soccer, baseball, football, hockey and hopefully soon F-1. If you haven't already figured it out I think F-1 should have a postseason and I know exactly how they should do it.
Just going on the format of this year we are going to take out the last 2 races from the season and make them the playoffs. The first round will be held in Brazil. There will be no qualifying in this race and point totals will decide your starting point. The points earned will count towards the constructors cup. Even though it is all one race at the same time you will be competing against only 1 person. Going from the current standings: Lerlerc would play Norris, Sainz vs Bottas, Verstappen vs Magnussen, Russel vs Perex and Hamilton vs Ocon. Just to be clear, if Leclerc gets 9th and Lando gets 10th Leclerc is still one of the 5 to move on.
The finals would happen yet again in Abu Dhabi. Still there will be no qualifying for this race; the points earned from the last race will decide starting positions. This will count again for the constructors cup and obviously the winner gets the drivers cup. It will be a thrilling 5 car race to decide the next F-1 Champ.
This would be a fun and entertaining way to make F-1 continue to have success and be appealing to all fans around the world. Do you think this would be fun and exciting? Should F-1 use this system? Share your thoughts in the comments or email us at 100percent312@gmail.com
-Xavier Fisher
CEO and President of 100%