When does a Formula one race become boring?

A regular follower of Formula One will hardly find races boring. It is very difficult to pick out boring races in the last ten years of F1. The era of Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and the newly turned-young Kimi Raikkonen has given us many thrilling Grand Prix.

A long race

People might lose interest in a race sometimes when it gets too long. There are eight circuits which have 60 or 60-plus laps. More number of laps do not make it more competitive. It only fatigues the driver as well as the viewers. Long races can be interesting only if they have some super action going on.

2013 Monaco Grand Prix

Circuit de Monaco has 78 laps, the most in any of the circuits in the calender. This year’s race was not very interesting as Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg crossed the checkered flag without being attacked by any other driver. Sebastian Vettel failed to cover the gap from Rosberg even after the Safety Car.

Single leader

A single race leader defines a boring race.It is thrilling when there is aggressive driving by all the drivers and finally the best one wins after we see a number of leaders. The fight for the first position by the racers gets life into the race. The predictions, the disappointments, the happiness, the betting for your favorite driver makes a race interesting.

2012 Japanese Grand Prix

The out-of-form driver at that time, Vettel had gained his form back in Asia. After winning the nail-biting Singapore Grand Prix, he showed complete dominance in Japan. He had a Grand Chelem win (pole, fastest lap and led in every lap in the race). He comfortably finished 20 seconds ahead of Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.

2011 Indian Grand Prix

The excitement in all the drivers for the inclusion of a new circuit in the season got destroyed when they were once again out-classed by the young German, Sebastian Vettel. He had led in each and every lap of the 60 laps in New Delhi’s Budh Circuit. The crowd just got to see the excellency of Vettel, moreover the sport was new to India so, to a certain extent inaugural Indian Grand Prix was boring. Of course, Vettel fans must have had an awesome time watching their hero drive in altogether different league .

2013 Hungry Grand Prix

This was another example for a single driver win. Lewis Hamilton had an unchallenged victory; winning his first race for the Mercedes. Only Frenchman Roman Grosjean created some humor on field when he left the track while overtaking Felipe Massa after passing through Jenson Button and was given a drive-through penalty for that act. No other thrillers can be remembered from this race.

A pause in the race

A race when it gets suspended for safety issues or because of rain loses many viewers. Formula One is about speed, pace and continuity. The idea of having advertisements in between the races is not so happening. You lose the touch and then it might get boring.There are many races which were red-flagged due to accidents or rain. Let’s talk about the recent one.

2012 Malaysian Grand Prix

It was a rain-hit GP won by Fernando Alonso who succeeded in taking control in those difficult wet conditions. The race got suspended for 51 mins which would obviously not remain exciting any further.

Rain in F1 only results in chaos and more incidents take place later on in the race. All the drivers cannot perform well in these conditions, so their fans lose interest when they fail to make a mark.