Revving the senses

I missed watching most of the last five/six F1 races. Red Bull taking podium after podium started becoming the trend and that somehow piqued little interest; yes, it seemed like the rise of Ferrari in the early races but that clamour died down as time went by. Winners and losers aside, I was recently reminded of why I really like the sport – all it took was a trip to the race tracks recently with a few friends.

This served as the circuit: A short straight, followed by a sharp swerve to the right opens the track to a broad hair pin bend, after which comes two right and left swerves in quick succession serving as a chicane and the final right turn to the pit entry.

A balancing act, at 300 kmph

There is no denying that motorsports and F1, specifically is dangerous prima facie. Hurtling through space at 250kmph-300kmph is no amateur feat. It requires immense physical and mental strength. The level of speed naturally brings in an element of risk. The risks involved are one of the main factors that draw drivers and fans alike to the sport.

But human life is paramount and F1 has seen numerous advances in driver safety over the years, regulations have also been moulded and re-moulded to penalize drivers who overstep limits. The modern monocoque is a true testament to advances on safety. Not just technology, F1 culture itself has evolved to prioritize driver safety from the Prost-Senna era.

Yesterday, Verstappen and Hamilton collided in the British GP, sending Verstappen scurrying towards the barriers. It was later known that Verstappen took a 51G impact as he hit the barriers. A big, big hit. Verstappen was understandably winded. Thankfully, Verstappen is alright now and hasn’t been injured, which is an immense relief.