F1 in the UAE is a Joke. Mike Lawrence Agrees

I like Mike Lawrence's commentaries, this one pretty much sums up my feelings about F1 in the UAE.
http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_feature_item.php?fes_art_id=39637

 

Nice article. Obviously, it's over. A ghost town with a sterile track built by slave labour. I wonder if Bernie will bother to sheikh them down this year on the hope the Abu Dhabii will back another fiasco.

First time I had heard of the Cisitalia series. Interesting.

 

Yes let it bite you hard in your ass Bernie, I hope Silverstone tell's you to do one when you come groveling back, and the rest of the great tracks you axed, money grabbing sod YOU sold out to the CVC YOU pay em back.

Of course with the help of that twisting slimey porno star snake Mosley.

 

The sad truth is, F1 will be going to Abu Dhabi for many seasons to come, and there is nothing us fan can do about it. And im also sure in the many seasons to come we will see more of our favorite F1 classic tracks under threats possibly even being deleted from the calendar.
In 2010 we will have South Korea, which looks like another Tike designed, featureless bore-fess! But at least the local population is big enough and hopefully enthusiastic enough to fill the grandstands.

 

I didnt follow this year, but was the AD grand prix a failure in terms of seats sold ?

 

It was sold out.

 

I fail to see some tangible arguments against the race in Abu Dhabi. It sounds more like the rant of some pompous ass whose classic car race got cancelled and now is walking home crying.

The really dumb part is the comparison with Silverstone, which is abominable as far as its infrastructure is concerned. It has history yes, but not much else. Abu Dhabi doesn't have much history, but any imaginable comfort for the spectators.

I'm not Abu Dhabi's biggest fan, but this article failed to come up with real arguments. Things like the notorious drug controls at immigration and the fact that it is scorching hot. Apart from that, what's not to like?

Do you really care who built it?

Ghost town is true now since they're in the midst of building it all up. But you could go to nearby Dubai where there is tons of great things to do and see.

Besides: It is the only place in the world with a Ferrari theme park.

 

That's the official line.

It wasn't.

 

Sold out is a relative term; a sellout there is 55,000.
To me, that's disappointing for such a global sport....

 

I received a detailed survey about the recent GP this week by E-Mail. I don't know if it was in the works for a while or if it was generated after the recent unpleasant events in the UAE.

 

Very much so and I can't possibly imagine you don't.

It's very existence is a disgrace to humanity.

' If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong ' - Abraham Lincoln

 

There are two discussions regarding Dubai in the business section; with a lot of articles.
I really have no desire to visit there; f1 race; Ferrari theme park or not
the whole place was built on slavery. Granted Dubai is not Abu Dhabi,but I have lost my taste; the track is boring as hell; and a 5 star hotel is not in my budget....

 

I have to agree with most of what the writer is trying to get across.

Abu Dhabi's mega money clean sheet design has turned out to be completely boring for F1 racing (unless you are entertained by buildings that change color, or F1 cars doing 25mph around chicanes)! It also attacted a very small number of the local population, and it failed to sell out a moderately low figure of 50'000 grandstand seats. I attended the race, and the track facilities and attractions for the average spectator where really nothing special. I also have to add, the atmosphere was the worst of any F1 event i have experienced so far.

So to sum up, the track layout is mundane, the race was boring, they could not fill the grandstands as locals are not interested, and the atmosphere was terrible. Would you call this event a big success ?

 

But, Silverstone can put on one hell of a show. And by show, I mean race, not a hotel with funky color changing lights. To me, this year's Abu Dhabi race was a snoozer, so I hope those fans weren't TOO comfortable

I agree with the author of the article about the "sold out" seats. There were a lot of empty seats there, regardless of what the track said about ticket sales.

Thank you, Mubadala.

 

recommended reading.

i must say i don't agree at all with the bit about F1 being international and why aren't there any races in Africa (Africa has little energy resources and is mismanaged politically [they have the potential to rival China as a manufacturing mecca] so they almost deserve to be ignored), and the implication that at best the implication that something is wrong with a world without an F1 race in Africa is indulgent, but still very good reading.

 

http://www.articlebliss.com/article_marketing_videos/v-VKNoJ2BzSRU/sam-kinison-about-world-hunger-1st-letterman-appearance-.html

Substitute "Hunger" for "Racing".

 

Don't be so sure. What is Abu Dhabi's contract with Bernie? How much do they have to pay? The money is going to get tight, and I bet Bernie will not be happy when he is not getting what he is owed.

What has put these places on the schedule is that the local government wants to be on the world's red carpet. But it won't work if they don't have the money to do it.

 

Yes, I really do care.

I think I will pass on a trip to Dubai. A place built by slaves in an attempt to separate westerners from their money. Pass.

If I want to go see Ferrari World, I'll go to Italy.

 

Thanks for your post. Since you have actually been there I value your input a lot more than somebody who has only seen it on TV.

That said, I am actually entertained by buildings that change color. I thought that is an absolutely brilliant idea and a marvel of architecture. As is the whole layout of the artificial harbor.

If no locals visit it, that's even better as it means less crowded grandstands.

I imagine the atmosphere gets better with the years as more of the surroundings will be finished, the 1800 (?) palm trees actually carry leaves and tourists will start to show up. Also next time around the Ferrari theme park will be open.

Been there. Many times. Visited the factory and all the shops. And continue to go there, but: That is not the same.

This is the world's only Ferrari theme park. That by itself makes it a Mecca (pun intended) for Tifosi.

 

Finally got around to reading the article Scott started this thread with today, and then had to laugh when I found this in my email box tonight from Formula1.com.

>8^)
ER
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I find the Abu Dhabi race a lot more interesting than Bahrain. That track has absolute no surrounding whatsoever. Just desert.

 

Well when i go to watch some racing im looking to be entertained by what happens on the track. That building that change color was bit like a Christmas tree with lights that flash, amusing for 5 minutes, but quickly became very annoying.

Why should UAE be granted a race when nobody local is interested in it, when there is a whole host of country's with huge fan bases that are being subbed?

Why should we wait years for the atmosphere to get better (which i doubt it will, just look at the Bahrain race) ? There was an incredible atmosphere at the 1st race in Singapore, the country embraced F1, sold every ticket there was, and set a new standard of how to put on a race ( I was there 08 and 09).

 

I didn't know you were managing money for the Royal Family..

How do you know money is going to get tight? Because they have to support Dubai? $60 billion is chump change these days compared to the hundred of billions of dollars the US spent bailing out banks.

Even Bernie knows how to compromise, look at the Montreal GP.

 

We live in the time of mass tourism, so fans can travel to another country, no big deal. So whether there is a local fan base or not is not really relevant. Look at Hungary, which is a sellout every year. Not because of Hungarians but everybody else traveling there.

What is more important is that there is a cool track, great infrastructure at the trackside and near it for the fans. Also entertainment venues before and after the race matter.

Unlike e.g. Bahrain, the track itself looks a lot more interesting and actually has a ton of things to do nearby (Ferrari theme park, yacht harbor, Dubai).

I once was a believer of city circuits, but my trip to the Valencia GP this year cured me of that. And my friend who went to the Singapore GP this year made the same experience: While these races are convenient because they're in the city already, the tracks themselves are boring, don't allow passing and the view for the spectators is abismal. Monaco is a different case, because it is surrounded by hills and wide open. But the view in Valencia and Singapore is lousy.

 

In most cases a host country may find it more economically beneficial to attract foreign fans than native ones. A visitor will need a bed and meals and...