ANALYSIS: Why F1 drivers have had enough

It has become abundantly clear in recent weeks the Formula 1 drivers have had enough.

Canvassing the opinion of fans over how they feel about modern-day F1 is all well and good. After all it is they who have to pay through the nose for tickets at venues around the world to help the race promoters raise the sanctioning fees demanded by F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone and commercial rights holder CVC Capital Partners. Their voice should rightly be heard, and to that end two comprehensive surveys were conducted last year.

You have to wonder just how much, though, F1's hierarchy truly listened to the opinions being aired? Probably not much, when push comes to shove.

Now, in the wake of a crescendo of criticism of late from the drivers who attempt to entertain those fans for 20-plus weekends every season, surely Ecclestone, CVC overlord Donald MacKenzie, FIA president Jean Todt and the teams must listen.

There have always been mutterings of discontent from the drivers over the years about one aspect or another of F1 they have not liked. But what has been broadcast since the current campaign restarted with pre-season testing in February is unprecedented in modern times.

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel was the first to stick his head above the parapet, claiming F1 should be "about sport," not "complicated," "detail-orientated regulations." Viewed in isolation, it was an unusual tirade, even for a man who does not hide his light under a bushel when it comes to sharing his thoughts.

Then earlier this month it was two-time champion Fernando Alonso who chose to castigate the rule-makers for making a complete pig's-ear of trying to revamp qualifying, even though it is one of the few things that did not require altering. Alonso declared himself "sad for the sport" it had managed to shoot itself in the foot, and like Vettel, he also derided "the complexity of the rules."

Then post-race on Sunday, after the Australian Grand Prix, three-time champion Hamilton suggested F1 had become saturated with decision makers, all with "different opinions."

Hamilton was adamant at the time he was far from "being negative," that for once he felt the need to declare his concerns at the over-burdened direction in which F1 is heading.

Hamilton has a point, because F1 has become such a democracy – a state that has long frustrated Ecclestone – that its lack of leadership has become increasingly worrying. When you consider there is the Strategy Group, a variety of working groups, the F1 Commission and the World Motor Sport Council, all with vested interests in how F1 is run, it is no wonder the drivers bemoan a seemingly rudderless ship.

Bizarrely, Hamilton's comments were in response to a question over whether he felt F1 race director Charlie Whiting had been unduly harsh in his own remarks two days previously. On that occasion Whiting had effectively chastised Hamilton for non-attendance, particularly given the numerous meetings available designed to provide a platform for drivers' views.

Hamilton claimed he did not attend as often as he should because he felt there was little point in expressing an opinion if it was not going to be listened to, and the powers-that-be do exactly the opposite.

It is adamant its words "should not be seen as a blind and disrespectful attack" but they will likely sting the likes of Ecclestone, Todt, Mackenzie and the teams. Whether they are enough to actually sting them into taking action, now that is another matter entirely.

It can only be hoped its words, and those of Hamilton, Vettel and Alonso, are heeded.

Originally on Autosport.com