Hybrid formula - Prost frustrated by the reaction.

let's ban fans because they don't like turbo cars

 

I think the argument about noise is also a little frustration by fans because the racing has been quite **** for the last 2 seasons. Only very occasionally we've had a different car as a winner, and no challengers for wins really. Watching the parade and then with **** noise was an easy target.

I'm still not happy with the noise, but if races where like Sunday's GP more often we wouldn't complain so much.

I wouldn't be interested if F1 was Formula E though. Even with these battles...

FE is not winning over young people to be interested in racing. At all. People interested in going as green as possible are quite simply not interested in racing.

 

I have been a huge fan of Formula 1 since I started following it in 1974, and even 2 years later and after a great race in Hungary, I still do not like the current engines (power units). I know they are a great technological breakthrough and are much more efficient than the previous V8 engines they replaced, they just do nothing for me. I am very thankful I was able to attend over 20 races between 1992 and 2013 to witness how awe inspiring I found the normally aspirated Formula 1 cars. Maybe it is just too much like health food, I know it is better for me, but I prefer what I like more than what I am told I should like. For what it is worth, I am not that interested in Formula E either. For me personally it is V12>V10>V8>1980s turbos>current V6 turbo hybrids...

 

He's mad bc he's in formula E which I can't imagine is doing very well. I've never heard of or seen a race nor do i care to. Electronic cars don't stir my soul the same way.

 

AP was a truly great driver who has his head firmly planted in le sand when it comes to F1.

There is a simple fact - fans are leaving and turning off in their droves. Trying to contort F1 into a mass production car relevant series is killing the sport. Whilst the last two races have served up some great moments, the biggest danger comes from those that seem to think that makes everything OK.
The "..see, we had some interesting things happen in Hungary so everything is fine" attitude is the greatest danger to our chances of extracting F1 from its death spiral.

 

With the new start procedure your concerns will probably come to an end. Though maybe not for the next few races...the mercs should sail right past the ferraris perhaps maybe not the Williams

 

The fuzzy noise is the worst. From the 80s till the 2000s, the sound of an F1 car's engine was like one of the identity of F1.

Since those changes, I went to 2 live GPs, and I will never go anymore. Not till they bring back the sound.

Secondly, let's accept the fact that the bloody hybrids were brought in to please those Greenpeace fellas.

 

Formula E sucks and so do the engine sounds of F1 because of the fuel flow limits. Hybrid cars rule, KERS and turbos rock.

 

I want max power, I want drivers who admit to being physically challenged in the car, not commenting that it's nothing like ten years ago, I want qualifying pace on every lap, no saving fuel, tires, brakes, or anything else. Full out, breakneck pace racing...refueling, and risk. Make the cars advanced, but don't restrict the racing by needing tire or fuel saving.

 

Someone tell prost racing is not about using 40% less fuel! Racing is about taking man and machine to the ragged edge of blowing up and then pitting that timebomb against another man's time bomb while fans watch the fireworks.

 

I just have to wonder - do they really care?

Also, what is that based on? I hear it a lot, but I haven't seen any supporting facts. If attendance is down at the venues, that affects the venues; not F1.

Roughly a third of F1 revenue comes from the venues paying for the race. Next year they will add yet another race probably to the tune of 75-100m and continue growing revenue unless I'm missing something.

I don't like the formula right now entirely either, but I question how much leverage the argument that "fans are leaving" really has...

 

In the end, it's all about going as fast as possible and racing as hard as you can. Effing with that to make some sort of political point misses the essence of what racing (F1 or otherwise) is all about. That's what turn folks off. To see your favorite team or driver relegated to the back bench because they failed to exploit the rules to their greatest advantage is disheartening, especially when there is nothing they can do to change their plight, because the rules restrict testing and development.

I've been an F1 fan since Jack Brabham and Stirling Moss, Fangio drove for one of my high school classmates fathers. But, lately, NASCAR is more fun to watch than F1. Simply because it focuses more on racing than BS. With NASCAR, all I have to worry about is who can out race who, not who found the magic loophole and can't be beat until the rules afford some other team the opportunity to find the next magic loophole. It really pisses me off that F1 is so frustrating.

 

Prost is in a Glass tower - IMO

 

Races in Sochi, Baku and the Persian Gulf countries are a combination of tourism ads and stroking the dear leaders ego.

 

Again, I'm not entirely happy with F1, but playing devil's advocate here ; )

Where is attendance down exactly and based on what? It does not appear to be across the board. Likewise as you mention later, the venues are subsidized by government's which value the exposure and see the fee, and losses (if they are taking losses), as the price associated with hosting F1.

Eh...I find that a bit hard to believe honestly with the motorsports that get aired in the US with substantially lower viewership. But again, I've been unable to find any real stats on the viewership drastically decreasing. Do you have a link? Not being argumentative, but I haven't been able to find that data.

That's a legitimate concern for sure. However sponsorship is a much smaller piece of the pie than even the venue fees. Around half at most.

True. Unfortunately, it seems like an effective strategy for new revenue and to exert leverage on the existing venues. Still, not all venues pay the same, so certain ones do maintain leverage of course. Italy pays less; Germany can afford to tell him to pound salt; Monaco pays nothing. But he is still growing revenue with his scheme.

Why do you think they are temporary though or that they would stop paying? Do you think Qatar is going to reach their tourism goals in a few years? I doubt it personally. Plus the new venues are the kind of countries/people Bernie likes to do business with - morally flexible is as nicely as I can put it.

I want to believe that the fans have leverage and are influencing the sport, but I wonder if this is actually reality.

 

The reason the fans don't like the engines is because they sound like CRAP! I have been to plenty of Indycar races, (Long Beach, Indy GP, & Indy 500) and they still sound just fine. The Indycars are running twin turbo V6s and they still have the classic shriek to them. The F1 V6s sounds horrible. This year they do sound a teeny-tiny-hair better than last year, (Hockenhiem vs Silverstone) but the F1 V6s still sounds horrible.

 

I was in a cafe in Europe watching the British GP several weeks ago; the place was empty. The owner told me that its been that way since they changed the spec. In 2014 you couldn't find a seat in the place, now, no one cares.