After the last (and first) two races of the 2009 Formula 1 season, and the promise of so many improvements over last year, Formula 1 and the FIA quickly disappointed fans, including this one.

What’s the point of a checkered flag anymore in Formula 1? When the checkered flag falls, the race is over, and positions are set. The only classification changes that should be warranted are for CLEAR violations of the rules that happen within the last 5 laps of the race. Let me clarify “CLEAR”: any violation that even the blind could have identified. Any other violations that warrant a penalty should be taken care of during the race so that the results are accurate when the checkered flag waves.

There are too many rules for not only the drivers to follow, but there are far too many for the fan to follow. Rules can easily be remembered and recited for the majority of the worlds’ most popular sports; in Formula 1, you now need to watch a race with the Official FIA Rule Book on the table for reference.

As far as the Lewis Hamilton “liargate’ issue is concerned, since when does an athlete admit to a mistake??? When a baseball runner slides into homeplate, and knows that he did get tagged, but it was a close call…do you think that runner is going to admit to the umpire that “Oh yeah, I got tagged…I don’t want to be dishonest.” NO. When a football (American Football) player has a questionable call if both of his feet were on the ground at the line for a touchdown, do you think the player is going to tell the referee “Actually, don’t give my team that touchdown, I didn’t really have both my feat down.” NO. Point being: why is it considered horribly dishonest in Formula 1 to claim your innosence, even if it is false, and it is considered normal in other sports? And even if there is audio or video proof of one’s wrong-doing in motorsport, why should such evidence allow further incrimination?

Yes, the rules are the rules. But where does the FOM’s and FIA’s ruling end? It should end at the checkered flag. Let the race be a race. Don’t ruin Formula 1 by classifying the results in a court.