What is it within the human heart that defines and generates passion?
Why is one person's joy of a lifetime another's Dullsville?
Some years back while on business in Dubai I was walking into a hotel as an Aston Marin Vanquish eased towards the entrance. At the time it was a newly released model, and this one, in a sizzling gun metal metallic, simply looked stunning. As the concierge glided toward the passenger door, my eyes and those of the driver met. I tilted my head a fraction of a degree and narrowed my eyes a micron. The ghost of a smile might have played across my lips. The driver got it.
Within the confines of the glass enshrouded, marble lined, entrance, he nailed the throttle wide open three times in quick succession. Three mighty blips ringing with the power of Empire long gone. Three mighty blips reducing the concierge to jelly. Three mighty blips pressuring people to dash in an unseemly manner from the hotel to see which horseman of the apocalypse had galloped along with the hounds of hell into the entrance way.
The driver and I laughed and smiled at one another. A moment of motoring passion shared in a far too correct and rule-based world. Trembling from my brush with raw power I entered the hotel seeking another echo of Empire, that of a fine Gin and Tonic. The moment demanded it.
Raw passion. Excitement. Enjoyment. Engagement. We either directly crave it. Or are yet to understand that we really should be seeking it.
We might not know precisely how to generate it, but we most surely know it when we see it.
The Ford fan who can wax eloquent about the fine years of Transit production in Southampton.
The BMW fan going misty-eyed recalling the close ratio Getrag manual gearbox options of the early 1980's.
The train buff recalling their first ride on a TGV. The aeronautical fan impassioned when recalling seeing the SR-71 all those years ago at Farnbrough.
And, dear reader, the Formula One fan recalling when they first saw Dick Dastardly harrying Peter Perfect through Les Combes all those years ago (supply your own hero and villain as suits).
What gives rise to that passion within us for motor sport, and in particular for that quaint open wheel, open cockpit variety known as Formula One?
Both Bernie and Max were passionate about their aspects of this sport, and indeed about Motorsport. They had both competed, and they both had a burning desire to succeed and to "Be Something" within the World of Formula One. Is that passion? Passion as we so often talk about without clearly defining?
We are about to commence the second half of the season in Spa as I write this. Drama. Excitement. Business issues. Oh, and a race apparently. Where is the white hot burning passion we normally think of when we talk about capital P, Passion?
Maybe it burns still within Robert Kubica. Consider this story about his qualifying run at Suzuka in 2010;
After his qualifying run Robert had to stop his television interviews because he could not speak. He had to go away on his own for a time and quietly reflect on his edge-of-the-possible drive.
Renault sporting director Alan Permane (who has previously worked with both Michael Schumacher, and Fernando Alonso), recalls, "Suzuka qualifying in 2010 was a lap like I've never seen from anyone else, ever. He came in absolutely white, having scared the life out of himself."
That's raw passion. That's life-affirming passion. That's passion with a capital P. Does that burn within Chase? Does that still burn within Ross? Does it burn within us, the long-term fans, as we look ahead to the second half of a season that's been more Taylor Swift than Circus Maximus?
I question my passion when the race is settled by the third corner of the first lap. I question it when I hear of endless street circuits, because "... they look pretty on TV." Then, thankfully, we have races that ignite fire in the drivers, and have us on the edge of our seats. Those moments of raw passion on the track get me excited, and keep me coming back.
Along with Spa this weekend I'm going to watch the Mayweather McGregor fight. I think it is a fight built more on money than raw passion, and yet when those two men step into the ring primal instincts will take over, and the desire to win will push dollar signs from their minds, as the raw passion required to triumph in the ring overcomes them both. The 'red mist' moment of boxing will own the moment. As to that then delivering a fizzle or a fight to remember for twenty years, well we will know by Sunday night.
Without risking driver's lives, it is that 'red mist' pure passion moment we need injected into the driving that is then so infectious with fans. We know passion when we see it. Infuse your drivers with passion, and the fans will surely follow.
Weight everything on rate of return, the mighty dollar, and retaining power, and passion evaporates faster than a politician's promise after the vote is won.
Bernie and Max could not help but love Motorsport. As a result they spent a considerable amount of their lives, and energetic passion, building it into a remarkable machine.
The drivers, as David Coulthard has noted, would race for free, it is the passion of racing that attracts them, the money is a welcome bonus.
Chase is a man with a passion for business, and a head for generally executing business ventures very well indeed. Does that translate into a passion for Formula One that will be a winning formula?
So here we are well into a raging Capitalist Century, where passion is only to be used in carefully controlled government approved places. Heaven forbid any of us should enjoy an empty country road at 1 mph above the posted limit. God save us all from one last drink with friends prior to hailing an Uber to ease us home.
As the FIA chases yet safer and safer racing in the name of avoiding potential future accidents, and resultant law suits, where is our poor harried friend Passion to be found?
Unless Passion can be found burning bright and eager in the hearts of our racers it will never sparkle bright in the hearts of fans. No amount of pre- and post- race concerts, beautiful city-scapes that can be seen any time of year for any reason, or complex pay-TV options with "value add" data on the speed of pit stops is going to fire passion in the heart of ardent fans.
So let us be bold! Let us talk of when, how, and why, the passion burns within us. Let us be honest as to the drama and edge-of-the-possible excitement we love to see to feel alive. If we the fans clearly state what it is we love about this remarkable sport, then maybe, just maybe, the current masters of the show will make decisions guided by the light of burning passion, rather than the soft computer screen glow of above average rates of return on invested capital.
Maybe. Just maybe.
Max Noble.
Learn more about Max and check out his previous features, here
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