The Word is Murky

Forrest and I got our exercise out of the way early. I ran about five miles with him, into the murk on top of the moor, before I let him go to continue on his long slow one for the week. It's now very much my fast one. Roam arrived a little later with Whiskey and it was a big gathering to watch the final round of the F1 Championship together.

I was nothing like as invested in the result as either of my lads, who went apoplectic at the decisions made and how the final lap panned out. I was able to quite enjoy the drama and the anguish and the farce and the general murkiness of the whole thing. In a season where two drivers simply could not be separated in terms of ability, it wasn't inappropriate for it to be all decided on the whim of the race director. The sport's shortcomings were exposed for all to see. There have been a lot of analogies flying around. My own take is that it's like a football game where, regardless of the score and everything that's happened in the previous ninety minutes of play, the referee has the power to declare that the winner is the team which happens to be in possession when the final whistle blows. 

It was nothing if not compelling to watch. Roam couldn't let it go. He was still following his twitter feed long into the night, soaking up all the analysis and the ramifications. It was sad for everyone involved. even for Verstappen. His first championship win will forever be qualified. The fans deserved so much better.

On the other hand, you go into watching any F1 race knowing that the safety car can reset the race dynamic at any point. If it was just a matter of the best driver and the fastest car, it would be the same boring procession every time. The sport is only what it is because of random interventions. That's what makes it so dramatic to watch. Over a season, though, the luck gets shared out and the best driver will come out on top. It's just a shame that this particular bizarre reset happened in the very last race of the season, with there being two best drivers, head and shoulders above the rest, and the whole world watching! Next season is going to be absolutely fascinating. Despite its flaws, I'll be there.