CHANGE IS COMING... BUT SLOWLY
After visiting the Belgium Grand Prix recently, a few years after visiting a Grand Prix in Germany something became clear to me. Although the cars might be different then a few years back, in principle they (Formula 1) still sell the same kind of show that they have been doing for many years now. The track is still the same and it has not benefited from all these years of 'the pinnacle autosport' visiting their track. And their fan's haven't either. They haven't been able to improve the experience for visitors, and seem to be struggling to keep their head above water. So far the bad news...
But.. change is coming, but (very) slowly. Formula 1 has finally decided to start publishing clips of F1 on YouTube this year (wow, welcome to 2015). And yes, Twitter is also becoming a more regurlay used medium for them, although they are competing with more experienced autosport media channels. Small steps for men, big steps for Formula 1. What might help are the changes and innovations that happen in other racing series. The Formula-e series is treated as a 'minor' series by many at the F1 paddock. 'Let them save the world, we will do the entertainment', they say. But they might be faced with that quote in a few years time, when Formula-e has gained in popularity simply by embracing fans with interactive features like fan-boost, social media channels and simply offer more value for money. Hey.... wasn't that something they were looking for?
And looking at the level of the drivers for the 2015/2016 season of Formula-e versus the Formula 1, it becomes even more clear that for the most talented race drivers you don't have to look at the F1 paddock anymore. Don't get me wrong, there are expections like Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel and Verstappen. But a good example for this comparison this is the Dutch driver Robin Frijns. He was 'rejected' by Formula 1 because he couldn't bring enough money. Although he had won every championship he entered four years in a row. But now, after a very succesfull test in Formula-e, he is signed up by the Andretti team for 2015/2016. And this is not the first talented driver that ends up at Formula-e. My hope is that Formula-e will become very succesfull and become a challenger to Formula 1 in every way. That would be good for the sport, the fans and for innovation.
But.. change is coming, but (very) slowly. Formula 1 has finally decided to start publishing clips of F1 on YouTube this year (wow, welcome to 2015). And yes, Twitter is also becoming a more regurlay used medium for them, although they are competing with more experienced autosport media channels. Small steps for men, big steps for Formula 1. What might help are the changes and innovations that happen in other racing series. The Formula-e series is treated as a 'minor' series by many at the F1 paddock. 'Let them save the world, we will do the entertainment', they say. But they might be faced with that quote in a few years time, when Formula-e has gained in popularity simply by embracing fans with interactive features like fan-boost, social media channels and simply offer more value for money. Hey.... wasn't that something they were looking for?
And looking at the level of the drivers for the 2015/2016 season of Formula-e versus the Formula 1, it becomes even more clear that for the most talented race drivers you don't have to look at the F1 paddock anymore. Don't get me wrong, there are expections like Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel and Verstappen. But a good example for this comparison this is the Dutch driver Robin Frijns. He was 'rejected' by Formula 1 because he couldn't bring enough money. Although he had won every championship he entered four years in a row. But now, after a very succesfull test in Formula-e, he is signed up by the Andretti team for 2015/2016. And this is not the first talented driver that ends up at Formula-e. My hope is that Formula-e will become very succesfull and become a challenger to Formula 1 in every way. That would be good for the sport, the fans and for innovation.