FORMULA One teams are up and running with the winter testing session in Barcelona, and some of the sport’s stars are already trying to turn up the heat.

And let’s be honest, they need to.

Motor racing as a concept should be enthralling; high-speed vehicles manned by highly-skilled, daring drivers who are pushing themselves to the limits.

Don’t get me wrong, it is still all those things, just minus the enthralling part – so when did Formula One become so boring?

You need a masters degree in mechanical engineering to garner even a basic understanding of the sport these days, it’s certainly not one for the general sports fan with a passing interest and few can identify with the make-up of the machines.

Sebastien Vettel agrees, in fact he’s had a bit of a moan that Mercedes dominating the sport for the past two years has taken away a lot of the excitement...says the man who won four successive championships before that – pass me the sour grapes.

If only; a rivalry between two top drivers would prove an absolute blessing for Formula One.

Lewis Hamilton, champion for the past two years, tried his best to ignite a feud with teammate Nico Rosberg last season.

But the trouble with Lewis is, for all the faux partying in New York, having a pop star wife and hanging out with Rihanna alongside the ‘platinum blond’ haircut – which said Poundland bleach more than playboy trendsetter – he just can’t endear himself to the nation.

Perhaps it is easy to romanticise rivalries from the past, especially with major movies made about them, but today’s F1 is lacking a James Hunt v Nicki Lauda or Ayrton Senna v Alain Prost.

Both Hamilton and Vettel, given their achievements, should be considered among the sport’s greats.

But technical developments and regulations from the sport’s chiefs have left racing aficionados purring over the cars rather than who is behind the wheel.

And, albeit not Hamilton or Vettel’s fault, they do battle on the track – during their periods of dominance the other hasn't had the resources to consistently compete.

But as the German put it during a question and answer session on his website last week “F1 is just too complex and we’re lacking sound”.

He added: “Today the car plays an important role, like it did in the past, but We shouldn’t get lost in overcomplicated rules.

“Our audience has to be able to identify with our cars again.

“We have to be careful not to lose the roots of motor racing and I certainly hope the cars of the future will be more within their grasp.”