The podium controversy in Turkey has led to comment about Formula 1 in places where normally such things would not be much seen, and it is interesting to see how the sport is viewed by outsiders.


The Cyprus Mail is one such publication and its views on the sport are perhaps worth considering. For years some people inside F1 have been arguing that the sport needs to clean up the way it does business - and perhaps this is evidence that this argument is a valid one.

"Formula 1," wrote the newspaper, "is a sport that makes as many headlines off the track as on it. Races are rarely decided by audacious overtaking manoeuvres, rather by split second actions in the pits and strategies devised by men staring at computer screens. Key championship points have been decided in the courts, victims falling foul of ever-changing technical rules, deductions and disqualifications. It's a sport over which hovers a cloud of conspiracy, a constant suspicion of manipulation of rules and results to suit the hidden agendas of shadowy backstage figures. And yet in spite of this, it is regarded as the pinnacle of motor sport, a multi-million pound industry commanding a vast global audience. Reaching into so many homes and with so much money at stake, it's little wonder that Formula 1 has at times spread its tentacles into politics. One remembers the scandal of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone's donations to the Labour Party and his blatant attempts to influence EU policy on tobacco advertising. So it's fitting to our delusions of grandeur that the Cyprus problem should make its appearance on the F1 roadshow, with Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat being plucked out of the hat by Istanbul race organisers to hand the trophy to the winner of Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix. It was an audacious stunt, but one that could now spectacularly backfire. The government quite rightly saw red and the sport's governing authority, the FIA, is investigating how the unrecognised "President" of a puppet state maintained by military occupation can have been allowed to grab the international limelight in such a way. "No compromise or violation of (our political) neutrality is acceptable," said the FIA, which is known to take a dim view of podium antics.

"The Turkish Cypriot side has bristled at the government's reaction, denouncing it as proof of the Greek Cypriots' unjust embargos and a petty response to a purely sporting event. Yet their initial glee at pulling off the stunt is evidence of the very political impact of such a gesture on an island where point scoring has replaced substance at the heart of the political dispute. The Turkish organisers have shown predictable immaturity in making such political capital out of a sporting event - proof if any were needed that we are as puerile as each other in our pathetic battle for international hearts and minds.

"Yet if they were to hijack any sport to promote their positions on the Cyprus problem, Formula 1 is perhaps strangely appropriate - a sport where competitors go round and round in circles, as compulsive to its addicts as it is bewildering to the non-initiate, a sport where the substance, the raw racing, has long given way to the self-interest of its organisers and participants, pulling arcane strings in an ultimately pointless yet strangely mesmerising ballet."

Food for thought in the corridors of power.

Fashioning the stuff from which legends are made, Formula One is witnessing the birth of a pride of new lions. Poised to take on the mantle of World Champion, these young pilots are talented, well-paid and — in the savage commercial world of today’s F1 — brave in an entirely new way.

Once again demonstrating that change is the essence of Formula One, today's F1 drivers are fashioning the stuff from which legends are made. From Villeneuve to Mika Hakkinen and former Irish bad boy Eddie Irvine (together with Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralf Schumacher and Alexander Wurz) these new lions were talented, well-paid and — in light of the savage commercialization of today's F1 — brave in an entirely new way as well.


Not that controversy and politics have been eliminated, however. They actually began in earnest again in 1994, where Michael Schumacher was stupidly shown the black flag at Silverstone for "overtaking" on the pre-race parade lap, and then slapped by FIA with a two-race suspension for allegedly ignoring the flag while Benetton's Flavio Briatore argued with the stewards. The shenanigans escalated at the Hungaroring that season, where Schumacher was disqualified on technical grounds after the wooden undertray plank on his Benetton was judged too thin under the regulations.

They peaked at Adelaide — the last gasp for a fun-filled Australian GP F1 venue — where Damon Hill, second in the race and the world championship, desperately dove for a small gap and Schumacher shut the door, breaking the Williams' front wishbone and securing the win and season title.
And controversy continued into 1995, where Hill, superficially appearing confident in the superior Williams FW17 of Patrick Head, collided into Schumacher at Silverstone, spun out while leading at Hockenheim, and made a general mess of things as Schumacher handily won his second title. (This included a fantastic victory in the 1995 European GP at a refurbished Nürburgring, where "Schumi" adroitly managed rain tyres and pit strategy to pass Jean Alesi with three laps to go to take the win, while Hill crashed once again attempting to catch the German.)

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A further hint that Michael Schumacher could be considering retirement at the end of the season came ahead of qualifying for the Turkish Grand Prix on Saturday, when it transpired that the German had asked for the Grand Prix Drivers' Association elections to be postponed.


The ballot had been due to take place ahead of the next round of the championship, at Monza on 10 September, but it is understood that Schumacher, a GPDA director, has requested that they be delayed until after the race. Monza has long been the date at which Ferrari maintains it will reveal its line-up for 2007, and paddock wisdom suggests that a lot could hinge on Schumacher's position in the championship.


While the F1 world appears divided over whether the German will call it quits at the end of this year or next, his manager, Willi Weber, has urged Schumacher to go out on top, logically on the back of an eighth world title - something which is becoming a distinct possibility this year. Should Schumi decide that enough is enough, he would have to stand down from his position within the GPDA, but is likely to seek re-election should he opt to continue, giving yesterday's request greater meaning.

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Massa triumphed by 5.5sec for Ferrari from Renault's Alonso who had to fight off seven-times champion Schumacher several times over the last 15 laps to take a vital second place by just a car's length.


The Spaniard came home just fractions ahead of his Ferrari rival to increase his championship lead over the German to 12 points with four races left. Massa, who had started on pole for the first time, claimed his historic win in his 66th race and his first season with Ferrari.

"It's just fantastic. I've worked so hard my whole career for this moment," said a tearful Massa. "I'm full of emotion, like yesterday (when he took pole). This is my first time, it's like a dream come true."

Alonso admitted:

"Felipe was impossible to catch. We'll just need to do something for the next race."

Schumacher, meanwhile, paid tribute to his young team mate:

"Congratulations to Felipe - he did a superb job. There was quite a gap and he was consistent and drove superbly.

"That's what is good about our team - somebody might not have had a good weekend and the other makes up for it. It was a nice fight towards the end."

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