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.

Related Articles: Tears of joy as Ferrari No.2 brings it home | F1 Sailing off to Istanbul | €50 Mln Income Expected from Next Week's Turkish F1 Grand Prix

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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Formula 1's summer break is coming to an end. On Wednesday Michael Schumacher will be heading to Istanbul for the Grand Prix of Turkey. On the way he will make a stop in Athens.

On the 25th anniversary of the National Drivers' soccer team, the Italian squad that competes in charity games and of which Michael is a part, will play in Greece for the first time. The game will kick off at 21.00 at the Stadio Karaiskaki and will be against a Greek all-star team. It will be 'a great premiere' as Michael stated.



From Thursday on the focus will shift to the next round of the Formula 1 Grand Prix championship.

"This is how things should be", he smiled. The German champion is looking forward to his latest challenge. "We have had a few days off and, naturally, I had a pleasant time. However, I could have done without it as it would have been better to go straight into the Grand Prix of Turkey after Hungary. The title challenge is so exciting that I cannot wait for the next race. The Istanbul weekend is finally about to get underway".

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The Turkish Formula One Grand Prix is expected to attract around 45,000 tourists and bring in around €50 million in revenues to Turkey.


Deloitte, a consultancy firm operating in Turkey, has prepared a report on the projected economic revenues from next weekend's Istanbul F1 race.


The report entitled "Formula One Economy: Turkish Grand Prix Istanbul" anticipates that the second Turkish GP will attract around 240,000 spectators, 45,000 of them from abroad and around 25,000 Turkish fans outside Istanbul.


The total expenditures of the F1 tourists and participant clubs, including accommodation and tickets, are expected to contribute around €50 million to the Turkish economy. Istanbul is to host Formula 1, the most watched motor sports organization in the world, on August 25-27 for the second time ever.


In August 2005, the Formula 1 Turkish Grand Prix 2005 was broadcast in 203 countries to an audience of around 2.2 billion. A crowd of nearly 100,000 were at the Istanbul Park circuit last August to see the inaugural Turkish Formula 1 GP, crowned with the victory of Finnish pilot Kimi Raikkonen driving for McLaren Mercedes.




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