SUNDAY afternoons are never quite the same without a siesta.

And there is nothing better to induce the comatose state than a Formula One Grand Prix.

Personally, I would rather watch three hours of snail racing.

This at least contains an element of true sporting competition.

The fittest, strongest and fastest snail is the first across the winning line.

But Formula One is as much a test of sporting skill and physical capabilities as dwarf throwing.

Granted, the likes of Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher have to be in peak physical condition just to endure the rigours of a Grand Prix.

It is, however, impossible to gauge what impact their relative physical performances have on the result of a race. Likewise, it is impossible to compare the talents of any two drivers.

For modern motor sport is a pure battle of engineering skill and strategy.

Hill won the San Marino race without overtaking and it is odds-on that the scenario will be repeated in Monaco next Sunday.

And should Hill be forced to miss the race for any reason, it would be a safe bet that Jimmy Hill could win the race in the Rothmans Williams Renault.

That is, of course, if the intriguing distractions of refuelling and wheel changes went to plan!

The most disturbing fact, though, is that the macabre spectacle of the sport centres around the horrendous consequences of human error.

And only when an Ayrton Senna tragedy occurs is it obvious that there is a gross imbalance between the respective performances of man and machine.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.