Is F1 still waterproof?

Once a revealer of the best talent, rain seems more and more feared by the premier category. The bad weather in Sochi, however, served as a reminder of how thrilling the action on the track can be when grip conditions are precarious. Reluctance of an era obsessed with 0 risk or real technical shortcomings? Response elements.

Published on 29/09/2021 à 09:00

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Not so long ago, the prospect of a Grand Prix in the rain was enough to make fans and drivers happy. The vagaries of the climate have always leveled the level of performance of single-seaters and allowed the most skillful drivers to make the difference, including with more modest cars. Yes, but today, the slightest weather report announcing bad weather gives the people a cold sweat. F1. The Spa farce only amplified the trauma. So when the forecast for Sochi announced heavy rain for Saturday, we thought that the qualifications would go by the wayside. The clearing that allowed the session to continue should not obscure the headache that race director Michael Masi faces as soon as the weather turns bad. Ayrton Senna's Homeric rides at Donington in 1993, from Michael Schumacher in Barcelona in 1996, Lewis Hamilton at Silverstone in 2008, or even Sebastian Vettel à Monza la même année, sont