Montezemolo calls for F1 revamp

[ArrowsFA1]

Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo calls for Formula 1 revamp - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102372)

Luca has some views on F1 costs but this interested me:
Looking at young people, it [the length of races] is too long. Maybe I'm wrong but I think we have to look very carefully what we can do to improve the show of F1. I give you one example, one and a half hours is a long time for young people; maybe it is good instead to have the race in two parts. Maybe it is a mistake, but we have to think of something, we cannot stay always the same.
So "young people", do you agree with Luca? Is your attention span too short to cope with "long" races?

[driveace]

SO he wants races to be shorter!Well look at rallies ,in the seventies rally ran over 3 or 4 days,more or less non stop.We may have had an overnight stop on the RAC at Windermere,but it was popular likes by all including the likes of Mikkola,Blomquist,Waldeguard etc.Now we have 3 day rallies ,the drivers go to bed every night,they do 8 stages a day sometimes,and rallies are now uunpopular,so much so the
That this months GBRally has barely 40 entries.F1 is very popular,and watched by millions because it is a challenge,and a certain duration which is popular ,do we want to see F1 go the way of the WRC ? The only problem I see is that F1 is far too expensive for fans ,there need to be a method where by the fans who cannot afford high spectator prices are catered for with say a standing ticket for say £20 per day

[F1boat]

I personally love disciplines with shorter races, but I don't find the F1 races to be too long. They are OK. Three hours is long, not an hour and a half.

[truefan72]

1. anything this guy says is through the lens of "how can I get Ferrari to dominate?"
2. he is wrong, if anything the races are not long enough, or just right IMO. Monza is going to be over in less than 90 minutes
3. Asking for a cheaper F1 is an age old story and as much as folks may try it will never happen without fundamentally changing the nature of the sport...which would then not make it F1 in my book

[Dave B]

At least he managed to go five minutes without banging on about three cars.

Shorter races: stupid idea.

[Garry Walker]

Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo calls for Formula 1 revamp - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102372)

Luca has some views on F1 costs but this interested me:
So "young people", do you agree with Luca? Is your attention span too short to cope with "long" races?

Luca should stick to something he is good at. Maybe throwing TVs out the window, maybe backstabbing people. But he should keep silent about F1.

[steveaki13]

I am young-ish (26) but I have also watched F1 for around 20 years already, and I think Luca is speaking rubbish.

Monza is slightly too short for me. I would have it as a 60 lap race and forget about the distance rule.

Anyway I love F1 as it was and sometimes is.... so I don't agree

[N4D13]

Of course, we wouldn't do anything other than criticize Monty's opinion, just because we're used to having this kind of races and we wouldn't like it to change. But it's not a surprise that something between 90 and 120 minutes might be a bit too much for casual viewers, specially in these races where pretty much nothing happens. Many people who don't follow F1 much find it boring because the races are too long for them and sometimes everyone is in the same position more or less from the beginning to the end and that is not really entertaining - although I'll concede that hasn't been the case in 2012 so far.

Anyway, I wouldn't be happy to see F1's format changed, but we'll have to admit that it might make races more exciting and entertaining for casual viewers, even if it's crappy for hardcore fans.

[A FONDO]

Provided there are not red flags, recent F1 races are rarely longer than a simple football match! I think they could be even made a bit longer!

[fandango]

I think it's okay to talk about possible changes, though. Anytime anyone makes a suggestion for change there are always so many people who disagree just because they don't want change. They're just suggestions, people, ideas, from the same type of people who invented turbos, safety cars, ground effect, refueling, drive-through penalites etc.

I personally don't like the idea of shorter races, mostly because changing the racing format means severing F1's links with its past. It would be impossible to compare drivers across decades with such changes, and it would just seem like a totally different racing category.

[wedge]

Has LDM heard of a sport called football?

The world's most beautiful game.

At least 90mins, sometimes longer in tournaments.

[steveaki13]

I know there is a case for wanting to pull in casual viewers, but really isn't a sport for the fans of the sport and while welcoming new fans it shouldn't go out of its way to find them.

Don't see the point. Any fans who want to watch F1 but only if its all action all the time need to find a new sport to watch.

It sounds harsh but I dont want 20 minute F1 races and medals or whatever else gets suggested.

LEAVE F1 ALONE.

[Big Ben]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the length of the race. And again with the show... again with the let's make it appealing to the average slow witted spectator. I have a better idea. Why not make another fake race for them... with an awesome script, plenty of passes, engines blowing off and maybe a little side show too... imagine Alonso just ran over Hamilton's someone dear and the race cames where Hamilton has to revenge his poor somebody dear... of course Hamilton has too start dead last because the news of the evil deed made him lose the qualies but the race day comes and he passes everybody, comes close to the red car of his evil enemy... the evil enemy tries of course all sorts of dirty tricks... sprayes oil in hamilton's path, throws dust in his face and so on... but he surpasses all difficulties and passes Alonso and sends him into the barriers. the race is over and on his hospital bed Alonso finds out his wife is having an affair with Hamilton and swears revenge... everything setup for next race.. and the morons will just die for it come.

[steveaki13]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the length of the race. And again with the show... again with the let's make it appealing to the average slow witted spectator. I have a better idea. Why not make another fake race for them... with an awesome script, plenty of passes, engines blowing off and maybe a little side show too... imagine Alonso just ran over Hamilton's someone dear and the race cames where Hamilton has to revenge his poor somebody dear... of course Hamilton has too start dead last because the news of the evil deed made him lose the qualies but the race day comes and he passes everybody, comes close to the red car of his evil enemy... the evil enemy tries of course all sorts of dirty tricks... sprayes oil in hamilton's path, throws dust in his face and so on... but he surpasses all difficulties and passes Alonso and sends him into the barriers. the race is over and on his hospital bed Alonso finds out his wife is having an affair with Hamilton and swears revenge... everything setup for next race.. and the morons will just die for it come.

This gave my a smile. Exactly right.

However the concern is if you were to send it to Bernie. It would be in for next season. :uhoh:

[jarrambide]

I don't think there is anything wrong with the length of the race. And again with the show... again with the let's make it appealing to the average slow witted spectator. I have a better idea. Why not make another fake race for them... with an awesome script, plenty of passes, engines blowing off and maybe a little side show too... imagine Alonso just ran over Hamilton's someone dear and the race cames where Hamilton has to revenge his poor somebody dear... of course Hamilton has too start dead last because the news of the evil deed made him lose the qualies but the race day comes and he passes everybody, comes close to the red car of his evil enemy... the evil enemy tries of course all sorts of dirty tricks... sprayes oil in hamilton's path, throws dust in his face and so on... but he surpasses all difficulties and passes Alonso and sends him into the barriers. the race is over and on his hospital bed Alonso finds out his wife is having an affair with Hamilton and swears revenge... everything setup for next race.. and the morons will just die for it come.

Didn't the japanese do this already in the 60's?, Mach Go Go Go.

[jarrambide]

Of course, we wouldn't do anything other than criticize Monty's opinion, just because we're used to having this kind of races and we wouldn't like it to change. But it's not a surprise that something between 90 and 120 minutes might be a bit too much for casual viewers, specially in these races where pretty much nothing happens. Many people who don't follow F1 much find it boring because the races are too long for them and sometimes everyone is in the same position more or less from the beginning to the end and that is not really entertaining - although I'll concede that hasn't been the case in 2012 so far.

Anyway, I wouldn't be happy to see F1's format changed, but we'll have to admit that it might make races more exciting and entertaining for casual viewers, even if it's crappy for hardcore fans.

I think the big problem is not considering changes, the big problem is his idea of splitting the race into 2 parts, when you read that part, you can't but think he is simply throwing any dumb idea he can think of.

[FIAT1]

When so many people follow and love something for what it is, why experiment with a change that could backfire.

[Rollo]

When I was watching Lauda, Piquet, Prost etc. go around as a wee lad, I would watch races go to two hours. Sometimes there was the possibility that the race might be cut short because of time.

If this statement is true "one and a half hours is a long time for young people" then does this mean to say that when I was 5 and 6 years old, that I had a longer attention span than people of today?

Or is it more correct to suggest that Luca di Montezemolo still thinks he's "young" but is having nanna naps in the afternoon?

[TheFamousEccles]

I think some of you are being a little harsh on ol' Monty. In the quoted exerpt at the top if this thread he says "...Maybe it is a mistake, but we have to think of something, we cannot stay always the same."

In this is the point - F1 is like any other enterprise. It needs to move with the times and keep fresh. I disagree that the Yoof of today are being dissuaded to jump on board, but in many instances I agree that many Yoof have attention spans that make goldfish seem like Zen masters ;) .

He is playing devils advocate here, and he has some form in making things work - look at Ferrari in the mid '70s - an utter basket case. He and Lauda grabbed it by the scruff of the neck and turned it into a championship winning team.

Anyway, I don't necessarily agree with much of his public output, but in this instance I think he has a point.

[Bezza]

Terrible idea.

If F1 is watered down into 2 "sprint" races then thats why I turn off my TV. Not interested.

The "Grand Prix" can not be two races, or a short race, it just is not right, pure and simple.

di Montezemelo should retire, or go and run a team in a different series.

[wedge]

When I was watching Lauda, Piquet, Prost etc. go around as a wee lad, I would watch races go to two hours. Sometimes there was the possibility that the race might be cut short because of time.

Are you sure?

BBC Sunday Grandstand interrupted F1 coverage with horse racing - a good signal for me to play outside for a bit.

[zako85]

The crux of the initiative is this: Let's change the format of races in order to attract more casual viewers, at the expense of F1 enthusiasts. The hope is that far more casual/new viewers will join than the number of enthusiasts who will quit. Such strategies for other types of products (cars, software, etc) usually backfire resulting in the flight of traditional customers without sufficient quantities of replacement customers.

I do feel insulted by the suggestion of dumbing down the sport for the sake of people with no attention span.

[steveaki13]

Terrible idea.

If F1 is watered down into 2 "sprint" races then thats why I turn off my TV. Not interested.

The "Grand Prix" can not be two races, or a short race, it just is not right, pure and simple.

di Montezemelo should retire, or go and run a team in a different series.


Agree


The crux of the initiative is this: Let's change the format of races in order to attract more casual viewers, at the expense of F1 enthusiasts. The hope is that far more casual/new viewers will join than the number of enthusiasts who will quit. Such strategies for other types of products (cars, software, etc) usually backfire resulting in the flight of traditional customers without sufficient quantities of replacement customers.

I do feel insulted by the suggestion of dumbing down the sport for the sake of people with no attention span.


Thats right.

They would soon be in trouble when F1 hit a patch of Ferrari esc Domination and even with "The Show" being used, most casual viewers would not bother watch to see a driver dominating, it would be then they would need F1s passionate and knowledgable viewers and they would be watching endurance racing or something.

[Knock-on]

After reading the article, carefully considering the argument, weighing up the pro's and con's I have come to the reasoned decision that Luca is talking bollox!

[AndyRAC]

The crux of the initiative is this: Let's change the format of races in order to attract more casual viewers, at the expense of F1 enthusiasts. The hope is that far more casual/new viewers will join than the number of enthusiasts who will quit. Such strategies for other types of products (cars, software, etc) usually backfire resulting in the flight of traditional customers without sufficient quantities of replacement customers.

I do feel insulted by the suggestion of dumbing down the sport for the sake of people with no attention span.

As somebody has already said, the WRC actually did this....with dire consequences.

[seb_sh]

I don't think F1 races are too long, altough I wouldn't mind it sometimes if they lasted 15 minutes or so less. That would mean cutting the distance a bit (or making the cars faster :P) but it's ok as it is now.

Having 2 short races isn't a bad thing for a racing series like touring cars but it's not for F1. Has he asked any "young people" about the races length or how does he know?

One thing he said that didn't sound bad to me is races being held at different times for better TV timeslot.

As for the cost cutting, yeah thats a constant theme in F1 but he does have a point about aero development being expensive and of little worth in the real world. Perhaps tightening aero rules and opening up KERS wouldn't be a bad idea.

[Tazio]

As usual Luca is wrong! :arrows: :p
Of course I'm so old that I watch the first three corners (listen with my ear trumpet) and fall fast asleep. :s tareup: :s nore: :wave:

[The Black Knight]

Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo calls for Formula 1 revamp - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102372)

Luca has some views on F1 costs but this interested me:
So "young people", do you agree with Luca? Is your attention span too short to cope with "long" races?

Luca is wrong.

[steveaki13]

As usual Luca is wrong! :arrows: :p
Of course I'm so old that I watch the first three corners (listen with my ear trumpet) and fall fast asleep. :s tareup: :s nore: :wave:


And if you're anything like me, those first three corners have you muttering "That was better in my day" & "F1 is for wimps theses days" & "Put some gravel or a wall there and they wont get away with these mistakes"

[Tazio]

And if you're anything like me, those first three corners have you muttering "That was better in my day" & "F1 is for wimps theses days" & "Put some gravel or a wall there and they wont get away with these mistakes" Ha ha not at all you do know I was being facetious ;) I'm so hard core I refuse to even miss a practice during the season and I'm on PST and PDT GMT -8 and -7 respectively. You know my comment was meant to be a contrast and as silly a generalization that the great entrepreneur Luca di is using to try to pull the wool over the eyes of those of us that actually care for the competition first, and entertainment second. I think it is the nature of the beast. Just as T.V. has brought sporting events to a larger audience, it is also ruining it through commercialism. Tonight I'm going to a College Football game of my alma mater at QUALCOMM Stadium. I could stay home and watch it on TV, but I'm going in person for a few reasons 1) Because it's televised attendance will be down, and for the price of a general admission ticket ($6) `I can sit just about anywhere I want. 2) I don't have to sit through juvenile commercials. 3) I will ride and park my motorcycle at the top of Coryell Pass to avoid paying for parking while getting to incorporate the one mile hike up that steep grade coming out of Mission Valley. 4) I’m will not even have to sit in the front of the student section to be entertained by hot coed cheerleaders with their cute little belly piercings as we are in an extraordinary heat wave and coeds will be scantily attired all up in that place, and largely drunk. :dork: ;)

[emporer_k]

I dont have a problem with the current length of the races, and I certainly wouldnt want to see them shortened.

Althougth potentaially starting races at different times is something that I'd support so long as its done well.

[driveace]

Hold on Doctor ,I am coming with you,sound too good to be true for 6. Dollars and the hot cheerleaders !Yes I am coming too !

[Tazio]

Hold on Doctor ,I am coming with you,sound too good to be true for 6. Dollars and the hot cheerleaders !Yes I am coming too ! Let me qualify it. For starters SDSU is not a great Football Program. Much better in Basketball, Tennis, Soccer, and Women’s Softball. They have to have some kind of sweetheart deal with the Stadium Authority. Here, click on "Price Range":
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0A0048D69FF82D11?artistid=805518&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=8
Actually the tickets start at $5 although those are probably Senior Citizen something I don't qualify for for 7 more years. Plus no handling fee if you buy them at the ticket window the day of the game.
If I actually went down and hung out like for a tailgate party I'm pretty sure I could get tickets for even less. I've made a bit of a science of this and it is not uncommon for people that have corporate packages to just give tickets away. It will cost you about $10 for a single beer. That is silly and a waste of money.
Our Mascot:
https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR93yHWA9a6Bqh6AbOA_qKBWrX9j9eJm i0LoThsAKeq4UNrye0JcA
A cheerleader (gymnast)
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/gallery_images/photos/000/792/596/GYI0063917837_crop_450x500.jpg?1300128556

[Tazio]

DP

[TheFamousEccles]

Mmm, belly piercings.... O, um, this is an F1 forum, innit. ;)

Doc, stop taking easily distracted types like me off topic... It seems the general consensus is that Luca is out of touch. Change is inevitable and to my mind knee-jerk opposition is unproductive.

Anyway, I am sure F1 has bigger issues to deal with, such as remaining relevant for one...

[fandango]

A few weeks ago I watched the Belgian GP in the bar in the campsite where we often go. My family all understand that on race days we go to the beach early, get back early, and have an early lunch so that I can disappear off to watch the race. The guy who runs the bar knows to have the TV on, that I'll make an appearance just before the warm-up lap. I watched the race, this time with a couple of Germans who were obviously life-long fans. They had good senses of humour, mullets and socks with their sandals.
After the first corner crash, which affected a certain red car, half the bar got up and left. Now and again people coming in to get their after-lunch ice-cream or coffee would stop, look at the TV, and ask us

-"And Alonso?".
"Out."
-"S**t!"
"Hamilton too"
-"Oh, good."

Sometimes kids come in, stop, and maybe you can see a future F1 fan in them as they stare at the TV for a while. Maybe not.

So, for many people, F1 is the background noise to Sunday afternoons and it doesn't really interest them. It would be nice to reel them in a bit, get them just a bit more interested. How do you do it, though?
I reckon F1 works well as it is, but maybe it could do something to get more people interested...

[Tazio]

^^^Great post and a very entertaining personal experience.

I reckon F1 works well as it is, but maybe it could do something to get more people interested... Someone please explain to me why it is imperative to force feed the most popular form of motor racing in the world down peoples throats by changing (precisely now) what got it where it is? As much of nerkles I think the powers that be are, the benefit of social media is an excellent barometer as to what the people that are devoted think is proper. Luca's comments are being roundly dismissed, I think that is a good enough indictment of his foresight....Just sayin' ;)

[jarrambide]

A few weeks ago I watched the Belgian GP in the bar in the campsite where we often go. My family all understand that on race days we go to the beach early, get back early, and have an early lunch so that I can disappear off to watch the race. The guy who runs the bar knows to have the TV on, that I'll make an appearance just before the warm-up lap. I watched the race, this time with a couple of Germans who were obviously life-long fans. They had good senses of humour, mullets and socks with their sandals.
After the first corner crash, which affected a certain red car, half the bar got up and left. Now and again people coming in to get their after-lunch ice-cream or coffee would stop, look at the TV, and ask us

-"And Alonso?".
"Out."
-"S**t!"
"Hamilton too"
-"Oh, good."

Sometimes kids come in, stop, and maybe you can see a future F1 fan in them as they stare at the TV for a while. Maybe not.

So, for many people, F1 is the background noise to Sunday afternoons and it doesn't really interest them. It would be nice to reel them in a bit, get them just a bit more interested. How do you do it, though?
I reckon F1 works well as it is, but maybe it could do something to get more people interested...

Not everyone will like and watch F1, because not everyone likes racing, it's not for everyone, I have been living 6 years in the US and I have yet to watch a complete basketball game on TV, I will go to a couple of games and watch them live, but on TV, I just can't, there is nothing they can do, they can make the games shorter, give the players cattle prods to shock each other, I just don't like basketball that much.

Just like the people you mentioned on your post, I will watch a couple of minutes to see how the game/games is/are going, I will ask and check the positions table, and every yer I hope for the local team to have a good season, but I will never be a true fan, not my cup of tea, just like for a lot of people, racing, in any form, color, or shape is not their cup of tea.

[Mark]

They've been talking about shorter races since at least 1994. This is nothing new.

[wedge]

As somebody has already said, the WRC actually did this....with dire consequences.

Kinda the same with FIA GTs, GT3s especially.

Amateur/gentleman drivers aren't idiots. They want better seat time, understand and enjoy the nuances of GT endurance racing.

[steveaki13]

Maybe Luca has joined motorsport forums.

[Tazio]

Wow, somebody has voted YES!! :eek:

Surely a visitor and not a genuine F1 fan?I'm guessing it is the artist formerly using a corner at a racing facility in Imola Italy as his nom de guerre.

[Malbec]

Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo calls for Formula 1 revamp - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102372)

Luca has some views on F1 costs but this interested me:
So "young people", do you agree with Luca? Is your attention span too short to cope with "long" races?

What this tells me is that Ferrari have already finished their 2013 car, put it together and realised the fuel tank is too small, way too small....


So, for many people, F1 is the background noise to Sunday afternoons and it doesn't really interest them. It would be nice to reel them in a bit, get them just a bit more interested. How do you do it, though?
I reckon F1 works well as it is, but maybe it could do something to get more people interested...

I agree.

The problem with F1 is that its very difficult to build up lifelong loyalties to a team other than Ferrari and maybe McLaren and/or Williams as teams come and go. Its not the same as supporting your local football club through thick and thin as F1 teams often don't make it through the thin bits.

On another thread I was bemoaning the failure of F1 to capitalise on opportunities to drag in young kids into the sport but really it works at all ages.

For example, the F1 timing app was great for me to follow a race while I'm out. Last year it was free. This year I was asked to pay something like £12 for the season. This isn't just extortionate, its enough of a rip off to make me very angry and I'm a loyal F1 fan. Heaven knows what the casual fan you describe thinks when they browse through the apps list.

[AndyL]

What this tells me is that Ferrari have already finished their 2013 car, put it together and realised the fuel tank is too small, way too small....


:D That has got to be it!

[Tazio]

:D That has got to be it!
How would Luca know :laugh:

[Don Capps]

They've been talking about shorter races since at least 1994. This is nothing new.

Try about four decades earlier than that for the championship rounds... with the CSI finally doing so beginning with the 1958 season.

When I began to follow racing, events in the CSI world championship for drivers events were a minumum of 500 kms/ three hours in length. They were then whittled down to 300 kms/ two hours as the minimum and then these were then made, roughly, the maximum. At one point the races at Monza were about 75 minutes long, which was rather quick even for the time.

I do not watch many Formula Bernie races these days, rarely more than parts of one or two or maybe even three some years, given that my interest in the series is now almost nil. That said, when I do watch a race it seems more than long enough given the general lack of much happening on the track -- something which could be said for any season since racing began it should be noted. I have always thought that a Grand Prix should be in the 500 km/ three hour range, put a bit of grandeur in the prix. I have also always thought that more is not better, that going beyond a dozen events in a supposedly world championship tends to diminish the product. Similarly, the championship being almost exclusively Eurocentric makes it difficult to take it seriously as a truly "world" championship.

Whether an event is one hour or three hours in length is pretty much irrelevant if you have a mediocre to poor product on the track.

[BDunnell]

The problem with F1 is that its very difficult to build up lifelong loyalties to a team other than Ferrari and maybe McLaren and/or Williams as teams come and go. Its not the same as supporting your local football club through thick and thin as F1 teams often don't make it through the thin bits.

Why is that a problem, though? It wasn't for years, and I don't understand why it should be now.

[wedge]

Why is that a problem, though? It wasn't for years, and I don't understand why it should be now.

Completely agree.

Fans generally are more allied to drivers than teams.

[BDunnell]

Completely agree.

Fans generally are more allied to drivers than teams.

To me, it's a very strange form of 'enthusiasm' (I use the term loosely) to have for F1. And, yes, I include the tifosi in this.