F1 re-gaining popularity?

pburns

Just a couple of unscientific indicators -
- a couple of guys I know who had lost interest in the sport knew all about 'liargate' and had followed the races.
- for the second time this fortnight the newsagent downstairs ran out of Autosport mag by Friday afternoon (there were copies there this morning but had no time to get checked out...)

I think all-news-is-good-news and far from making the sport a mockery the whole McLaren issue just adds a bit of soap opera to procedings. Brawns fairytale success and Button's blokish likeability are a plus and last weekend we had impish wonderkid Vettel and Dirty Kate's little sister win a GP. The kid is such a breath of fresh air! His interview (more of a laid-back chat) on the grid with Brundle and DC was cool:cool:!

On top of all that we have the BBC coverage - OK Legard isn't great but we have Brundle and the red button stuff is fantastic and no more Hamilton being shoved down our throats.

To hell with the naysayers - we've never had it so good! Jordan's race wins aside I don't think F1 has been this good since I started watching in 93/94.

I'm luvin it!!!!:D

Oasis44

I was big into F1 from say 1994-2000 but slowly tuned out after that

Main reason for me is that F1 is very little about driver talent and a whole lot about the technical expertise (and budgets) of the teams themselves.

Cant remember the name of it now but the other rival F1 type sport that has all the drivers in the same cars would be much more my cup of tea

Oh and I find Lewis Hamilton and all his hype a complete bore, it really bugs me the way england over hype all their sport stars

bennyx_o

I reckon so, yes. I can't remember when I've been this interested in a season, usually I wouldn't mind missing a race where as now I want to see the race

afatbollix

the main reason most are back is lewis halilton... it was close racing the last 2 years.. a moment everone realised that the shuemarker years are over.. now lets get racing..

the last 2 years it all went down to the last race and only 1 point between the winners..

this year he bbc and brawn story have helped big style.. its great this forum has really kicked it self into life now..


also for me.. rallying is a big bore at the mo.. wrc is like the shuemarker years with loab so im board watching it... The IRC is a great champ exspically with a irish driver at the top... this year ill be heading to a f1 race and 2 irc rounds!!! hopefully...

enzo7

in fairness even my gran knew all about liargate, but do agree f1 is reganing popularity ive been having trouble getting my hands on autosport lately also. ive love f1 for as long as i can rem so ive never lost intrest in it, but my brother who hasnt watched a race since hakkinen retired shocked me the other day when he started talking bout f1 and was making sence. so maybe the whole liergate, button+vettel winning races has sparked a renewed intrest in the sport. which is great:).

G-Money

I really think Vettel is a superstar in the making. He seems to be really quick and I'm betting Mark Webber is a little annoyed that he didn't get Red Bull's first win.

I think one factor Vettel has going for him is that he's just so likeable. Some drivers seem a bit boring, or bland or whatever. Vettel seems like he'd be good craic.

I think it goes without saying that everyone (fan wise) are happy that Brawn are doing so well. Both Button and Barrichello are likeable sods as well which help.

I still think the cars look a wee bit ugly at times. I think front wings that are not as wide might make them look better.

frostie500

enzo7 wrote: »

so maybe the whole liergate, button+vettel winning races has sparked a renewed intrest in the sport. which is great:).

Yeah it seems like the changing of the guard has really brought in a lot of fans or brought them back. Just hope they stay when a consistant order is found

Oblomov

It's suddenly become very open, the Minnows are winning, the big money teams are struggling and every one loves the little guy to win..
Lots of 'new' faces.. and TGB has retired and left it very open.

Oh, the other lot are A1GP.. having a close look this coming weekend..

EvilMonkey

Oblomov wrote: »

It's suddenly become very open, the Minnows are winning, the big money teams are struggling and every one loves the little guy to win..
Lots of 'new' faces.. and TGB has retired and left it very open.

Oh, the other lot are A1GP.. having a close look this coming weekend..

I haven't seen a minnow win this season? Brawn formerly Honda a huge team and Redbull own two teams these are big money teams.

Oblomov

Ohh, the comparison with McL, Ferrari, BMW and Renault both from a cash and personnel basis...

Honda have down sized since Brawn took over. Toyota have made comments of, whilst staying in F1 a rationalisation must take place, Red Bull and Toro Rosso .. do not have the driver line up, the obvious money available for continued research and reliant upon alternative sources for engines...
slightly different from the opulent appearance of the front runners with factory backing.... The continued rumours that if he could both Red Bull and Toro Rosso would be sold.

EvilMonkey

Oblomov wrote: »

Ohh, the comparison with McL, Ferrari, BMW and Renault both from a cash and personnel basis...

Honda have down sized since Brawn took over. Toyota have made comments of, whilst staying in F1 a rationalisation must take place, Red Bull and Toro Rosso .. do not have the driver line up, the obvious money available for continued research and reliant upon alternative sources for engines...
slightly different from the opulent appearance of the front runners with factory backing.... The continued rumours that if he could both Red Bull and Toro Rosso would be sold.

I still wouldn't call them minnows, If Force India were winning yeah.
Anyway its good to see some change at the front, if one or two more could improve then it could get real interesting and maybe we could see a few different teams winning during a season which would be great for f1.

FrostyJack

Ohh, the comparison with McL, Ferrari, BMW and Renault both from a cash and personnel basis

Kinda true but this season with all the budget cuts, curbs on spending and testing, the above teams cannot buy their way out of trouble (or race wins) so the others have over taken them hence we have a grid like we do. As mentioned above they are all massive teams (Red Bull and Brawn) they just got the jump on Ferrari etc (with an illegal mod **cough**).

bluedoor

Like a lot of other people,i loved F1 in the early 00`s but slowly lost interest.as much as i loved him,Schumacher, winning all the time got boring.It needed to be "spiced" up and definitly, what it did`nt need was to move to ITV.I mean Martin Brundell??pity he
Went to BBC
So i found myself watching A1,which is great really.Just pure driver skill(and a good team behind you)...
But lately i`m slowly reverting back to F1.Brawn,Red Bull,and Toyota on poll today,seemed to have put it up to Ferrari and McClaren.Its really opened it all up.And the best thing?I hav`nt heard anyone blowing about Hamilton in ages!!!:rolleyes:

11811

have to say I've started watching it again too after becoming fed up with it two years ago, its much closer now, qualifying for this weekends Gp, and the race itself is proof of this. Also glad its back on BBC, ad breaks and F1 don't mix!

walshb

I used to be a big fan during the Senna, Mansell and Prost era, but then I grew up and realised that it's simply a business with barely anything fairly
competitive. I mean, it's more to do with the worlds best car as opposed
to the best driver.

How can any of these drivers claim to be the best when they are all
in different cars and at times are under orders? Where is the competition
and rivalry in this? I don't get it.