F1M have become like the Hollywood studios in the golden age of the screen. They have the drivers all wrapped up in cotton wool and all appearances have to be in conjunction with a PR man and an approved photographer.
I'm waiting for "arranged marriages" next. These poor (morally, not financially) guys have no life of their own, they've signed it away to the God Mammon. It's a terribly sad state of affairs, and just sums up F1 as it now is. It's all very well blaming Bernie (and I do) but once big business is in control, this is what happens.
To think that once upon a time, F1 was just a series of individually-organised races that coincidentally counted towards a championship. Each win was more important than the outcome at the end of the year.