He whispered it, embarrassed, almost as if he was about to confess to downloading porn or stealing from the charity box; "it was so boring I turned over to something else," he confessed.

Trouble is, I don't think Adrian, of the Stop and Shop pet shop in Collier Row, was alone, after all, didn't GrandPrix.com's Joe Saward refer to Sunday's race as a "siesta rather than a fiesta"?

But this Talking Point is not about rubbishing the European Grand Prix or the Valencia Street Circuit, after all, despite my personal misgivings about the track this was the maiden event and I am pretty sure the organizers will take the criticism on board as they plan ahead for next year's race.

From the opening practice session the grey barriers that line the circuit reminded us of those countless races on American tracks all those years ago, when Bernie was quite happy to pitch up the F1 circus in a car park as long as it meant another addition to the calendar. One can only hope that Singapore proves to be a little more exhilarating, though I won't hold my breath.

Ahead of the race, and for much of the weekend, team bosses, drivers and F1 insiders talked up the track, waxing lyrical as they described it as the 'new Monaco', but one couldn't help but feel that one was being sold something. In full corporate mode, Martin Whitmarsh claimed Valencia would "set a new standard for Formula 1". He was right, it did, but not in the way intended.

Formula One is fast approaching a key moment in its history, and for me, Valencia was a clear indication of what lies in store, and it worries me.

Despite the denials, it is a fact that in the not too distant future Ron Dennis will finally climb down off the pit-wall and go off in search of ways to spend his vast fortune. Frank Williams and Flavio Briatore are also no doubt counting the days before they too opt to take things a little easier. And let's not forget that Max has vowed to stand down - no pun intended - next year, while Bernie can only continue for so much longer. But then what, where will the sport go from there?

Once the few remaining characters leave the sport, once the manufacturers and suits take control, what happens to F1 then, will Valencia really be "the standard"?

Despite the fact that with six races remaining both titles are up for grabs, F1 is not pulling in the punters. Even in the UK, despite the 'Hamilton factor' and the best work of certain members of the British media, F1 is not what people are talking about in the pubs - not unless they're telling jokes about the FIA President.

Despite Hamilton winning the British Grand Prix as far as the media was concerned it was the Men's final at Wimbledon that grabbed the headlines, and even if the Stevenage Rocket does succeed in winning the title he will need to go some if he is to knock Rebecca Adlington and Co off the podium in terms of the people's favourite.

Something is missing from F1, but I'm not quite sure what. Is it the racing, is it the damage wreaked by the spy scandal, the sex scandal or is it that the sport is missing an anti-hero, a Michael Schumacher.