I just caught the F1 rule changes summary for 2011 at Jalopnik (
link). Most of the changes seemed like normal the normal F1 mix, but there was one change that felt too contrived (at least to me) to be part of part of the "pinnacle of motorsports".
The problem for me rests with part of how the "driver" controlled rear wing will be used.
Quote:
3.18.2 The adjustable bodywork may be activated by the driver at any time prior to the start of the race and, for the sole purpose of improving overtaking opportunities during the race, after the driver has completed a minimum of two laps after the race start or following a safety car period.
The driver may only activate the adjustable bodywork in the race when he has been notified via the control electronics (see Article 8.2) that it is enabled. It will only be enabled if the driver is less than one second behind another at any of the pre-determined positions around each circuit. The system will be disabled by the control electronics the first time the driver uses the brakes after he has activated the system.
The FIA may, after consulting all competitors, adjust the above time proximity in order to ensure the stated purpose of the adjustable bodywork is met.
In essence, this seems to be saying that FIA control will be actively deciding, in the middle of the race, who will benefit from the technology and specifically when (on what part of the race course) they will be allowed to use it.
That feels like an incredibly poorly conceived version push-to-pass. I can't see how this will end well. Unless it is delivered without a human in the decision making process, there will always be questions about fairness & favoritism. I don't like push-to-pass but compared to the proposed F1 solution, PTP seems like a considerably more well thought out solution. At least with PTP, the team & driver need to manage a finite resource and that can be used as part of a racing strategy. My concern is that if WTP (wing-to-pass) is poorly managed it could definitely upset both race and championship results.