***** Russian Grand Prix 2014 ***** (contains spoilers)
Discussion
iguana said:
I'd disagree on that, I think I fall into that camp, catch a few races, read some stuff & have an understanding, but not a hardcore fan, similar with other sports. I don't think I'm alone in that.
I would call that being a bit more than "casual". I've followed F1 since the days of Jim Clark and Graham Hill, but even I don't watch every single race these days.A fan is a fan.
What I was thinking of was a casual F1 "watcher", which is a person who finds themselves watching an F1 race almost by accident i.e. it happened to be on TV and they had nothing better to do and they are sufficiently interested not to change channels or do something else..
Eric Mc said:
iguana said:
I'd disagree on that, I think I fall into that camp, catch a few races, read some stuff & have an understanding, but not a hardcore fan, similar with other sports. I don't think I'm alone in that.
I would call that being a bit more than "casual". I've followed F1 since the days of Jim Clark and Graham Hill, but even I don't watch every single race these days.A fan is a fan.
What I was thinking of was a casual F1 "watcher", which is a person who finds themselves watching an F1 race almost by accident i.e. it happened to be on TV and they had nothing better to do and they are sufficiently interested not to change channels or do something else..
monamimate said:
Anecdotal evidence, methinks.
In my experience, it's just the opposite: I can't think of a single friend who watches any F1 race unless they are enthusiasts. As an example, my younger brother and I watch all the time (enthusiasts) whilst my elder brother (who drives a Ferrari and a Porsche so is clearly a car nut) would rather have teeth extracted than sit and watch F1 cars…
Cannot imagine any conversation with non-enthusiast friends that would include them saying "I was casually watching a GP"...
I've never thought about this before and took the "legions of casual fans" as given, but you're right. I've known one or two who could enjoy the occasional race and "might" watch a GP, maybe if it were special/hyped ie silverstone/monaco/title decider, maybe if a british pilot was doing well, maybe if there wasn't a big football game on, etc etc. And then when you watch it with them fail to understand most of whats going on and just want the british bloke to winnit innit. But most of the F1 followers I've known have been far more focussed.In my experience, it's just the opposite: I can't think of a single friend who watches any F1 race unless they are enthusiasts. As an example, my younger brother and I watch all the time (enthusiasts) whilst my elder brother (who drives a Ferrari and a Porsche so is clearly a car nut) would rather have teeth extracted than sit and watch F1 cars…
Cannot imagine any conversation with non-enthusiast friends that would include them saying "I was casually watching a GP"...
And furthermore, who cares about casual drop-in fans? Do they they bring much value to the sport for anyone concerned?
Eric Mc said:
And my follow up point is - how many people of that type are there and on any given F1 weekend, what proportion of the TV audience are they?
I would say not that much.
And yet, so many of the recent changes to the actual F1 event have been made to pander to this imaginary audience.
Exactamundo. I would say not that much.
And yet, so many of the recent changes to the actual F1 event have been made to pander to this imaginary audience.
iguana said:
jbudgie said:
Eric Mc said:
I actually wonder is there any such thing as a "casual F1 watcher"?
Very very unlikely imho.
I'd disagree on that, I think I fall into that camp, catch a few races, read some stuff & have an understanding, but not a hardcore fan, similar with other sports. I don't think I'm alone in that.Very very unlikely imho.
MGJohn said:
Who cares you ask ... the advertisers do. If they relied solely on the on the pure enthusiasts and keener fans advertisers would stay away in droves.
Do they really?If they do, are they deluding themselves that there are far more of these than those who go out of their way to follow F1?
I think they are.
What seems to happen is that, every now and then, a single driver (NEVER a car or a team) catches the public's imagination - often in only one country. The best examples of these in the modern era were Mansell (UK), Senna (Brazil) and Schumacher (Germany). And maybe perhaps Alonso in Spain.
These characters DO attract people who may not have paid much attention to F1 in other times. But their attraction is rare and the fans they attract are fleeting. And there may be gaps in time when no such characters are around or attracting attention.
In those more normal "fallow" periods, it is the genuine F1 fans who follow the sport - as they always will.
Which is why F1 needs to develop the personalities (well make them more accessible) to attract fan loyalty.
On the other hand, the drivers are made to stand on the back of a truck and paraded around the track. All the drivers seem to do is chat amongst themselve and have a bit of an interview with Natalie whilst occasionally giving a desultory wave to the fans who are penned in far from the track. Whats the point of that?
I'm not an Alonso fan, but I remember him stopping and running along next to the fence touching hands with fans. Thats what builds loyalty, a human touch. Anyway, I digress.
On the other hand, the drivers are made to stand on the back of a truck and paraded around the track. All the drivers seem to do is chat amongst themselve and have a bit of an interview with Natalie whilst occasionally giving a desultory wave to the fans who are penned in far from the track. Whats the point of that?
I'm not an Alonso fan, but I remember him stopping and running along next to the fence touching hands with fans. Thats what builds loyalty, a human touch. Anyway, I digress.
Eric Mc said:
MGJohn said:
Who cares you ask ... the advertisers do. If they relied solely on the on the pure enthusiasts and keener fans advertisers would stay away in droves.
Do they really?If they do, are they deluding themselves that there are far more of these than those who go out of their way to follow F1?
I think they are.
What seems to happen is that, every now and then, a single driver (NEVER a car or a team) catches the public's imagination - often in only one country. The best examples of these in the modern era were Mansell (UK), Senna (Brazil) and Schumacher (Germany). And maybe perhaps Alonso in Spain.
These characters DO attract people who may not have paid much attention to F1 in other times. But their attraction is rare and the fans they attract are fleeting. And there may be gaps in time when no such characters are around or attracting attention.
In those more normal "fallow" periods, it is the genuine F1 fans who follow the sport - as they always will.
Are they all watching F1?
You don't have to be an F1 follower or even watch it on TV to be aware of F1 marketing.
For years I couldn't walk past a branch of Santander without a full size poster of Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button grinning at me from the behind the plate glass front window.
You don't have to be an F1 follower or even watch it on TV to be aware of F1 marketing.
For years I couldn't walk past a branch of Santander without a full size poster of Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button grinning at me from the behind the plate glass front window.
Eric Mc said:
What seems to happen is that, every now and then, a single driver (NEVER a car or a team) catches the public's imagination - often in only one country. The best examples of these in the modern era were Mansell (UK), Senna (Brazil) and Schumacher (Germany). And maybe perhaps Alonso in Spain.
Yet the most persistent group of supporters follow a team and not a driver. Further, out of all the drivers you mentioned, the one who generated the most support was Alonso and that was because he was seen as the 'next Senna' in the latin countries, so borders are not national. That Spain had two GPs was down to him in the main, although there are suspicions that someone with authority pushed it for other reasons.
Derek Smith said:
Eric Mc said:
What seems to happen is that, every now and then, a single driver (NEVER a car or a team) catches the public's imagination - often in only one country. The best examples of these in the modern era were Mansell (UK), Senna (Brazil) and Schumacher (Germany). And maybe perhaps Alonso in Spain.
Yet the most persistent group of supporters follow a team and not a driver. Derek Smith said:
Yet the most persistent group of supporters follow a team and not a driver.
Further, out of all the drivers you mentioned, the one who generated the most support was Alonso and that was because he was seen as the 'next Senna' in the latin countries, so borders are not national. That Spain had two GPs was down to him in the main, although there are suspicions that someone with authority pushed it for other reasons.
I take your point and agree with it. I do think that the peripheral fans come and go USUALLY based on the rise in prominence of a DRIVER rather than a car or team. The fandom does not necessarily have to be nationalistic. Senna stands out as being pan national. A lot of this short lived "driver based" support is nationalistic though.Further, out of all the drivers you mentioned, the one who generated the most support was Alonso and that was because he was seen as the 'next Senna' in the latin countries, so borders are not national. That Spain had two GPs was down to him in the main, although there are suspicions that someone with authority pushed it for other reasons.
"Proper" F1 fans tend to be in love with the entirety of the sport, not just the drivers. They like the cars, the technology, the circuits and yes, sometimes even the politics.
Eric Mc said:
I take your point and agree with it. I do think that the peripheral fans come and go USUALLY based on the rise in prominence of a DRIVER rather than a car or team. The fandom does not necessarily have to be nationalistic. Senna stands out as being pan national. A lot of this short lived "driver based" support is nationalistic though.
"Proper" F1 fans tend to be in love with the entirety of the sport, not just the drivers. They like the cars, the technology, the circuits and yes, sometimes even the politics.
I used to watch F1 with a group of nerds, me being the only sensible one amongst the lot."Proper" F1 fans tend to be in love with the entirety of the sport, not just the drivers. They like the cars, the technology, the circuits and yes, sometimes even the politics.
Most followed a driver. We had our Ferrari nut, as must groups must have, but the rest tended to follow a driver. When that driver left he sport, they tended to move to another one. We had someone from NI who was an Irvine fan, particularly when he drove for Ferrari but even he joined in with the consensus of his chosen driver's ability, or lack of it. I found that a little odd.
I've followed teams in the main: Lotus, Brabham and McLaren. I like other drivers, and will follow one whom I find exciting even if they don't drive for McL. I was irritated when Hamilton left McL as I thought he was exciting to watch and was good for the team but now he's in Merc, I still cheer him on, especially as he's livened up what could have been a one-driver season. But I like watching Alonso, Vettel and other battles down the field. I like to watch young drivers progress.
But it is the sport as a whole that excites. I don't particularly care who is racing if there's a dice, especially one that goes on for a few laps.
My way is best for me as even when McL are doing badly, I still get excited.
And your mates drifted away from the sport. Maybe, a fan who bases his enthusiasm on a single driver is bound to be more "fickle" or "casual" than someone who likes the whole thing.
Are they the "right" type of fan to attract or the fans who are willing to put a bit more effort into following the sport?
Are they the "right" type of fan to attract or the fans who are willing to put a bit more effort into following the sport?
Eric Mc said:
"Proper" F1 fans tend to be in love with the entirety of the sport, not just the drivers. They like the cars, the technology, the circuits and yes, sometimes even the politics.
That's me ..Derek Smith said:
But it is the sport as a whole that excites. I don't particularly care who is racing if there's a dice, especially one that goes on for a few laps.
My way is best for me as even when McL are doing badly, I still get excited.
That is the way I have enjoyed the sport since the days of Fangio, Moss and Mercedes-Benz. Little schoolboy me back then was convinced I could do as well as either of them given the right kit ... who knows ? ,,,, My way is best for me as even when McL are doing badly, I still get excited.
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