[drugsprevi]

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.

[paydayloanfasters]

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.

[j2Y6Ysmb]

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.

[RogerButton33]

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!

[vipdumpp]

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.

[Clielldub]

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.

[TineSeign]

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

[HarryMet]

Ferrari chief Luca di Montezemolo calls for Formula 1 revamp - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

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.

[RSAccountssy]

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

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"

[Imagimifouxum]

Its worrying that a man who has been around the sport for so long, could be so so out of touch with what the fans want. I think he should stick to writing the comedy press releases Ferrari put to print. We haven't had a howler for a while.

[monologue]

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.

[michael247]

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.

[lerobudrse]

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 !

[JacksHH]

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/0A...4&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/im...AKeq4UNrye0JcA
A cheerleader (gymnast)
http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images...jpg?1300128556

[Poll Pitt]

DP

[Brewpralgar]

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...

[BeksTeene]

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...

[draigenia]

^^^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'

[Aozozbag]

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.

[tactWeiccaf]

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