Should we be happy about the arrival of VAR in Formula 1?

Facts : In reaction to the events which punctuated the last controversial laps of the final Grand Prix of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, the FIA ​​explained through its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem that a control unit room of the distance running would be implemented. So, should we be happy about it or not?

YES, by Jérémy Satis

After what happened in Abu Dhabi, how can we not see the boost given to the race management as good news? Since the arrival of Liberty at the head of the F1, the promoter is trying to modernize the premier category. The show has sometimes taken over the sport, especially last year, which the majority of drivers publicly regretted, but it is by living with the times and using the means that certain sports have already provided themselves with. that F1 will continue to develop.

Seen in particular in football for the past five years, VAR will be a strong support for the new race management. “Like video assistant refereeing in football, it will be placed in one of the FIA ​​offices as support outside the circuit. Liaising in real time with the F1 race director, she will help apply the sporting regulations using the most modern technological tools., said Mohammed Ben Sulayem. We do not yet know the contours of its use, but it will already have the significant advantage of relieving the race director of all the pressure inherent to the job. Basically, in a sport that is so sophisticated, technological and involves so many contentious contacts, how can the decision rest on a single man, left to his own devices despite a few assistants sitting next to him?

At the end of 2021, the pressure was so great that Australian Michael Masi ended up drowning. To referee, you have to be in the best possible mood. We imagine that the remote control unit will be provided with images that the race management will not have available. Maybe she should also have access to telemetry and data? This could help to decide, particularly in the case of a possible brake test, as we saw in Jeddah last year between Verstappen et Hamilton. After the sad spectacle of the final laps of Abu Dhabi, it was necessary to react and the FIA ​​did so. It remains to be seen the contours of its use from now on, and the way in which it will be used. Everything will probably not be perfect, but it has the merit of going in the right direction! 

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NO, by Medhi Casaurang-Vergez

Stop everything! Finally, no, don't stop anything! Because VAR is, in principle, a pause in sporting action. We can only lament to see the procrastination of this system in the world of football. You just have to be a footix to have heard of the various controversies that this tool, supposed to represent the cutting edge of technology and the end of arbitrary decisions, but which has not erased the challenges during contentious actions.

VAR causes long minutes of stoppage in play, and additional stress, irritating both teams and supporters. But unlike motor sports, the referees position themselves on the pitch, or around the perimeter of the stadium. It is therefore easy for the referee to signal a stoppage of play to request VAR. What will happen if Michael Masi's replacements request video refereeing at a Grand Prix? They will not go on the track to stop the cars, nor wave the red flag!

The underlying question is: will they have a set time to study the videos? F1 and the FIA ​​have distinguished themselves by taking a huge amount of time during the commissioners' investigation before issuing (or not) penalties, and have been doing so for years. VAR is coming, and could shorten case study time... if it is used wisely. Otherwise, we could end up with an interminable delay, where each camera, each micro-second, would be looped in a dark control room.

Let's say that an action on track passes under the scrutiny of VAR, while letting the race take place. VAR could distort the course of the event in the event of a post-finish penalty, and ultimately work against sporting logic. Nor should the sports college take the easy route, arguing about VAR all the time, even during the most trivial incidents. The criticism was such (rightly) after the Abu Dhabi affair that the temptation to hide behind cold technology will be great, very great...