Why F1 cant fix the overtaking problem

This is my first blog regarding Formula 1 and the topic i have chosen has been on my mind for some time and it is regarding the overtaking problem which fans and Formula 1 management have began to notice since the early 90's.  Since this problem was realised there has been alot of ideas on how overtaking could be improved in F1, but none of the ideas have really worked out as planned and i believe it is due to the one thing which makes Formula 1 the pinnacle of motor sport.. Technology!!

At this point you are probably thinking "what?" but please hear me out, most F1 fans will tell you that from the 1950's right up until the late 1980's early 1990's was some of the best times for overtaking in F1 with great names standing out for their overtaking skill. This is why i feel overtaking has become a somewhat recent problem in F1, and next i will explain why i think Technology is to blame.

Here is the picture of a 1950's F1 Steering Wheel (Credit to BBC for photo):

Notice the lack of buttons and switches on the steering wheel.

Now Lets Compare with 1980's F1 Steering Wheel:

Again You notice the lack of buttons and switches on the steering wheel.








Now lets compare with a current F1 Steering Wheel (Credit to BBC for Photo):

Now notice all the buttons and switches have slowly but surely started to increase since the late 1980's which is due to formula 1's craving for technical advancement.







Now when you think that a current formula 1 driver is making button and switch adjustments for most of a lap while also thinking about alot of other things:
- Gear Changes
- Distance to Cars ahead and behind
- Team Radio
- Brake Bias Adjustments

All of that while trying to overtake and potentially try to win the race, this is my point regarding the big difference between 1980's F1 and today's, the reason there is an overtaking problem it seems is that the drivers are being made to so much more over 1 lap than what their older counterparts had too, in reality they cant focus on overtaking alone.

Conclusion:

My final thoughts on this subject are that F1 has backed itself into a corner in regards to technology and overtaking, it would seem to have one you have to sacrifice the other, and now as we look forward to 2011 I see it being even harder to overtake with the reintroduction of Kers and the Move able Rear wings giving the drivers more buttons to press, it is also worthy to mention that a few drivers have already spoken out about the buttons and the workload it puts on the drivers in a race but most curiously no one has made the overtaking connection.

To Finalize More Technology = More Buttons = Less Overtaking

Thank You for Your Time and Interest in my blog.

StrangeyD