Watching the opening round of the fifth Formula E series in Saudi Arabia at the weekend, and taking on board the accompanying hype, it was difficult not to be reminded of 'The Emperor's New Clothes'. The tale by Hans Christian Andersen centred on two crafty weavers who promised an emperor a new set of clothes, but made none at all, saying the clothes were invisible to anyone who was incompetent or stupid. It was only through the innocent remark of a child that the nonsense of the emperor's nakedness was exposed -- as it were.
A similar impression of delusion appeared to infiltrate enthusiastic media and TV summaries referring to a 'brilliant race'.