F1 Madness

Tag: alex wurz

  • GPDA 2015 Fan Survey Results – General Overview

    GPDA 2015 Fan Survey Results – General Overview

    The Grand Prix Driver’s Association (GPDA) has released the result of their global Formula 1 fan survey.

    The overall make-up of the global survey revealed that more than 215 000 fans from 194 countries took part in the survey.  “As F1 drivers we share a passion and deep love for our sport with our fans…We want to give every F1 fan the opportunity to share that passion and for us to understand what they really think about us and our sport. We’ve heard the calls for fans to be consulted and this is our initiative to make that a reality,” writes GPDA chairman Alex Wurz.

    The survey ran from the 22nd of May through to the 8th of June 2015 with the top five represented countries listed as the UK, France, USA, Austria and Germany. The prominence of France and Germany is significant if you consider than neither of these countries currently form part of the Formula 1 calendar. It is noteworthy too that the US fans feature high up the list as Formula 1 has invested a great deal to grow its brand here.The Netherlands, Australia, Japan, Italy and Brazil comprised the rest of the top ten countries.

    The demographics of Formula 1 reveal that the average age of F1 fans are between 25 and 44 years old, with their support spanning an average of ten years. Of these fans only 1 in 5 has attended a grand prix in the last twelve months. The survey revealed that the biggest motivating factor are good vantage points, pit lane walkabouts and paddock tours. It seems F1 fans would like to see an approach similar to that NASCAR takes in the US. Here, fans are able to roam around the pitlane and paddock area and in a decidedly more relaxed atmosphere interact with their favourite drivers.

     

     

  • F1 helmet design changes to be banned

    F1 helmet design changes to be banned

    Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, plans to ban any changes to F1 driver helmet designs during the course of the season this year. Drivers will be forced to stick to a single design for the entire season in a bid to make it easier for their fans to identify them on track.

    Unlike the Senna days when a drivers’ helmet design was considered to be part of his appeal, todays’ F1 drivers regularly change helmet designs – some at every race.

    But, according to a report by Autosport, they will now be forced to choose one design and stick to it for the entire F1 season – a decision which was made at a meeting of the F1 Commission on Tuesday. The decision does still need to be ratified by the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council before the start of the season but looks set to go through.

    Sebastian Vettel Monaco Helmet back naked womanSebastian Vettel is well known for switching between designs – often using more than one per grand prix weekend. He however, already made it clear that he intends sticking to his new white helmet design since joining the Ferrari F1 team.

    The race at Monaco has also become well known for drivers bringing one-off novelty designs including diamond encrusted helmets and tributes to former legends. A good few drivers often celebrate milestones in their careers with new helmet designs too, but it seems that none of this will be allowed any longer.

    The prospect of this new rule has created loads of debate on Twitter, Facebook and other social networks with former F1 driver Alex Wurz even saying that the sport is starting to take control over drivers’ individuality.

    Many fans are baffled at the thought of this move, and how it would possibly make the sport more appealing but unfortunately the decision lays entirely with the FIA.

    We will report and updates as and when we receive them.