Comments on: 2010 F1 calendar may have 5 night GPs

By: mmidastouch

mmidastouch — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:23:40 +0000

i think f1 is starting to change not for the better i think they should leave things alone and let people enjoy the sport i love going to the f1 in march im not to sure about the time change because i didnt like it

By: amy

amy — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 22:59:21 +0000

1 night race will be good, 2 might be gos as well but 5 is surely overkill. I dont know how other people feel but I actually like getting up in the early hrs of the morning to watch the races. Bernie should stop making stupid demands and concentrate on what is best, finding the best tracks to go to for the best racing. plain. simple.

By: the limit

the limit — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:23:35 +0000

At the end of the day, we should all wait an see how the race in Singapore pans out. If it is a complete and utter balls up then we will all look like the contestants on Mastermind. If its a rip roaring success, then Bernie’s smile will extend all the way to Java.
Don’t knock it till you try it folks!!!

By: James Steventon

James Steventon — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:24:55 +0000

I believe that night races are a good idea, and in many ways it shows that Bernie realises the importance of the traditional F1 fanbase, which is mostly European. You can look at it from the perspective of the Singapore authorities who have poured millions into holding a race there later this year. After all that investment, all that work, Bernie tells them that the race must be at night to satisfy European audiences. It would be like racing at Silverstone at an odd time to please the ‘primetime’ viewer in China, or Japan. Could you imagine the outcry! The idea of night racing is fine as long as its done right. In America, NASCAR and the IRL series have been racing under the lights for years, and its spectacular to watch. The only concern for me is what happens if it rains, as in Fuji last year? Would not visibility be compromised? That could be a problem. Apart from that, I love the idea because it is different for F1. Why not race at Spa at night, or Monza? It would look awesome and would capture the primetime audiences in every European country. How many people would watch a Champions League game on a Tuesday afternoon? Not many is the answer, because they would be at work. At night, people get the chance to see it. F1 should be the same. You can’t expect millions of people to stay up until 3.00a.m in the morning to watch a grands prix? Thats stupid!

By: James Steventon

James Steventon — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:24:13 +0000

I believe that night races are a good idea, and in many ways it shows that Bernie realises the importance of the traditional F1 fanbase, which is mostly European.
You can look at it from the perspective of the Singapore authorities who have poured millions into holding a race there later this year. After all that investment, all that work, Bernie tells them that the race must be at night to satisfy European
audiences.
It would be like racing at Silverstone at an odd time to please
the ‘primetime’ viewer in China, or Japan. Could you imagine the outcry!
The idea of night racing is fine as long as its done right. In America, NASCAR and the IRL series have been racing under the lights for years, and its spectacular to watch.
The only concern for me is what happens if it rains, as in Fuji last year? Would not visibility be compromised? That could be a problem.
Apart from that, I love the idea because it is different for F1.
Why not race at Spa at night, or Monza? It would look awesome and would capture the primetime audiences in every
European country.
How many people would watch a Champions League game on a Tuesday afternoon? Not many is the answer, because they would be at work. At night, people get the chance to see it.
F1 should be the same.
You can’t expect millions of people to stay up until 3.00a.m in the morning to watch a grands prix? Thats stupid!

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 22:49:55 +0000

KB, I think your basic feeling is to make sure the European races are protected from Bernie’s hatchet. I agree with that, although I believe the A1 ring was slated for demolition the last time I checked. As for your thought on the remaining few races, I think F1 should look to expand into new markets, as should any good business. The problem comes when fans in both the traditional markets and fans coming to the races in new markets suffer from Bernie’s maximum-profit schemes, such as the night racing ideas in some cases perhaps.
Protect the European races without a doubt. But there are also F1 fans in many nations- including myself and many others right here in the United States- who want a GP to attend. I think the bottom line is that expansion can take place in a very positive way, but Bernie obviously refuses to operate in that manner.

By: KB

KB — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:50:04 +0000

I think they should revert to the mainly European calendar and bring tracks like A1, Magny-Cours and San Marino back, that is where the main audience is….its like the Premiership looking to play matches across the world, to increase revenue….but how pleased were the fans to hear that? Hmmm

The rest of the world should squabble over the remaining few races, and leave the good European ones alone!

By: oliver

oliver — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 10:39:10 +0000

Bernie and Max are doing all they can to make F1 not viable economically. Very soon there will be lawsuits and it will all grind to a halt.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 09:39:11 +0000

Might night races actually be better for local audiences in some countries? We all know how hot it is during the Malaysian and Bahrain Grands Prix – perhaps the spectators would rather watch the race at night when it’s cooler and more comfortable to be outside?

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 06:18:02 +0000

fantastic! i am from melb and all of the races will b at night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bernie really doesnt give 2 ***** about anyone else outside europe!
y not have all of the races in europe so they can all actually goto a race instead of taking them away!
i hate that little runt!

By: kaushal

kaushal — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:13:22 +0000

what gonna happen to visibility??
if F1 happens in India in 2010 and thats in monsoon, driver’s won’t be able to see the next 10 metres..

By: William Wilgus

William Wilgus — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:50:46 +0000

If night races were so great, there wouldn’t be any day races.

By: Gman

Gman — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:27:31 +0000

Daniel, you will be pleased to know that I was thinking about Brazil’s wealth of F1 history in the back of my mind while I was typing my earlier reply- I just thought it best to focus on Europe at that moment. It is sad to hear of your GP being under threat in the past and of the high ticket prices. Since i’ve yet to attend my first GP, i’m not sure how much of the price is set by the venue and how much by the F1 brass- perhaps someone who has attended some races, such as Keith or Milos, can provide some insight on that.

I do agree with Keith that the concept of night races is not a bad idea, and see firsthand that the NASCAR races held at night are no less popular than the daytime events. I think the problem most of us have with it is that the concept is being used as a tool to get the biggest profits possible my moving races away from fans in Europe, then milk that audience for advertising dollars so the profit will still be there. All in all, it’s a very, very distasteful way of doing business.

By: Arnet

Arnet — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:59:13 +0000

Well I was going to sum up a few points made, but GeorgeK pretty much did it for me.

The people that Bernie sold out to are on the phone saying "this isn’t what you promised. Go make it more profitable." so he ups the rates of new venues, dumps the ones that can’t pay any longer, and maximizes European audiences by running races at night elsewhere. And stuff the traditional fans.

By: GeorgeK

GeorgeK — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 23:14:24 +0000

But if the car manufacturer’s want to be in "Major markets" who in those major markets will be coming to the races? Regardless of the TV ratings the sport became popular (and I believe still is) due to the thrill of GOING TO THE TRACKS!

With the new owners losing money (or barely breaking even) this is undoubtedly a cash grab to escalate ad rates in TV European markets.

Regardless of all that the inherent dangers of rain in the night and lousy lighting and high speeds is potentially appalling. They may get away with it this year (incident free) but the odds are very low if we have five such events in the future.

By: Sally

Sally — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:45:42 +0000

These comments have pretty much taken the words right out of my mouth! At this rate, Bernie won’t be happy until the entire calendar consists of night races in Asia. It wouldn’t be the World Championship any more, that’s for sure! I saw the night race in Qatar for Moto GP, and I found it a bit weird. Maybe I’m just too used to daytime races, but I didn’t find it any more exciting.

By: Pink Peril

Pink Peril — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:38:15 +0000

Bernie really wants his cake, and to be able to eat it too, doesn’t he?
Greedy little man.

I think he should wait and see how the first night race goes before planning more. He will look pretty silly if something goes wrong.

By: alan

alan — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:37:31 +0000

I have always struggled to accept the rational between the enviroment and F1 and when it comes to night racing being expanded before the first experiment?? – has taken place!! – the man is just driven by money – maybe it’s some sort of trade off for his ego?(freud explains it better)
Racing can not be eco friendly unless it is using wind/solar power – I know that you can see some racing vehicles race at night – smaller tracks with left corners? – sorry I enjoy time differences – it keeps the world big and you can enjoy an early snack/liquid refreshment and watch the best teams try their best to beat one another.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:15:47 +0000

Thanks, Gman!

I can understand what you say… my home nation (Brazil) is perhaps the most traditional, outside Europe, in Formula 1, hosting a Grand Prix since 1973, having three world champions with eight titles among them, and three other race winners, with more than 90 Grand Prix to their names… our fan base is also very very strong, even with the bang of Senna’s death…

With all of this, Brazilian Grand Prix was under threat in the past, and the ticket prices are too high to our average salaries… the cheapest grandstand costs almost US$ 200,00 for qualifying and race day, while the worker’s average monthly earnings in Brazil is US$ 600,00!

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:13:58 +0000

Sorry about this Dan but I’m a history geek… Henry II actually said (of Thomas Becket), "What miserable drones and traitors have I nourished who allow their lord to be treated with such shameful contempt by a low-born cleric?"

I don’t think night racing itself is a bad idea – the night time oval races in American look awesome, especially when the sparks start flying (note to Max Mosley – make everyone use titanium skid plates). I just worry that they’re rushing into it when it’s not been given much testing yet beyond a short session at Indianapolis last year.