Conventional wisdom suggests that if you worked hard, you'll be rewarded. But that wasn't always the case when it comes to economics, if you're trying to be a smart ass, someone earned less, you'd be penalize. That's what we frequently see in F1, or many other races for that matter, rules change in favor of your opponents if you worked hard, earned the medals - many times too often. It is exactly this sort of bullshit that turns off those in favor of advancements achieved from motor racing. Remember Audi debuting Quattro 4WD systems into Rally in the mid 80s, and subsequently the British Touring Car Championships? Having dominated the racing series, 4WD was banned. Yeap, instead of allowing car teams to quickly adopt new technologies, racing officials did the opposite, for fear of lesser income from spectators as a result from too predictable wins. One racing series we've always hope to achieve F1 popularity is the 24Hr Le Mans, one that pushes cars running at velocities similar to F1 pods, yet requires them to run 24hrs continuously (For the record, most F1 races ends before hitting 120 minutes) this form of endurance racing arguably requires more both technological breakthroughs not only in speed, but reliability and durability as well.
As of year 2006, Audi after bringing 4WD into racing decades back, brought Diesel to the focal point of racing, by introducing the Diesel powered R10 Le Mans racer, Audi dominated the series, pushing diesel technology and popularity towards another spectrum, quickly, Peugeot followed suit with the 908 HDi Le Mans car, and quickly, they became the 1-2 podium standees race after race.
Sad thing is, the officials for Le Mans now decides to add a bit of Mosley and Ecclestone into the equation, by penalizing these fore runners of Le Mans technological frontiers. News has it that by 2010, all Diesel powered racers from Le Mans will be required to add a 30kg weight penalty, reduced air intake (imagine closing your mouth during a 100 meter sprint), and reduce turbo charging pressure from 2.75 bar to 2.59 bar.
As for Hybrid racers that carries an electric engine with them, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) says that nothing was put in place yet as 'statistical figures' haven't quite determined their advantage (Translate: Wait till they start winning races).
This startles me, as to why not allow individual teams to develop their own technology and race till death? So if there's a god-sent driver that wins regardless of what car you put him into, what're they gonna do? reduce his height? Or requires him to put on 30kg weight?
