Although Formula 1 changed the rules before the Japanese Grand Prix in an attempt to spare everyone from embarrassment, it has not accomplished much. During the qualifying session we again witnessed the dreaded super clipping, that is, cars slowing down and recharging their batteries in the fastest sections of the circuit.
So, seeing that the regulatory remedy hadn’t worked, Formula 1 came up with another way to end the super clipping: censoring the television footage in which it can be seen. Not only did they not broadcast them during qualifying, but they even erased them from Kimi Antonelli’s fastest lap.
Formula 1 has cut Antonelli’s passage through 130R
It is a tradition in Formula 1 to post on social media after qualifying the pole lap video, and it seemed that the Japanese Grand Prix would be no exception. Antonelli’s fastest lap is already posted on the official channels, but with a small adjustment: the full lap is not shown.
Formula 1 has a promotional commitment with Pirelli by which it must upload all qualifying laps from the onboard camera to its social networks. However this Saturday we were surprised: Antonelli’s lap is shown onboard only up to the straight before 130R, and there we switch to a shot from outside the car.
What is the reason? Formula 1 feels ashamed of itself. From Antonelli’s onboard camera, the reality of this new regulation would be much more evident: cars losing speed, downshifting and cruising through one of the most spectacular corners in all of Formula 1. But not everyone has swallowed it.
Many fans have pointed out Formula 1’s manipulation, which during the broadcast had not clipped a single onboard camera of 130R. The scandal reached such a level that even Formula 1 had to offer as an excuse that Antonelli’s camera broke exactly at the point that suited them best.
Formula 1 had anticipated this, to the point that on the Thursday before the Grand Prix it changed the rules to reduce the battery recharge capacity during qualifying, attempting to avoid the dreaded super clipping. However, the reality is more stubborn: these new cars have outsmarted Formula 1.
What Formula 1 did in Suzuka is a clear statement of intent: it is faster and cheaper to censor what went wrong than to fix it.
Images | Formula 1, Racing Bulls
