It’s considerably humorous that tons of people that beforehand had no real interest in System 1 and are actually watching and being handled to one of many least aggressive System 1 seasons in a long time. Purple Bull, seven races in, have received every one, by way of Max Verstappen or Sergio Pérez. This development doesn’t appear like its ending any time quickly, except each of them occur to have a nasty race on the identical time — by no means outdoors the realm of chance, and one purpose no group has ever received each race wire-to-wire.

Nonetheless, the spectacle is nonexistent, with the query each race weekend of who else will end on the rostrum. Fernando Alonso has been a nice shock on this regard, and Mercedes has turned in an improved effort this season in comparison with final, however nobody has actually examined Purple Bull and at this juncture that doesn’t appear to be altering.

In some very darkish corners of System 1 fandom, some are questioning whether or not the foundations is likely to be modified midseason to permit for higher competitors on the prime. The reply is not any, as a result of that’d be ridiculous, however the thought acquired sufficient traction for F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to be requested about it in System 1’s official podcast this week, Past The Grid.

[Tom Clarkson]: Has altering the rules mid-season crossed your thoughts to sluggish Purple Bull down?

[Stefano Domenicali]: I believe it isn’t honest to say that, as a result of we can’t be seen as a sport of manipulation. This isn’t appropriate and this isn’t honest. I’m not envisioning in any respect, this sort of strategy.

TC: The most effective factor you are able to do is simply depart the rules the identical and permit everybody to converge on the prime?

SD: I believe that’s the best strategy, as a result of the foundations have been modified not a few years in the past and, subsequently, it will occur for positive.

TC: May extra be finished to assist the groups on the again? May you give them much more wind tunnel time?

SD: That is one thing that may be a change of framework on the sporting dimension, which isn’t honest. F1 has at all times been a sport the place there have been cycles, the place groups had been very dominant after which some others got here into the equation. Our goal needs to be to make it possible for these cycles sooner or later will probably be shorter. That is what I’d say, as a business rights holder but additionally as a lover of sport, I want to see.

Domenicali additionally conceded that, positive, Purple Bull is dominant, however another groups are shut, consider it or not. The battle for the entire locations behind Purple Bull may even be enjoyable to observe, he says.

TC: After we take a look at 2023, it appears to me that the gaps within the discipline are greater than we had been anticipating, given the brand new rules had been introduced in to shut the sphere up. How stunned are you that that’s occurred?

SD: I believe that the hole is between one group and the others, whereas the others are very, very shut. Purple Bull did an unbelievable job and this can be a job of meritocracy. It’s true that the hole appears to be huge, however we have to be prudent as a result of we all know in life that issues can change in a short time. The others are very, very shut should you take a look at the gaps. I believe they did an unbelievable job and that must be rewarded. What we need to do is make it possible for this hole will keep as small as doable. I’m positive that the opposite groups are watching how they’ll meet up with their growth within the context of the finances cap. It is going to be fascinating to see if the event curve of the group that’s main will decelerate, as a result of on the finish of the day they did a greater job within the shorter time period. That will probably be very fascinating to see within the subsequent couple of months.

Now, for the discerning System 1 fan, the battles for second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth — the factors locations — are definitely their very own fascinating competitors, and it makes me smile every time Alonso does effectively, as a result of he and I are roughly the identical age, which is outdated. But in addition: nobody desires to see a procession, which is what it seems like for the time being, with only a third of the season gone.

It’s not that there haven’t been midseason guidelines modifications up to now — there definitely have been loads, for various causes — it’s extra that previously they had been often finished in response to extra urgent issues than one group merely being extra dominant than the remaining.

That is additionally, I suppose, a superb training for newer System 1 followers, who is probably not accustomed to boring guidelines debates or just boring seasons, as a result of they didn’t have the self-loathing required to observe System 1 within the Michael Schumacher years. Purple Bull would be the constructor champion this 12 months, for higher or worse, and even F1’s CEO is aware of it, after which subsequent 12 months we’ll begin once more and hope for one thing extra fascinating to occur.