February 2014

            Formula 1 drivers think that the new generation of cars are too slow at the moment, even if they are still hugely challenging to drive. The first experience of the turbo V6 machines at Jerez last week showed that although the new engines are still delivering plenty of horsepower, they are lacking in cornering speed. The best lap time of the test set by Kevin Magnussen was eight seconds off the best ever lap time set in testing at the Spanish track by Michael Schumacher back in 2004. That speed deficit has left a number of drivers worried that F1 has lost some of its sparkle. Sauber’s Adrian Sutil said: “We have lost downforce, around 20-30% from last year, and now also the tyres are one step harder. It makes it more difficult all the time. It is a shame because F1 is a bit too slow at the moment. From the engine side it is very powerful, so we are not down on the power side, it is nice to drive and nice to have a turbocharger. But from the aerodynamics, I think we have to step up a little bit, because F1 should also be quick in the corners. And the tyres are just too hard. I don’t understand why they have to be so conservative. I think we can at least have a tyre with decent grip situation.”             Fernando Alonso reckoned that the slower speeds meant the new 2014 cars were less of a physical challenge to drive, but denied they were boring. “It’s not the same from a physical point of view,” he said. “These cars are easier than Formula 1 has been. The forces and speed are less in the corners, but on the other hand there are more parameters to control, more buttons on the steering wheel. There is more criticality in terms of driving and having control of the car in high-speed corners and with traction. It’s just different. I’ve driven karts that are half a minute slower than F1 and I still sweated and enjoyed driving. As long as you are driving at the limit, the lap time you do, it doesn’t change the emotional point of view. This car is still fun to drive.”             Williams driver Felipe Massa admitted that the lower speed was noticeable in the cockpit, but suggested that because the cars are so tricky, the driving is still exciting.  “The car is much slower than last year,” explained the Brazilian. “When you drive on the limit you’re trying to use everything from the car, so when the car is difficult to drive it doesn’t feel so slow, it feels difficult. But when it’s easy and grippy, to drive it feels slow even if you have a much quicker lap time.” Sutil thinks, however, that the situation would improve dramatically over the course of the campaign so things would be much better in 2015. “I think you have seen over many years with new regulations from the car, that once it gets going, they pick up seconds every months or two months as the car improves,” he said. “So I expect at least four seconds between the end of the season and to the new car for 2015. There will be a huge step and hopefully F1 will be fast enough again.” Source: Autosport

            Sebastian Vettel’s total domination of Formula 1 last year has been singled out as a major factor in the sport’s television audiences plunging 10 per cent. In the official 2013 Global Media Report published by F1’s commercial rights owners, it confirmed a 50 million fall in worldwide viewing figures. Its data shows that there were 450 million viewers worldwide for F1 last year, down from just more than half a billion in 2012. The figure from 2011 was 515 million. In his introduction to the document, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has no doubts as to why television stations struggled to keep viewers. “Last season our global audience was 450 million viewers, a decrease compared to 2012, although not an unexpected one,” he wrote. “The less-than-competitive nature of the final few rounds, culminating in the championship being decided ahead of the races in the USA and Brazil, events which often bring substantial audiences, had a predictable impact on reach. The overall effect was exaggerated further still when you consider that the calendar was one race shorter in 2013.”             Although some major markets – including China and France – showed a dramatic fall in audiences, last year was not all bad news. The United States, the United Kingdom and Italy all delivered increases in audiences. Ecclestone also reckoned that 2014 would help rekindle interest in F1, with the arrival of new turbo engines set to deliver more exciting racing. “It is timely developments like these that keep Formula 1 at the forefront of sustainable and relevant technology,” explained Ecclestone. “One thing I am sure of is that this coming season will not only offer a heightened level of unpredictability but renewed excitement and fierce competition.” The decline in television audiences was believed to have been a major motivating force in Ecclestone pushing hard for the much criticised double points rule that is coming into force for the final race of 2014. HOW THE COUNTRIES STACKED UP Formula 1’s annual Global Media Report offers detailed analysis of each of the individual markets where the sport is broadcast. While a majority of nations endured a drop in audience figures in 2013, some countries did enjoy a boost in viewership. The figures also reveal that market share that F1 enjoys in each of its markets, based on the entire television viewership for each country. THE WINNERS                                                UNITED STATES – F1’s biggest audience increase was in the USA, with an 18% jump in viewership following the switch to NBC and NBC Sport. There were 11.4 million viewers in total (4% market share) UNITED KINGDOM – Despite there being one race less, UK audiences watching on Sky and BBC were up 2% with just more than 29 million viewers in 2013. (48% market share) ITALY – Enjoyed a slight increase in viewership to 35.8 million viewers as the result of dramatic expansion of race coverage on SKY Italia and RAI. (62% market share) THE LOSERS                                                    FRANCE – Dropped from around 27m viewers to 10m following switch to pay TV channel CANAL+ (18% market share) GERMANY – Lost a 10 percent market share with 31 million viewers watching on RTL and Sky Germany (42% market share) POLAND – The absence of Robert Kubica from F1 has not led to a dramatic switch-off in fans, with viewers shrinking from 12 million in 2012 to 9.6 million last year. (26% market share) SPAIN – Viewership was down only slightly at 30.2 million, which is encouraging considering there was one less home race last year than 2012. (70% market share) BRAZIL – Brazil has the largest single nation audience for Formula 1 with 77 million viewers watching last year, although this was 5 per cent down on 2012. (41% market share) CHINA – A move away from state broadcaster CCTV to a host of regional broadcasters led to a dramatic drop in audience figures. Just 19 million viewers tuned in last year, around 30 million less than 2012. (1% market share) JAPAN – F1’s audience figure dropped just 2 million, which taking into account the shortened calendar shows the viewership is holding up (23% market share) RUSSIA – Audience figures dropped 10 per cent to 12.3 million as coverage was shared on Rossiya 2 and RTR Sport. (10% market share) Source: Autosport