Formula E's debut in Beijing by all accounts should be considered a success. All accounts except one. The infamous FAN BOOST which has been a slight point of controversy by motorsport purists was not used.
Was it a failure to launch or is this beginning of a conspiracy theory? Let's fan the Fan Boost flames for a moment and imagine that drivers might have just agreed amongst themselves not to use the fan boost in an effort to keep things "sportsmanlike". I'm not implying that this actually happened, however I am suggesting that the lack of use of the widely publicized technology could lead one to ponder exactly why is wasn’t used.
Perhaps it didn't function and the powers that be decided to keep things hush until the problems are resolved? It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a technical aid/restrictor (think Daniel Ricciardo in Melbourne) has failed in such a public fashion.
Perhaps the driver was unawareof the option to use it? (doubtful given the amount of FanBoost canvassing amongst drivers) or perhaps the drivers decided against exercising their option in the first race. Does the use of FanBoost minimize the value of a championship point? As a race car driver, some might feel the use of this technology to be unsporting and an unfair advantage. In the eyes of others, it may be seen as artificial.
In theory, FanBoost is a great idea to get fan interaction and involvement but it places many drivers at a disadvantage. New drivers clearly don't have the following in solcial media and online circles - as do several drivers who have had careers in global Motorsports series such as Formula One. There are many drivers in the field who are former F1 stars, several of which generate tens (if not hundreds of thousands) of online followers. While FanBoost has its detractors, it has also been supported and embraced by many in this new era of Motorsport; which now holds many grey areas and unknowns. The idea and technology obviously has the support of the FIA and through their experience in the governance of global Motorsport and the body sees no reason to believe that the use of such technology is not unsporting. Should anyone, teams and/or drivers alike have the right to choose whether or not to use under any circumstance other than safety concerns?
While we sit and ponder why FanBoost wasn't used, I'll sit and fan the flames behind the idea that drivers just weren't interested...
Failure to Launch or FANning the Flames?
by Ernie Black