[dvd3500]

I never said I don't like F1. I just am not convinced it is still the "pinnacle" of motorsport when you use stats about how like many people watch it.
My point is, if you gave any other series the same amount of money and exposure it would also be touted as the "pinnacle" .

We all know that your average North American would consider NASCAR the pinnacle. Some probably haven't even heard Formula 1.

I actually personally know people from the Vettel family so I know they are working all very hard.

I also know families that race in TCR and GT series and they work just as hard.

My point is that other forms of motorsport warrant the same if not more exposure and you and you might even discover they are more fun.

[JasonB]

So, IF we relaxed the rules in another series they could go as fast as F1, and IF the other series were given more exposure, and IF they were given more money they might be as popular.

That pesky two letter word IF just keeps getting in the way.

[ms-80veruk]

if you gave any other series the same amount of money and exposure it would also be touted as the "pinnacle" .

But it would have to generate that money and exposure, you can't just 'give' it.

[dvd3500]

Oh you can buy exposure. I don't want to hijack anymore but look at any political movement or election. Exposure influences and it can be bought... My only point is throwing enough money at anything will cause it to rise to the top whether it is the best option or not.

Anyway, there is a race this weekend, isn't there?

[JasonB]

Of course you can buy exposure, but that's a straw man argument, because nobody has said you can't.

But for any sport, success, popularity, and exposure are hard earned, and a place at the top of the tree is incredibly difficult to achieve. Nobody can just "give" that to any sport.

Money helps of course, but that usually has to be earned. Of course you can hope that someone might come along and throw huge sums of money at some other form of motorsport, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Formula E gaining popularity in the next decade or so.

But for the moment, I think it would take a very left field view of the motorsport world, to avoid the conclusion that F1 is currently at the top, or the pinnacle.

[ms-80veruk]

My only point is throwing enough money at anything will cause it to rise to the top whether it is the best option or not.

But to throw that money you have to have it, and to have it you have to be popular, and to be popular.....

[Kevan]

IF...F1 back to front...

[JasonB]

Well, that's been four great races in a row now, with the enticing prospect of the second half of the season bringing more battles between Mercedes and Red Bull, or at least between Hamilton and Verstappen.

The new drivers coming through, like Leclerc, Norris, Russell, and Albon also bode well for the future.

Great to see a huge improvement from McLaren, possible signs of improvements from Williams, and the Honda engine going well. Such a shame that Ferrari continue their trend of complete ineptitude. We need both Ferrari and McLaren battling it out with Mercedes and Red Bull at the top.

I don't suppose four great races will be enough to sway the opinions of those who have already set their minds against F1. But for me it's been thoroughly enjoyable entertainment.

[Scuderia_Turini]

Hungary GP is certainly getting a lot of praise. 

I listened to commentary via BBC F1 website and it certainly kept my interest, although it seemed inevitable that Lewis would win in the end. When the maths was done the win was sealed. Lewis is such a good driver and the Mercedes is so reliable that it was just a matter of time and distance. 
As always, the commentators focus on the leaders and in fact a couple of times they acknowledged this and told listeners to check the text based commentary for the lower field. 
I feel that one of the big issues around F1 just now is the knee-jerk reaction to activities rather than taking the broader view. How many times have we heard "Ferrari are in with a chance this weekend", just because they have done well in Free-Practice 1?
Nico Rosberg has a Vlog on Youtube and speaks fairly openly, predicting that Valtteri Bottas lost his Mercedes seat at the same time as he lost the Hungarian GP.  Although Ocon seems the likely candidate for Mercedes, Nico humorously asked viewers to comment on the possibility of Mercedes offering the seat to Fernando Alonso.

Another thing that bugs me about F1 is that the commentators all talk as if they are part of the decision-making group - "We need to ..." type of thing. "I mean" its as if they  have forgotten that they are there for the benefit of spectators/audiences rather than the teams/drivers. 

Yes great to see McLaren on the rise again.  
Yes, we (the spectators/listeners) want the new blood in... and Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Kubica and Grosjean out. 

Leo

[JasonB]

I'm not sure it was inevitable. Lewis questioned the decision to take a second pit stop, the Mercedes team said it was a gamble, and making up a second a lap for twenty laps on Max, and then being able to overtake him was anything but certain. I think the key was that Ferrari were so poor that there was no risk of losing second place, so Mercedes had nothing to lose. 

I suspect your departure list might well be fulfilled, and then some. Magnussen and Grosjean are liabilities, Kubica deserved a chance but unfortunately doesn't seem good enough anymore, and Hulkenberg, well he might get a chance at another team who need a reliable benchmark driver. Bottas and Gasly have obviously suffered from being team mates of two of the best drivers around, but haven't even come close to challenging them. We could probably add Giovanazzi to that list, so that's seven drivers whose places are at risk.

I don't know how many promising drivers there are in the lower leagues, but there certainly seems to be a lot of potential opportunities for them to step up to F1 in the future.