Bob Barnard Track Engineering

How do you measure success? McLaren are saying that this season has not been a "failure" just because they have failed to win a championship, and they are correct. They won races, something only two other teams did, so what does that say about the rest of the teams? Some drivers, in fact most in F1, never win a race, does that mean they were "failures?" No, they joined a very elite group who made it there. I remember vividly a conversation with a school friend who had just been signed by Leyton Orient Soccer team, at that time a third division team. I made some disparaging remarks about "only signing for them," and he said "oh yes, and who do you play for?" Touche!

NASCAR's secret is to somehow make everyone a winner, the 43rd car still gets prize money and will get on TV. Fans follow drivers forever who never win, second place is not first loser in NASCAR. It is a lesson society could well learn, there are points for just being there and have the skills to compete, and yes just trying. And before anyone tells me that I have been guilty of picking on Checa and some others for being there, they had their shot, it is time to give someone else that chance. And it should not be about who has the fattest wallet either.

I find it interesting that the day after the last MotoGP most of the top riders have swapped teams, and they all like their new machines. How can that be? Didn't the other guy leave because he thought someone else's bike was better? I guess no one is going to come out and say, "well that was a mistake, this thing is a dog." Or are they all so evenly matched that it does not really make a difference? And how come the teams have new bits for the bikes to test the day after the last race, why didn't they put them on the bike for the last race if they were better? Just a question.

Just a few days to go until the Abu Dhabi finale. It is a sell out they say, 50,000 tickets. Well, if we guess $300 a ticket plus some corporate and the track has an income of $20m? Bernie's fee is $40m by reports, and then you have to stage the race, so you are paying somewhere north of $20m for the privilege. Hamilton is relaxed and can afford to just go for it, but that presumes he has the car to "go for it." I'm sure Varsha and the boys will be there with all their permutations and combinations of who can win. As a fan let us hope it is an exciting race and not a procession.