Formula 1 is trying to overhaul the present race weekend format, so as to provide more entertainment to existing fans and to entice more fans to love the sport.
Few of those proposed changes are shorter races, shorter practice sessions and a whole new qualifying system.
Fans have been kept in the loop, as they could come up with a fresh perspective of the sport, something that the authorities might not even have considered.
The sporting director of F1, Steve Nielsen disclosed how F1 is approaching these new rules and how it is trying its best to do everything that it can for the fans.
“There are some fundamental questions being asked, of all of us, as well as fans” Nielsen said.
“For example, we’re asking about what kind of weekend format we should be pursuing; how much free practice should there be; how many races should we have; should there be more than one Formula 1 race on a weekend, what should qualifying be? We have our own ideas but we want to gauge opinion, as many opinions as possible.” he added.
The major problem that F1 is dealing with is about the dwindling viewership and needs to address that at the earliest. The new generation would probably be more in favour of of shorter races and thus that is the path that F1 could go about.
Liberty Media though will have to take proper care of not angering the traditional F1 fans.
“Viewing figures were declining. There has been an improvement but Formula 1 needs to change to engage with a wider audience.
“There are many people under the age of 30 for whom Formula 1 is of little interest. We need to retain the core values of the sport, while at the same time appealing to a younger audience. If we neglect that the sport will be in trouble.
“It is a difficult line to walk but that is what we have to do. Perhaps that does mean shorter race, or slightly less free practice, more sudden-death situations. People engage with sport in a lot of different ways and they don’t necessarily want to give up a Sunday afternoon or a Saturday afternoon to do it. So every idea has to be on the table.” he concluded.
