Renault boss Flavio Briatore says F1 races are ‘boring’, and that recent changes have not improved matters.

“A one hour 30 minute race is too long because the last 30 minutes - 90% of the time - is really boring,” he said.

“Every time there’s excitement it’s because something’s happened outside or because it’s heavy rain or there’s some accident or stuff like that

“I still don’t understand why we don’t try to make excitement in every race.”

I feel torn on this one because, yes, GP2 races do tend to highlight the appalling lack of overtaking in F1 and the format does make for more exciting races, but at the same time I’m not sure the problem is entirely the current F1 regulations - I can remember some stultifying races from the early 90s, for example. Perhaps the more fundamental problem for F1 is that it is not a one-make series, so maybe customer cars will in fact prove to be the saving of F1…

Michael Schumacher turned up to present the trophy to Team Germany at the A1GP Gala in London last night. Willi Weber, Schumacher’s former manager, is the Team Germany seat holder and also manages drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Christian Vietoris.

Meanwhile, Team Italy may lose their third place from the Brands Hatch feature race after Team Netherlands protested the timing of Italy’s pitstop. The protest was rejected however Team Netherlands have appealed. If they are successful, Team India would be promoted to their first A1GP podium finish.