--- title: "Jeremy Clarkson on How to Fix F1: Ditch Tracks Where Passing Is Hard" date: "2025-04-08" modified: "2025-04-08" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/jeremy-clarkson-on-how-to-fix-f1-ditch-tracks-where-passing-is-hard" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # Jeremy Clarkson on How to Fix F1: Ditch Tracks Where Passing Is Hard ![Jeremy Clarkson ahead of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone Circuit in Northampton, Great Britain on July 7, 2024.]() *\Jakub Porzycki via Getty Images\* Suzuka was a snooze-fest; even the [Formula 1]() drivers said so. Personally, I've always enjoyed watching the Japanese Grand Prix, and I honestly cannot recall seeing a race as boring there before. Whether it was during the glorious Senna-Prost years, the early Schumacher era, the Alonso-Renault era, or later on during the Vettel, Hamilton, and even the recent Verstappen years, Suzuka has typically delivered a good balance of strategy, passing, and overall difficulty. But alas, this year sucked, so everyone is up in arms, including [Jeremy Clarkson](), who took to [X]() to vent about it. Surprisingly, however, he's got a decent point this time. "I’ve had an idea to make F1 racing more consistently exciting. Don’t use tracks where overtaking is difficult," said Clarkson on social media. ![Winner Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen C poses with second-placed McLaren's British driver Lando Norris L and third-placed McLaren's Australian driver Oscar Piastri on the podium after the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix 2025 at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan, April 6, 2025. (Photo by Qian Jun/Xinhua via Getty Images)]() **Getty* Xinhua News Agency* Typically, the best solutions are the simplest solutions, so perhaps the popular TV show host is onto something. If something isn't working, well, change it. If tracks like Albert Park, Suzuka, Monaco, and others are no longer a good fit for today's cars and their drivers, change them. Right? In theory, it makes sense, but F1 is a complex sport/multi-billion-dollar business, so things aren't quite that simple. When a follower commented on Clarkon's thread that perhaps it's the cars that are the problem—and not the tracks—he pointed the finger at F1's corporate owners and the mega payouts they receive from the contracts it signs with local governments. "Sure. The cars are bigger, so accept that, ignore the “incentives”, and use tracks that are suitable. Ultimately, the revenue comes from fans. Always," he added. It's not entirely clear what Clarkson means by "the revenue comes from the fans," but my guess is that he's referring to fan attendance. If that's the case, that's not super accurate. Ticket sales and merch sales may generate huge sums of money every year, but that's not why Liberty Media owns F1. The real money is in TV viewership, meaning broadcasting rights, air partners, etc. The more people tune in on Sundays to watch the race—regardless of how many are sitting in the grandstands—the more money F1 makes, and the more money it can charge companies like Louis Vuitton, Paramount, Aramco, etc. for sponsorships. ![BAHRAIN, BAHRAIN - MARCH 02: Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner talks with Jeremy Clarkson on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on March 02, 2024 in Bahrain, Bahrain. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)]() **Getty* Clive Rose* Of course, the more exciting a race is, the more everyone benefits, whether you're watching on TV or at the track. And the more people get excited bout a race, the more chatter there is on social media, and again, the more sponsors get exposure and cash in on their investment. If you're curious to learn more about the business of racing, [here's a breakdown](). Everyone has been pointing the finger at Monaco for decades, mostly because it's a procession with little to no passing, and the cars have just gotten too big for the streets of the principality. Will it be going away anytime soon? Nope. While it was an honest (and logical) remark from Clarkson, we'll have to add this one to the "Never Gonna Happen" pile. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()