Presentations are becoming more understated

On the first day of winter testing in Barcelona, teams unveiled a host of new single-seaters, marking a radical departure from the lavish launches of the last century.

The 2016 season has already kicked off with the first days of winter testing. This week, many teams chose to unveil their new cars in their workshops, while a few more forward-thinking teams had already organized their online presentations a few days earlier. Some, such as Williams, simply posted a few photos on their website or Facebook page, while others, such as Ferrari, opted for a live video, a slightly more formal but still understated presentation. In any case, today's launches are a far cry from the extravagance of the last century, when teams competed in elegance and pomp to dazzle the competition.

We still remember Benetton's launches under the leadership of Flavio Briatore, when the press and the close-knit Formula 1 community were invited to Venice, at the foot of a Roman amphitheater, to discover a car that would never make it to the podium that season.

Among the most “festive” teams, Jordan built a reputation for its worldwide launches, while McLaren once invited pop stars such as the Spice Girls on stage to unveil a new model. Even Red Bull, which entered F1 with a reputation for hype, has calmed down after four consecutive world titles. The focus has shifted from glitz to sobriety and cost reduction. Should we lament this change? The lavish debut of the first Force India car in the suburbs of Mumbai once again highlighted the excesses that Formula 1 can represent in a country marked by stark economic inequalities. The debate will continue, and the sport may never be immune to criticism, but the time has come for restraint and a commitment to cost reduction. Ultimately, the real battle takes place on the track; everything else is secondary.