ON REFLECTION: The Canadian Grand Prix

So, what are we going to do about F1? Canada was another boring race, and television audiences are dwindling because of it.

The sport is in a state of near-crisis, and that dominates this week's discussion. New engines? New tyres? New rules? Let us what know what you want to see included below! Get involved!

Boring, boring, boring

You know that when Canada lets us down, there are big problems engulfing Formula 1. The race at Montreal was horrendous. Processional, risk-free, careful rubbish.

Like Australia, China, Spain and Monaco, the Canadian Grand Prix is instantly forgettable. Five of this season’s seven races have been uneventful, and that is far too high.

So what is the answer?

How about we bring back V8 engines?

2015 Renault F1 engine

This is an idea that would please all racing purists and haters of these dreadful quiet power units. The V8’s, which were last seen in 2013, have a powerful ally in Bernie Ecclestone and smaller teams want them to come back.

The current V6 engines are expensive, but engine manufacturers have warned that a return to V8’s wouldn't be any cheaper, so it's not quite as simple as it seems.

FIA president Jean Todt is also a fan of the current V6s, and isn't so keen to swap them back. Instead an increase of power, and subsequently noise, seems to be the idea but that would still leave Mercedes out in front.

Re-introduce in-season testing and development

Currently, engine manufacturers are only allowed to slightly modify their engines over the course of a season, and as time progresses that gets less and less.

Mercedes dominated last season, and are on course to run away with both titles this year. Their engine is far superior to anything else and the lack of development helps them massively as it hinders Ferrari and Renault.

By relaxing the rules, the competition at the front may increase and give us better, more intense racing.

Bring back re-fuelling?

Re-fuelling hasn’t been seen since 2009, and didn’t really add much to the on-track action.

However, it added another fascinating twist to team strategies and put a stop to fuel-saving, which heavily impedes the purity of racing on track.

But safety concerns remain; the cost is high and was the racing ever that good?

Pirelli F1 tyres

How about a tyre war?

The tyre war between Bridgestone and Michelin in the early part of the century added a brilliant element to the sport, and a return of one could bring fans racing back.

Pirelli seem to have been too conservative over the past couple of years and every leading driver seems to run identical strategies. Ending this is vital to the show, and a tyre war could be the answer.

However, Pirelli want an exclusive contract and are not interested in sharing duties with Michelin. So that seems like a dead duck.

So…

As you can see, where the rule makers take F1 is tough to decide. But fan interest is nose-diving, the quality of racing is worsening and the drivers are no longer pushed to the edge.

F1 needs saving, but how is tough to fathom.

In other news....

Grosjean is still prone to the occasional awful moment

Romain Grosjean’s reputation has improved beyond recognition since early 2013, but he showed how lazy and foolish he can be again on Sunday.

His swipe across the front of Will Stevens’ car was unbelievably poor, and dangerous. The Lotus driver was lapping the Englishman down the back straight when he cut across the Marussia driver and broke his front wing.

Grosjean makes a solid point when he asks why he hasn’t been promoted to a top team just yet, but incidents like that prove why he’s still at Lotus.

Let’s hope it was a blemish and not the start of some more dodgem-style prangs, but he’s shown that you never really know what he’s going to do next.

Raikkonen blew a big chance

With Sebastian Vettel down in 18^th place, Kimi Raikkonen must have relished the chance to shine for Ferrari.

He started the afternoon hoping for victory, but ended it fending of Vettel in the battle for fourth.

The Finn will know that he needs to cash in when his German team-mate isn’t around, but a silly spin cost him third and much-needed praise.

Ferrari will already be thinking about their driver line up next season and missed opportunities like that could cost Raikkonen when a decision is made.

Bottas rises to the top at Williams

Valtteri Bottas

Speaking of Raikkonen’s potential exit from Ferrari, one of his possible replacements seems to have settled nicely into this season after a disrupted start.

Valtteri Bottas was one of the stars of last season, but a back injury meant he missed the opening race in Australia, and struggled in comparison to Felipe Massa in other early races.

However, he has emerged as Williams’ leading driver once again as a strong race in Canada brought him a podium.

With races in Austria and Britain to come, Bottas will be confident of more trophies from the rostrum at tracks the team excels.

Massa remains blindingly quick but very inconsistent, which leaves Bottas as their leading man.

Kvyat proves early doubters wrong

Daniil Kvyat, Red Bull RB11

Amongst the back drop of Red Bull’s disaster season, which may lead to engine producers Renault leaving the sport, Daniil Kvyat has started to show why the team plucked him from Toro Rosso.

The young Russian looked overawed when he first joined the team but after a public dressing down from Helmut Marko the tide has changed.

In Monaco, a track which suits the aerodynamically focused Red Bull, Kvyat excelled and snatched fourth, while he claimed points in Canada as his team-mate fell backwards.

A continuation of this form will shut up the doubters for good.

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