Formula 1 and NASCAR are among the two biggest competitions in the world of motorsports. And although the two are starkly distinct from each other, fans often draw parallels between the two. Along with these, both sports have evolved and grown tremendously over the decades.
Several changes in the tracks, cars, rules, and the structure of the competition in both these tournaments have raised their levels as well. However, not everyone is on board with these. Similar to NASCAR’s criticism of their NextGen car, F1 has also been under scrutiny for its newer track layouts and the modern car.
While the debate about tracks and cars in F1 has been relevant for a while, it became a little more heated after the Saudi Arabian GP. After two former NASCAR veterans tweeted their opinions following the race on Sunday, it sparked the discussion about the “current vs. former F1” even further.
What Happened at the Saudi Arabian GP?
At Jeddah, Max Verstappen started at the pole position and got off to a quick start. However, at the first turn, he ran a bit wide and left the track which attracted a five-second penalty just a little while later. This was followed by the crash of Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly who called for a safety car.
With his strategic pit stops, Oscar Piastri soon took the lead from Verstappen. He went on to win the race by a difference of 2.843 seconds with the runner-up Verstappen. Charles Leclerc picked up pace midway through the race and worked his way up to the third finishing spot, followed by Lando Norris who with his 4th spot earned Ferrari the season’s first podium.
The Tweets From Parker Kligerman and Landon Cassill
After the race, several fans were unhappy with the race. And it was more than just the debatable penalties and broadcasting glitches. What irked most folks was the nature of the track itself. Despite being the “fastest” street circuit in F1, fans found the track devoid of any history and called it “soulless.”
Plus, the DRS trains raise the risk factor without any real reward or any repercussions for failing. Additionally, the track is one of the best venues for broadcasting, but the live viewing experience is not anywhere close.
Former NASCAR driver Lanon Cassill joined in on the criticism after the race. On his X handle, he wrote:
“It’s such a shame that the optimal track design for modern F1 is a soulless parking lot with paint and tiny curbs.”
His post started gaining traction immediately and most agreed with Cassill’s take. Among these, was another former NASCAR racer, Park Kligerman. He reposted the initial tweet and said:
“Cars are so stupidly big that they can’t race anywhere
“Been watching the 2002 F1 season lately, amazing to watch how fast & twitchy those cars were and how they could race at normal tracks.”
Kligerman gained more attention from motorsports fans. While many added their opinions, some even compared the issue to NASCAR’s NextGen Car problem. One particular user replied by saying:
“F1 has always been as boring as Gen-7 Cup races. Glad I’ve never watched that god-awful garbage.”
The debate over tracks in F1 is more relevant now than ever. With the sport growing in popularity, it has become one of the most famous competitions globally. However, with the sport’s evolution, fans have often complained about the commercialization of F1 which has led to the competition swaying away from its historical roots and losing its original raw spirit.