Yes, that is frustrating.
But also highlights that more high level documentation is really what is needed. An engine formula that said simply:
- cars must complete a race distance on 100kgs of fuel
- manufacturers must supply up to (for example) 3 further teams over and above a works team if requested
- the cost of a supply must be no more than x million euros
Might have produced more interesting and varied results. Points two and three are essentially going to be covered off shortly (and easy for me to say with benefit of hindsight) but dictating that engine must be x size, with x number of cylinders in x configuration, must recover energy in x ways (and no others) seems needlessly restrictive.
And the part about the impression of awe and speed is the most depressing for me because the reality has turned out that it's been lost via tyre choices (brought about by fuelling regs) rather than the engines; not only that but no one has any intention of rectifying their mistakes.