The Australian Grand Prix marked the dawn of a brave new world for
Formula One, with drivers being forced to run without the controversial driver aids that have made being an
F1 driver just a little easier over the past few years.
While most fans of the sport believed that removing the likes of traction control and engine braking would improve the spectacle of a grand prix, however, there are those on the inside that are thinking differently now that the latest generation of car has had its first competitive outing.
Those watching from the terraces or on television may have enjoyed the sight of cars sliding more than of late, and been treated to engine sounds not interrupted by the bark of traction control, but
Renault engineering chief Pat Symonds is not convinced that the sport has gone the right way in pursuit of entertainment.
"I think [the chaotic race in Melbourne] was a result of various factors," he reflected, "Melbourne does tend to generate a lot of incidents and accidents, partly because it is a difficult, slippery track with bumpy braking areas, [and] I also think the fact that it was the first day of term played its part, as this was the first time the drivers were really pushing to the limit.
"It's interesting to think about what the new electronics have done because we said it would not really make a great deal of difference, although it may produce a few more mistakes. I think that is certainly what we have seen, but certainly the new electronics have not aided overtaking, and I think the difficulty of underbraking without having the sophisticated engine braking systems has perhaps made it a little bit more difficult to overtake, which is a shame."
McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh agreed that the younger members of the F1 fraternity may have enjoyed the switch to rawer machinery more than their seasoned counterparts - and contradicted Symonds view that the removal of traction control and engine braking had not enhanced the sport.
