Discussion
Is it just me, or is everyone else getting fed up with the new world venues and their ability to put on races simply because the government want to promote the country.
Coupled with the facts that most of these counties (you could argue that there are at least 5 on this years calendar and at least two which have fallen by the wayside in the last couple of years) have terrible human rights records, everyone associated with the event just say how great the countries are.
Are we really that stupid that we believe Lewis Hamilton when stands up and says Russia is a great place that he loves, when pretty much every democratic government in the world says they were responsible for the Malaysian Airlines tragedy?
Sport and politics shouldn't mix, but the fact that the politicians from these countries pay for the sport we love to race there surely means they are indelibly linked.
Coupled with the facts that most of these counties (you could argue that there are at least 5 on this years calendar and at least two which have fallen by the wayside in the last couple of years) have terrible human rights records, everyone associated with the event just say how great the countries are.
Are we really that stupid that we believe Lewis Hamilton when stands up and says Russia is a great place that he loves, when pretty much every democratic government in the world says they were responsible for the Malaysian Airlines tragedy?
Sport and politics shouldn't mix, but the fact that the politicians from these countries pay for the sport we love to race there surely means they are indelibly linked.
F1 doesnt do politics...but Putin gets loads of airtime arriving at the end, gets to walk into the drivers room after the race and is on the podium.
Oh, and all drivers shall line up and respect the anthem which also denies the viewers the on grid interviews (albeit with a SUPERB Brundle piece to camera instead).
Id get fed up...but its F1, what are you going to do?!
Oh, and all drivers shall line up and respect the anthem which also denies the viewers the on grid interviews (albeit with a SUPERB Brundle piece to camera instead).
Id get fed up...but its F1, what are you going to do?!
slf2012 said:
Is it just me, or is everyone else getting fed up with the new world venues and their ability to put on races simply because the government want to promote the country.
Coupled with the facts that most of these counties (you could argue that there are at least 5 on this years calendar and at least two which have fallen by the wayside in the last couple of years) have terrible human rights records, everyone associated with the event just say how great the countries are.
Are we really that stupid that we believe Lewis Hamilton when stands up and says Russia is a great place that he loves, when pretty much every democratic government in the world says they were responsible for the Malaysian Airlines tragedy?
Sport and politics shouldn't mix, but the fact that the politicians from these countries pay for the sport we love to race there surely means they are indelibly linked.
You seem to be confusing governments with people.Coupled with the facts that most of these counties (you could argue that there are at least 5 on this years calendar and at least two which have fallen by the wayside in the last couple of years) have terrible human rights records, everyone associated with the event just say how great the countries are.
Are we really that stupid that we believe Lewis Hamilton when stands up and says Russia is a great place that he loves, when pretty much every democratic government in the world says they were responsible for the Malaysian Airlines tragedy?
Sport and politics shouldn't mix, but the fact that the politicians from these countries pay for the sport we love to race there surely means they are indelibly linked.
mistakenplane said:
F1 doesnt do politics...but Putin gets loads of airtime arriving at the end, gets to walk into the drivers room after the race and is on the podium.
Oh, and all drivers shall line up and respect the anthem which also denies the viewers the on grid interviews (albeit with a SUPERB Brundle piece to camera instead).
Id get fed up...but its F1, what are you going to do?!
Cheapskate that I am, I watched on the BBC - what was the gist of the Brundle piece?Oh, and all drivers shall line up and respect the anthem which also denies the viewers the on grid interviews (albeit with a SUPERB Brundle piece to camera instead).
Id get fed up...but its F1, what are you going to do?!
Europa1 said:
Cheapskate that I am, I watched on the BBC - what was the gist of the Brundle piece?
The reality of tributes on the grid, an honest assessment that he saw fear in young drivers faces at Monaco in 1994 and said "Im going to beat you today", as well as a real lack of interest in the drivers not being available.It's all down to the poison dwarf.
He was actually interviewed by Sky over the Russian GP weekend and rolled out his old line about the traditional circuits needing to catch up with the modern commercial realities. Or in other words write even bigger cheques to Mr B Ecclescake - because that's what <insert tin-pot dictatorship> are willing to do because they understand the value of F1.
It's not about breaking the sport out of it's comfortable European home and letting the whole world have it's fair share, it's about who's willing to throw the most cash as F1 management - and that's not democratic countries who understand a couple of million of tax payers money is better spent on education/the NHS/etc than a minority sport.
Here's to the 2016 Islamic State GP
He was actually interviewed by Sky over the Russian GP weekend and rolled out his old line about the traditional circuits needing to catch up with the modern commercial realities. Or in other words write even bigger cheques to Mr B Ecclescake - because that's what <insert tin-pot dictatorship> are willing to do because they understand the value of F1.
It's not about breaking the sport out of it's comfortable European home and letting the whole world have it's fair share, it's about who's willing to throw the most cash as F1 management - and that's not democratic countries who understand a couple of million of tax payers money is better spent on education/the NHS/etc than a minority sport.
Here's to the 2016 Islamic State GP
//j17 said:
It's not about breaking the sport out of it's comfortable European home and letting the whole world have it's fair share, it's about who's willing to throw the most cash as F1 management - and that's not democratic countries who understand a couple of million of tax payers money is better spent on education/the NHS/etc than a minority sport.
Here's to the 2016 Islamic State GP
Ouch!!! Here's to the 2016 Islamic State GP
Don't think you can really call Russia a "new world" venue.
It was marred by the tyre choice, but you cannot blame Pirelli for that choice given the information they had at the time.
If you'd bothered to watch the GP2 and GP3 races you'd have seen some pretty good racing going on.
Back to the ticket issue, I can't find exact prices but German tickets in 2013 for general access were £85, this year a grandstand seat started at £100 - yet the place was half full.
Silverstone was more expensive and much busier (albeit not a sell out).
So whats the issue there ? you'll pay £100 to see a football match, the GP ticket gives you all the support races too.
Bernie and CVC are partly to blame but I don't think they are all to blame. Everyone in the industry needs to realise they are all a little at fault. For example Merc will pay the FIA well over $4m to enter F1 next year. The teams themselves will fight bitterly for every last penny they can get.
I don't really think the globalisation of F1 is a problem. Will we complain about a return to Mexico, South Africa or Argentina ?
It was marred by the tyre choice, but you cannot blame Pirelli for that choice given the information they had at the time.
If you'd bothered to watch the GP2 and GP3 races you'd have seen some pretty good racing going on.
Back to the ticket issue, I can't find exact prices but German tickets in 2013 for general access were £85, this year a grandstand seat started at £100 - yet the place was half full.
Silverstone was more expensive and much busier (albeit not a sell out).
So whats the issue there ? you'll pay £100 to see a football match, the GP ticket gives you all the support races too.
Bernie and CVC are partly to blame but I don't think they are all to blame. Everyone in the industry needs to realise they are all a little at fault. For example Merc will pay the FIA well over $4m to enter F1 next year. The teams themselves will fight bitterly for every last penny they can get.
I don't really think the globalisation of F1 is a problem. Will we complain about a return to Mexico, South Africa or Argentina ?
Think what the OP was getting at, is , after what happened in Ukraine VERY recently (in fact is STILL happening) + the slightly more "international" spectre of Russian sponsored Hillbillies shooting down a civilian airliner . . .should we (as a sport) actually BE there ? giving yer lovely Uncle Vlad a worldwide photo opportunity to show what a "good guy" he is.
Loved F1 since I was old enough to say "car", and in those days there was very little TV coverage to fuel it, however, I read everything that I could find, devoured Autosport aged 12 (and I am talking a 12 yr old in 1970, not one of todays "streetwise Dudes" )
Nonetheless, I feel the same about yesterday as I felt about Bahrain a couple of years ago . . . should have been pulled, no doubt, there has to be (even in this "monied" sport) some basic level of human decency/empathy.
As a sport we gave credibility to a regime that has invaded a European nation (only "partially by the back door" ) WRONG WRONG WRONG in every sense.
Loved F1 since I was old enough to say "car", and in those days there was very little TV coverage to fuel it, however, I read everything that I could find, devoured Autosport aged 12 (and I am talking a 12 yr old in 1970, not one of todays "streetwise Dudes" )
Nonetheless, I feel the same about yesterday as I felt about Bahrain a couple of years ago . . . should have been pulled, no doubt, there has to be (even in this "monied" sport) some basic level of human decency/empathy.
As a sport we gave credibility to a regime that has invaded a European nation (only "partially by the back door" ) WRONG WRONG WRONG in every sense.
I think people are reading way too much in to this.
There was no "good guy" photo op. The TV companies barely mentioned him. In fact on Saturday Sky took the piss noting that Putin's car parking spot had been removed and replaced with one for Bernie.
Political display ? the leader of a country shaking hands with a couple of drivers ? crikey, stop the press. Hardly earth shattering is it.
If you looked at twitter or a few forums the entire weekend people were taking the mickey out of Putin for the frankly bizarre t-shirts of him in a race suit, there was even a photoshop of him taking the chequered flag bare chested sat on the back of a bear.
If we want to get indignant about humans rights there are plenty of countries that have skeletons in the closet.
There was no "good guy" photo op. The TV companies barely mentioned him. In fact on Saturday Sky took the piss noting that Putin's car parking spot had been removed and replaced with one for Bernie.
Political display ? the leader of a country shaking hands with a couple of drivers ? crikey, stop the press. Hardly earth shattering is it.
If you looked at twitter or a few forums the entire weekend people were taking the mickey out of Putin for the frankly bizarre t-shirts of him in a race suit, there was even a photoshop of him taking the chequered flag bare chested sat on the back of a bear.
If we want to get indignant about humans rights there are plenty of countries that have skeletons in the closet.
Lewis got a great bit of "street creed" in my book . . . completely "blanked" him when he arrived in the "post race" coming together in the little office they visit to wipe the sweat/don the caps , until forced to by protocol. Yep, he did the old Ruskie on the podium, but that was more for the Russian fans than Vlad . . . . . Classy Cold Shouldering in my book. 
Crafty_ said:
I don't really think the globalisation of F1 is a problem. Will we complain about a return to Mexico, South Africa or Argentina ?
The problem is you have countries willing to throw millions at having an F1 race and THEN building a circuit. As a result you tend to get either yet another boring street circuit or Tilker's scalectrics set comes out and he put the same set of bends and straits together in a slightly order and dumps it in a flat field.I'd be quite happy to see F1 return to South Africa at Kyalami, but what are the odds it would end up being a temporary street circuit in somewhere like Cape Town?
Edited by //j17 on Tuesday 14th October 09:32
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