My Rant on Formula 1. [Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix - 19th - 21st June 2015)

Once again, for the second race in a row, I find myself writing mid-race. The Austrian Grand Prix is currently underway and I cannot emphasise enough the issues that surround the world of Formula 1.

An early accident between Raikkonen and Alonso neutralised the race before the end of lap 1. Once the safety car pitted, the race was all but over. Lewis had no response to Nico this weekend, Nico has been on top of the car and has been absolutely on it.

We've seen a little bit of side-by-side action. Grosjean and Nasr went wheel to wheel through the middle sector, which was rather good, Bottas pulled a lovely out-side pass on someone, I can't remember who.

After 8 laps of racing after the safety car went in, the top 10 were covered by 20 seconds. 20! That's nearly a third of the track. At half distance, the top 10 are covered by nearly a minute. How on earth do you expect racing to happen when the drivers are nowhere near each other?

Here is that tier:

Mercedes
Ferrari
Williams
Lotus/Force India
Toro Rosso
Red Bull/Sauber
McLaren/Manor

Williams keep banging on about challenging Ferrari but they just can't.
Red Bull not only seem to be under-powered, but being out-performed by the junior team.
How much did Honda get it so wrong? Why didn't McLaren do the deal, but just not tell anyone so Honda could test and develop as much as they want without the FIA strict regulations.

But no, they're languishing at the back in with a power unit that's under-powered, thirsty, unreliable and sounds terrible with two world champions whose talents are being wasted in that heap of junk. Yet the come out, week in, week out saying "Oh you know, it's alright, it'll get there, we just need time you know" No. Not the point, what an absolute joke. 50 place penalties between the McLarens this weekend and neither made it past 25% race distance.

DRS seems to be either too overpowered or not powerful enough. The cars cannot run closely enough to allow them to follow enough between fast corners.

Formula 1 is really starting to annoy me. The sport is at war with itself, there is little, to no competition. The penalty system is ridiculous. All the action happens in the first couple of laps, then it might as well be a track day. I'm fed up of hearing, "This is fascinating" and "This is interesting" Interesting is a terrible word, it doesn't mean anything. It's just mush. It doesn't mean good, it doesn't mean bad. It's just letters without meaning.

I want exciting. F1 in 2012 was exciting. 7 different winners in the first 7 races, I think the biggest and most dominant victory was... ugh, Mercedes, with Nico Rosberg at China at about 20 seconds. A 20 second lead is commonplace in Formula 1 now.

The races mid to late season were still good, even with that annoying Vettel started winning again.

I'm fed up with F1 as a whole. Do something. And do it fast. I've forked out a lot of money to go the British GP in two weeks, it had better be worth it.

Race still isn't finished, on lap 63.

Cheerio.

A very annoyed Stevie.

Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix 5th - 7th June 2015

The Canadian Grand Prix, the home of many a great race. The home of a great race track, the high-speed Monaco. The walls are just as close but the speeds are so much higher. Always a favourite of mine to watch and drive.

Recent years have been good for the circuit. 2011 race was a race never to be forgotten, an all-time classic with Jenson Button taking the victory on the final lap from Sebastian Vettel. 2012 was great too with Alonso, Vettel and Hamilton scrapping it out, ultimately with the Briton taking the win. 2013 wasn't great but had it's moments but 2014 ramped back up to the standard we expect from Canada. Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo took an unexpected and first win after Mercedes faltered.

This time around, we were expecting more of the same. The race had all the ingredients for a good race. No, it had all the ingredients for a GREAT race.

A Ferrari and a Williams out of position, the Mercedes were matched fairly evenly through the most part of qualifying and were set to continue their fight from last year before it was brought to a halt by mechanical failures. It was all looking rather good.

A few months back, for the first time ever, I switched off an F1 race. That was Malaysia, whilst most of the paddock and fans ran around praising what a great race it was, I switched it off at about half distance.

I nearly did it again for this race. There was overtaking, sure. It was all in a straight line with DRS. Only really notable things to pick up from the race was Alonso's personal, but short duel with Sebastian Vettel. Massa and Ericsson going wheel-to-wheel for a couple of corners and that's about it. It was not an interesting race, Lewis played with Nico the whole race, like a cat playing with a mouse, teasing him into thinking he had a shot, then as soon as the German got to about 1.2 seconds, Lewis pulled away again.

With 20 laps to go I muted the TV, and went on AOR. I put some music on and only glanced at the TV, rather than watching it.

Canada almost promises a great race; a good race at the very least. This wasn't. This was rubbish. Formula 1 is in a sad state if Canada can't put on a good show.

Unfortunately I feel like we're in for more of the same in the coming races. Austria is next and it is yet another power circuit, so it'll be the Manor Marussia's at the back with McLaren, both of whom should've sat the season out and had a year of testing, not governed by the FIA's strict rules.

After that it's Silverstone. The first race F1 event I'll be attending. It's cost a lot of money and if it's as lacklustre as this race, I'll not be going back.

That's all there is to say really.

Cheerio,

Stevie.