FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[Jamie]

Source:

http://www.itv.com/f1

Formula 1 drivers will be expected to make themselves more available to fans and the media during grand prix weekends in 2009 after the FIA announced new mandatory measures.

As part of moves to open the sport up to both race-attending spectators and TV audiences, the Formula One Teams’ Association had proposed a number of new initiatives earlier this month – some of which were ratified by the World Motor Sport Council on Tuesday.

All drivers must now attend autograph signing sessions in their respective team’s pit areas on grand prix Fridays.

In addition, the weight of all cars will be published for public consumption after each qualifying session – thus revealing which cars are carrying more, or less fuel, in the crucial Q3 segment.

To improve the media’s access to the sport’s top stars, drivers eliminated before the end of qualifying, and retiring before the end of the race, must be available for interviews on their return to the paddock.

Drivers who finish outside of the top three, and thus not appearing in the FIA press conference, must also be on hand for media requests while teams must make at least one senior spokesperson available for interviews during the race.

And in a further move to simplify aspects of the sport, wet tyres will revert to being referred to as ‘intermediates’ with the extreme-wet rubber to be renamed 'wet'.

The WMSC also announced that teams will be permitted to carry out three one-day young driver training tests between the final race of the season and December 31.

Drivers will be eligible if they have not competed in more than two Formula 1 events or tested an F1 car for more than four days over the previous two years

And while the in-season testing ban and overall mileage restrictions remain in place, teams will be able to conduct eight one-day aerodynamic straight-line tests between January 1 and the end of the season.

Meanwhile, the FIA has ratified the former Honda Racing team’s name change to Brawn GP for the 2009 season.

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Thoughts??

-VB

[EwanM]

These autograph sessions? Paddock pit holders only i'd expect... so it isn't as fan friendly as it seems.
As for interviewing drivers. I can tell it'll be better for the TV companies. Luckily in the UK the tv team have have been very good at getting ahold of teams and drivers for interviews.

[thehitman]

kind of hard to be in Abu Dhabi for the pictures and autographs ... ... seriously though seems appropriate, happens in a lot of sports *shrugs*

[Jamie]

Thing is though on ITV they only shown McLaren & the british drivers which i fount in a way Racist?
As for the Ferrari fans they left us going on You tube?
Maybe BBC will give us interviews with Massa? As all Kimi would say is f*u*c*k off lol
But equal opprotunities are needed
plus 100 quid to see them practice then run round all the pddocks and seel them on e-bay
lolol.....Win win

-VB

[Gaz]

Thing is though on ITV they only shown McLaren & the british drivers which i fount in a way Racist?
As for the Ferrari fans they left us going on You tube?
Maybe BBC will give us interviews with Massa? As all Kimi would say is f*u*c*k off lol
But equal opprotunities are needed
plus 100 quid to see them practice then run round all the pddocks and seel them on e-bay
lolol.....Win win

-VB

So the ITV is racist but you want Kimi to shun the BBC you sure are anti british.

[EwanM]

Thing is though on ITV they only shown McLaren & the british drivers which i fount in a way Racist?
As for the Ferrari fans they left us going on You tube?
Maybe BBC will give us interviews with Massa? As all Kimi would say is f*u*c*k off lol
But equal opprotunities are needed
plus 100 quid to see them practice then run round all the pddocks and seel them on e-bay
lolol.....Win win

-VB

So the ITV is racist but you want Kimi to shun the BBC you sure are anti british.

Look guys, just don't even go into it.

[Jamie]

No. When i was racing in Mazda B my helmet hd the british flag all over it.

So anti British is a little over bord.

U just know Kimi won't speak. Massa will.

-VB

[Jamie]

I think the drivers should be more involved with the fns though? otherwise u will just see them as 1 thing?
The only reason i know Massa is a nice guy is from meeting him myself?
otherwise u would only go on word of mouth???

-VB

[Bulletproof]

Was in Singapore for the first GP there (and my first GP) and all the drivers had to walk right through the "public" (general ticket holder) area on the way to the paddock. Now I don't know whether this is the case at all GPs, but in Singapore you could get right up to the drivers as they walked up to the Paddock entrance.

We got to see most of the drivers and alot of the team bosses really close up, there was a gathering crowd as the weekend progressed and rather alot of pushing and shoving for autographs, but I did get lots of pics close up as they came through and most gave autographs etc.

But Button (who I had been waiting for) didn't sign anything and just said "stop bloody pushing me" as he battled his way to the paddock entrance. Although I didn't hold it against him as by this time the gathering Asian crowd was getting rather boisterous!!!!

[Monzilla]

Any move to make f1 more accesible to the Fans who pay a LOT of dosh in going to a GP is a good one.

[Jensonb]

Was in Singapore for the first GP there (and my first GP) and all the drivers had to walk right through the "public" (general ticket holder) area on the way to the paddock. Now I don't know whether this is the case at all GPs, but in Singapore you could get right up to the drivers as they walked up to the Paddock entrance.

We got to see most of the drivers and alot of the team bosses really close up, there was a gathering crowd as the weekend progressed and rather alot of pushing and shoving for autographs, but I did get lots of pics close up as they came through and most gave autographs etc.

But Button (who I had been waiting for) didn't sign anything and just said "stop bloody pushing me" as he battled his way to the paddock entrance. Although I didn't hold it against him as by this time the gathering Asian crowd was getting rather boisterous!!!!

Yeah, he wasn't in the best of spirits last year either.

[texasmr2]

Any move to make f1 more accesible to the Fans who pay a LOT of dosh in going to a GP is a good one.

Very true and I cannot help but to say fan intervention and easy access to the teams/drivers are a few of the reasons why the NHRA and NASCAR are so successful.

tex

PS,
Remember before you post a negative reply about either series I mentioned as this is about the fans and NOT a racing series debate ok?

[Rivelution]

Any move to make f1 more accesible to the Fans who pay a LOT of dosh in going to a GP is a good one.

Very true and I cannot help but to say fan intervention and easy access to the teams/drivers are a few of the reasons why the NHRA and NASCAR are so successful.

tex

PS,
Remember before you post a negative reply about either series I mentioned as this is about the fans and NOT a racing series debate ok?

All race series in America are like that dude. You have to pay a little extra but I always loiter around the paddock and see the drivers in ALMS, Champ Car, Grand Am, and the NHRA races. I find it surprising how limited the access is in F1, but at least I know now so that when I go to my first F1 race I wont be disappointed.

[texasmr2]

Yah I know most series are like that here I just typed what came to mind first.

[irons_4_ever]

In most other motor raceing they have pit walks and things, i still have neil hodgsons reith, he won at brands in my loft he signed it aswell.

Formula 1 is the penical of its sport and i think this idea is a poor one if im ohnest, there is enough pressure on these drivers without haveing to do autograph sessions.