Why do people follow and watch F1?
Discussion
Salamura said:
Eric Mc said:
Are you saying romance is dead?
As far as motorsports are concerned, I think there definitely is less romance surrounding them. And not just F1. Same goes for rallying, endurance races, the lot. The world is simply moving towards a consumer culture, where the purpose of racing is no longer simply racing for the sake of it, but to provide a "show", for "paying customers". F1 has no choice but to follow, or die. Like almost all motorsport, F1 evolved for the benefit of the participants and the participants alone. That people found enjoyment spectating their endeavours was a happy coincidence. 'Customers' in F1 were, until very recently, seen as the sponsors.
The problem is that all the usual sectors that would normally have invested into F1 have either been legislated out of it (tobacco) or will be (booze) or can't be seen to spend frivolously (financial sector) with others ebbing and flowing their interest (IT).
To fill the void, it's the TV dollar that counts and this means that for the first time, the sport really has to look outwardly and consider us as the customer and this, I would suggest, is not something they have yet to fully figure out.
Esceptico said:
I have become more interested in MotoGP, although since that has been taken off live terrestrial TV I don't watch it anymore (no point watching the repeats as for me at least half the fun of racing is the excitement of not knowing who is going to win).
I don't officially know who won Australia yet.Unfortunately I will find out tomorrow when Motorsport News drops onto my doormat.
It's quite easy to avoid sports results.
I also don't know Moto GP results until the CH5 highlights on Wednesdays.
I watched F1 very closely from 1993 to the end of 2017. The reasons why I have gone off F1 are:
1) Heavy cars - approximately 200Kg heavier than they were in the early 90s!!
2) Three engines per season?!
3) Too many restictions on fuel flow and energy storage
4) Halo..... this year's cars would look great without the abominable Halo.
1) Heavy cars - approximately 200Kg heavier than they were in the early 90s!!
2) Three engines per season?!
3) Too many restictions on fuel flow and energy storage
4) Halo..... this year's cars would look great without the abominable Halo.
Its interesting to note that although the question asked is '"Why do people follow or watch F1?" most responses are why we don't want to watch it!
I kind of agree that many races in the past were not as exciting as we recall but the romance was surely greater.....wasn't it? To prove my point has anyone noticed that Sensodyne toothpaste are a current McLaren sponsor? Errh sorry I mean partner!
I kind of agree that many races in the past were not as exciting as we recall but the romance was surely greater.....wasn't it? To prove my point has anyone noticed that Sensodyne toothpaste are a current McLaren sponsor? Errh sorry I mean partner!
Edited by E30M3ZONE on Thursday 29th March 20:49
F1 has been destroyed by aero packages which make overtaking impossible, even for the 2 best overtakers in the game (Hamilton & Danny Ric.)
The Mercedes has been designed to run in clean air which is why they are desperate to lead the field and they have developed the most powerful engines in order to achieve this.
If it's overtaking you want then F1 is not for you.
It is rare for finishing positions to not reflect grid order.
F1 should be re-named Racing Car Parade of (insert name of country here.)
If it's excitement, thrills, danger and outright bravery you want together with overtaking moves by the shed-load then watch MotoGP.
The Mercedes has been designed to run in clean air which is why they are desperate to lead the field and they have developed the most powerful engines in order to achieve this.
If it's overtaking you want then F1 is not for you.
It is rare for finishing positions to not reflect grid order.
F1 should be re-named Racing Car Parade of (insert name of country here.)
If it's excitement, thrills, danger and outright bravery you want together with overtaking moves by the shed-load then watch MotoGP.
I've been a fan and watching almost every GP on TV for 50 years. I even watch all the practices on Sky.
It's all a bit 'meh' now though.
Little racing.
Over regulation.
Cars are ugly.
Drivers are premadona's not heroes.
One team in dominance for several years on a row (Mercedes now, previously Red Bull and before Ferrari).
Or maybe it's just because I'm getting old.
It's all a bit 'meh' now though.
Little racing.
Over regulation.
Cars are ugly.
Drivers are premadona's not heroes.
One team in dominance for several years on a row (Mercedes now, previously Red Bull and before Ferrari).
Or maybe it's just because I'm getting old.
Grand Prix racing lost some glitter when it started having far too many races, then becoming universally abbreviated to F1 , and then becoming synonymous with motor sport as a whole . It isn't , of course, but judging by the numbers I see at anything apart from BTCC and big Santa Pod meetings , far too many people think the sport is F1 alone , and that following it involves sitting in front of a telly .
What a strange question, from the same view of "why do people watch football" I don't as I have no interest. But I do have interest in F1, Why do I like F1. Simply becauses I do.
I don't feel I need to question why people like football. I don't care less.
How I feel about people who don't like f1 any more.
Everyone likes what they like.
I don't feel I need to question why people like football. I don't care less.
How I feel about people who don't like f1 any more.
Everyone likes what they like.
coppice said:
Grand Prix racing lost some glitter when it started having far too many races, then becoming universally abbreviated to F1 , and then becoming synonymous with motor sport as a whole . It isn't , of course, but judging by the numbers I see at anything apart from BTCC and big Santa Pod meetings , far too many people think the sport is F1 alone , and that following it involves sitting in front of a telly .
I think the number of GPs is a factor as well.Each one used to be an event. Now it's easy to forget which one is next and, mid season, which one we've just watched. I know they have to make a profit but for me, and it seems you, when there were fewer each one was much more important.
I can only speak for myself so this is a subjective opinion, but is mine.. (That's the disclaimers done before I get an online kicking! 
)
F1 was a poster sport for me as a child, so I had the benefit of the eighties being just before and during my teens. The cars, even the technology was organic enough to be thrilling. Yes there were rubbish races but the balance was still enough on extremely fast and challenging cars, real racer rivalry, brilliant tracks and the likes of Murray Walker and his genuinely emotional commentaries..
Some have suggested it's rose tinted specs. but I've gone back and watched old races to find out, and it's not.. It really isn't. I think Lewis Hamilton driving Senna's ol McLaren MP4 on that Topgear episode really highlighted it. Yes he's faster now, yes the technology is amazingly clever now but it was a 1980's paper-thin, manual shifting turbo car that Hamilton got all dizzy about..
We are in an era where it's about how things appear rather than necessarily how they are. Years of meddling and different influences have made them try and fabricate overtaking and 'the show' and somehow along the line, it's lost its soul..
Drivers now can have a chat with their team whilst they're driving, the track limits are defined by lines and markings, not barriers and grass. That's not far from me driving the Nurburgring on the Playstation or doing it for real. You take the risk away and a big element of the challenge is removed.. Safety shouldn't be ignored but the pendulum has been swung to the extreme now and there is no genuine penalty for running wide or pushing too hard. Virtual safety cars etc may be clever but once again it just pours cold water on the essence of the racing.. Just because with the technology you can, doesn't mean you have to.
I still watch, since I have F1 for free at the moment on Sky and I probably have some naive hope that things will improve but these days I will purposely watch a highlights show rather than a whole race, and even then probably whilst I'm doing something else at the same time..
I may be right, I may be wrong, but to me F1 is certainly a shadow of its former self as a racing sport.
)F1 was a poster sport for me as a child, so I had the benefit of the eighties being just before and during my teens. The cars, even the technology was organic enough to be thrilling. Yes there were rubbish races but the balance was still enough on extremely fast and challenging cars, real racer rivalry, brilliant tracks and the likes of Murray Walker and his genuinely emotional commentaries..
Some have suggested it's rose tinted specs. but I've gone back and watched old races to find out, and it's not.. It really isn't. I think Lewis Hamilton driving Senna's ol McLaren MP4 on that Topgear episode really highlighted it. Yes he's faster now, yes the technology is amazingly clever now but it was a 1980's paper-thin, manual shifting turbo car that Hamilton got all dizzy about..
We are in an era where it's about how things appear rather than necessarily how they are. Years of meddling and different influences have made them try and fabricate overtaking and 'the show' and somehow along the line, it's lost its soul..
Drivers now can have a chat with their team whilst they're driving, the track limits are defined by lines and markings, not barriers and grass. That's not far from me driving the Nurburgring on the Playstation or doing it for real. You take the risk away and a big element of the challenge is removed.. Safety shouldn't be ignored but the pendulum has been swung to the extreme now and there is no genuine penalty for running wide or pushing too hard. Virtual safety cars etc may be clever but once again it just pours cold water on the essence of the racing.. Just because with the technology you can, doesn't mean you have to.
I still watch, since I have F1 for free at the moment on Sky and I probably have some naive hope that things will improve but these days I will purposely watch a highlights show rather than a whole race, and even then probably whilst I'm doing something else at the same time..
I may be right, I may be wrong, but to me F1 is certainly a shadow of its former self as a racing sport.
steviejasp said:
I was so looking forward to 2018 F1.
I watched the highlights on C4 (after dumping Sky last year) until the wife rang the dinner bell.
I didn't even bother watching the last laps afterwards.
That's kind of summed up my 2018 season already.
Sad days.
I would love to know what the SKY figures for 2018 are.I watched the highlights on C4 (after dumping Sky last year) until the wife rang the dinner bell.
I didn't even bother watching the last laps afterwards.
That's kind of summed up my 2018 season already.
Sad days.
Many people have cancelled so it would be interesting.
F1 will need to watch as if things continue to decline then will SKY bother with F1?
This is why Liberty NEED to make sure F1 stays attractive and not just for the big teams.
I watch F1 since the mid 80s. I only jumped a bit the late 90s early 2000 as I thought that it was boring.
I really enjoy F1 for many reasons these days. Technology (crazy what engineers can do!), drivers (whatever people say, they are as good as in the old days maybe better), the strategies and all the media we have access these days that we did not have in the old days which made some races on the 80s so dull.
Overall, great show and awesome racing.
I really enjoy F1 for many reasons these days. Technology (crazy what engineers can do!), drivers (whatever people say, they are as good as in the old days maybe better), the strategies and all the media we have access these days that we did not have in the old days which made some races on the 80s so dull.
Overall, great show and awesome racing.
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