Pace of Play

Formula 1 is slowest fast sport. 

American Football/NFL is the fastest slow sport.

Let me explain. 

Formula 1 has some of the fastest cars in the world going around a lap for a regulation 305 kilometers, or about 190 miles - for historical reasons. The race becomes boring after an exciting start and the wear down with each lap and pit strategy, slowly reveals what the podium will eventually be. 

Seldom are races exciting start to end. Very very seldom. Unless there is heavy rain or Nicky Latifi or exploding tires involved. 

On the other end of the spectrum, an NFL game goes on for 3 hours at the very minimum. There is a stop after every play. There is a play clock that goes for 40 seconds - this is for every play that is run. Then there are timeouts, penalties, injury breaks, ad breaks, half time blah blah blah. 

It is a frustratingly slow affair. 

But, each play is explosive. There is a lot of muscle and bone moving, helmets colliding (leading to brain damage/CTE ) and uniforms getting dirty. There is a lot of strategy that goes into every play. And to make a successful play, a lot of brain and brawn has to move correctly and execute with precision. 

Each play has the potential to be exciting. It usually is. Even if it is a penalty. 

Because it is mano-a-mano. Elemental. Primal and tribal even. It appeals to a very direct instinct. 

I love and follow both sports. 

But if you want to avoid either compromise, watch football and MotoGP. 

Win Win.