McLaren want more openness in F1 – they should start with their own pit wall
Martin Whitmarsh been banging the drum for more open communication between F1 and its fans:
I think for us to maintain and develop our fanbase we have to make better use of Formula One as an asset. Those of us that are involved in it have not yet done a good enough job to provide the fanbase with the information and insight to the complexities of our sport.
I certainly agree with the sentiment but the fact is McLaren along with Ferrari are one of the teams that are most guilty of putting up barriers between themselves and F1 fans – by not allowing their radio communications to be broadcast.
Mark Webber mentioned last month the reason radio broadcasts are only available from some teams is because some teams refuse to allow their communications to be used. Max Mosley has said the same.
McLaren are one of the teams that encrypt their broadcasts. As I mentioned in my F1 Pitlane column today, this caused them all kinds of problems at the Hungaroring last year.
Whitmarsh went on to say:
We have to overcome some of the delight that the technicians have in this secrecy. Inevitably we are right to try to retain some of this, but we are in the entertainment business and we have to credit our fanbase that they are interested.
I think what F1 has to get better at is providing the proportion of the fanbase that wants it with that extra data and information. Year by year you have to try to create more interest, and the more insight they have, the more they are intrigued, and the more they’re likely to come back next time.
Again this is a fine sentiment and I applaud it. But Whitmarsh should practice what he preaches and make McLaren’s team radio broadcasts open for fans to listen to at the track and on TV – and encourage the other teams that aren’t (which I suspect may only be Ferrari) to do likewise for the good of the sport.
Jean said on 3rd July 2008, 10:06
The titbits of radio communication we get to here , creates more of a conundrum than if we heard nothing at all , therefore it is done for PR show and maybe some of the teams hope the top teams will follow to a point where their race strategy becomes public. I regard conversations between driver and pit during a race as highly strategic , and should be kept private at all times. The excitement for viewers , is (or should be)partly also through trying to guess what strategy the team will decide , at times you may find they do exactly what you had in mind , which makes you feel good. And when they don’t , the results afterwards show what they were trying to achieve anyway , or with all the press conferences thereafter , the stories come out. If that’s allowed , I beg to ask , will teams start to be expected to also divulge their fuel strategies , tyre pressures , brake bias , wing settings , camber settings etc . to afford “better communication” with it’s fans
Oliver said on 3rd July 2008, 11:18
Well if the radios are open no one said they have to speak in English.
Josh J said on 3rd July 2008, 13:15
I couldn’t agree more keith, that’s a mighty fine statement from martin, fine words indeed – but given that they don’t allow any of their communications broadcast, or that they insist on their drivers to have proper haircuts and be clean-shaven is ridiculous. Let’s see if Martin can practice what he preaches.
matthew said on 3rd July 2008, 16:22
In response to Ronald’s post (way back at #9). If I were starting from the pitlane at Monaco in a Ferrari I would, without a doubt listen to “The Wizzard” by Black Sabbath. After that I would probably switch to something a little bit more hypnotic for the duration of the race once I got into a groove maybe Can or Spiritualized with some prime selections from the Stax records catalog peppering the mix to keep me awake.
Sush said on 3rd July 2008, 19:13
Pink Floyd’s The Wall, for Montreal.