Former Formula 1 driver turned pundit Martin Brundle says young spectators will die if F1 is all about sport, not entertainment.
Formula 1 has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years, and the Netflix documentary series Drive to Survive has helped a lot.
F1 then delivered one of its most thrilling seasons to date in 2021, with the epic battle between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton for title glory making the headlines, with the outcome decided on the last lap of the final race. I was.
But Brundle was asked in an interview with GQ Magazine where sport and entertainment meet in F1.
Alongside the sporting side of Formula 1, Abu Dhabi turned out to be a very entertaining show, suggesting that innovations such as drag reduction systems and sprint racing were influencing the order.
“You have to try both,” said Brundle. “But the bottom line is: Are we a sport or are we a pastime?
“If it’s just to watch the sport and who’s the fastest, it’s Wednesday afternoon behind closed doors. There are rules. There are fouls. We need the rules of the game and a referee to watch it. But it’s about entertainment.” That’s where wheel-to-wheel racing comes into play.
“These young drivers bring Formula 1 to life because they are so brave and fearless, ready to race wheel-to-wheel or go around each other. This is because it is very unorthodox.
“So we have to constantly try to improve the show. I think it’s very competitive in the world of sports and the world of entertainment, how are you going to take the kids offline? Or YouTube or gaming? Sit back and watch someone else do it on the edge of the couch?
“Unless it’s thrilling, or a little scary and challenging, why leave an online game and watch someone else have fun? And that’s where F1 needs to be.” If you do, the young audience will die.”
Asked if he acknowledged the way Formula 1 balances the sporting and entertainment aspects, Brundle revealed that he did, saying he had never seen Formula 1 in such a healthy state. explained that there is no
“Yes,” Brundle replied. “Actually, I think it’s the best position I’ve seen in Formula 1. I can say it’s really healthy.
“There are 10 very strong teams on the grid. Now I would like to see 11 or 12.
“There’s no question about it. Drive to Survive has energized an age group. It’s a marketer’s dream. The average age of our audience is down 10 years, and the current demographic is great.” And the mix is just incredible, it’s a marketer’s dream.
“Sold out everywhere we went, corporate business sold out, the grandstand was a blast, everyone was talking about it. Our TV number is up on Sky. To sum it all up, we’re totally flying – we’ve never seen anything like it in our business.”
Formula 1 must provide entertainment to survive
Formula 1 is a very unique sport, but unlike other sports, it doesn’t necessarily keep its audience captivated by itself.
We would all love to see drivers and teams battling at the top of their game in a pure sporting environment, but in this sense 2022 could feel like a disappointment compared to 2021. I understand. dominated the proceedings.
F1 needs extras like DRS, safety cars and sprint races to shake up what feels like a stagnant race.
Many would be in favor of abolishing DRS and sprint races, or not using safety cars and red flags to affect race dynamics.
READ MORE: Helmut Marko says rumors that Max Verstappen could lose the 2021 title are utter nonsense