23 replies to this topic

[rolf123]

http://www.autosport...rt.php/id/73746

I think this deserves its own thread seeing as Autosport dedicated a news item to it.


Something that caught my attention is the declaration of fuel loads before the race. I think this is excellent and will finally put an end to the "guess the fuel load" bollocks.

[Montoya1]

With the other crap announced today, F1 exists no more. The drivers are mostly dull when out of the car anyway.

[smartie_f1]

I came here looking for a thread on just this!

Drivers are to be more accessible on GP weekends. That is, being available to sign autographs in the pitlane, in their designated pit box during the first practice day of a GP weekend.

Oh yeah? And just how are the hoi polloi supposed to gain access to said pitlane to meet and greet the drivers? The people who will get these opportunities are those who have already paid for paddock club tickets and get the pitlane walk anyway. Jow Bloggs with a general admission ticket in the back of beyond hasn't a hope in hell.

So really, no change to the status quo.

Drivers are to be more accessible to TV crews after practice/quali and the race. Again they're only stating as a rule what has previously been an agreement.

[jokuvaan]

From their press release:

On the first day of practice all drivers must be available for autograph signing in their designated team space in the pit lane.

Ridiculous to force people to do this pointless name collecting.

All drivers eliminated in qualifying must make themselves available for media interviews immediately after the end of each session. Any driver retiring before the end of the race must make himself available for media interviews after his return to the paddock. All drivers who finish the race outside the top three must make themselves available immediately after the end of the race for media interviews. During the race every team must make at least one senior spokesperson available for interviews by officially accredited TV crews.

Ridiculous... will see some quite funny interviews thats for sure and FIA will look stupid once again.

[alfista]

FIA tries to make brave face after ******* his pants

[rolf123]

I think it's great. No letting the driver "cool off" after an incident in the back of the garage. He must give his thoughts!

[kNt]

Maybe now the drivers get how they could oppose high license fees (--> strike).

[Slartibartfast]

All drivers eliminated in qualifying must make themselves available for media interviews immediately after the end of each session.

Any driver retiring before the end of the race must make himself available for media interviews after his return to the paddock.

All drivers who finish the race outside the top three must make themselves available immediately after the end of the race for media interviews.

"Someone take that oxygen mask off his face, I can't understand his explanation of the crash."

[Blackdog]

Come-back from Max for the superlicence hassles?

[MinT]

I am interested to know if it is the general public that will get access or just the usual monied few.

[F.M.]

Originally posted by jokuvaan
Ridiculous... will see some quite funny interviews thats for sure and FIA will look stupid once again.

GO KIMI

[Spyker MF1]

"Any driver retiring before the end of the race must make himself available for media interviews after his return to the paddock."

So more drivers just going and sitting on their boats at Monaco then or just slowly strolling back to the pits to miss the end of the race by half an hour?

[Welsh]

Excellent news for those lucky enough to get pit passes, but what about the "ordinary" F1 fan?

Personally though, I am not bothered cause I prefer to watch the real stars of the show:

The cars.

[Jambo]

If we are going to know what the fuel loads are why bother having fueled qualifying?

[potmotr]

Originally posted by MinT
I am interested to know if it is the general public that will get access or just the usual monied few.

You've hit the nail on the head.

I reckon the drivers will be open to those who've paid a mega-premium for their Gold or Platinum (or whatever) tickets.

They usually already get a Friday pitlane walk through with those tickets. I guess there'll be a few drivers on hand to sign autographs now. These same privileges will extend to Paddock Club members I'd say.

But the most fun I've ever had at F1 races is paying General Admission, getting there early and getting a great spot.

Don't think I'll have the chance to meet my heroes though.

[mattorgen]

Drivers on hand to sign autographs already in Paddock Club. Surely this new development should be for general public?

[potmotr]

Originally posted by mattorgen
Drivers on hand to sign autographs already in Paddock Club. Surely this new development should be for general public?

Yes, but just how general would that general public be?

Surely you'd have to have a certain level of ticket to get access?

Then again, they could go and set up shop in the merchandising area of each Grand Prix.

I saw Pedro de la Rosa signing autographs at the McLaren stand at Monza in such circumstances a couple of years back.

[smartie_f1]

Originally posted by potmotr


You've hit the nail on the head.

I reckon the drivers will be open to those who've paid a mega-premium for their Gold or Platinum (or whatever) tickets.

They usually already get a Friday pitlane walk through with those tickets. I guess there'll be a few drivers on hand to sign autographs now. These same privileges will extend to Paddock Club members I'd say.

But the most fun I've ever had at F1 races is paying General Admission, getting there early and getting a great spot.

Don't think I'll have the chance to meet my heroes though.

You don't get a pitlane walk with a gold or platinum ticket at silverstone. Monaco, IIRC, you get a pitlane walk on the friday, provided you've got any grandstand race ticket.

I suspect it will only benefit the paddock club members and pass holders as i said above.

I certainly can't believe that the pitlane is going to be open to 90,000-odd people to take a wander past 10 garages, gawking in at the cars and equipments, swamping the drivers and generally making a nuisance of themselves.

again at silverstone, some of the teams do send their test drivers to do Q&A sessions on their stands. In 2006 i was wrongly told it would be montoya on the merc stand. After quali, when everyone was racing to get a seat by the big screen for the football, i was legging it the other way. I was gutted when it turned out to be de la rosa.

Toyota in 2007 had a different driver on their stand each day. They also put a big sign up telling you which driver will appear on which day.

[mattorgen]

I think driver signings should be in merchandising area. I remember that the FIA announced several years ago that it would demand in 2009/2010 that the teams give them the drivers for autographs, interviews etc for period of time each race. So the FIA has had a long time to think about this! Saying that, this doesn't mean that the FIA wont make real balls up of it though. Just look at the budget cap which is lower than the amount won by the winning team in the constructors championship! That is proof that the FIA can make balls ups from anything it chooses.

[Whoosh]

I didn't realise that a grandstand ticket for Silverstone gave you access to the pit lane on a Friday. I thought you had to have a center transfer ticket to get into the middle of the track. Ive been three times in the past and didnt see this mentioned anywhere. Im taking my two sons this year. Anyone know where I can get a center transfer ticket without hospitality???

[Clatter]

Originally posted by Whoosh
I didn't realise that a grandstand ticket for Silverstone gave you access to the pit lane on a Friday. I thought you had to have a center transfer ticket to get into the middle of the track. Ive been three times in the past and didnt see this mentioned anywhere. Im taking my two sons this year. Anyone know where I can get a center transfer ticket without hospitality???

It doesnt. In general the centre section is reserved for corporate guests, so I don't see that this does anything for the average fan.

[tahadar]

am i the only one here who thought that one of the most interesting aspects to the first part of an F1 race was to see who will pit first???

[Clatter]

Originally posted by tahadar
am i the only one here who thought that one of the most interesting aspects to the first part of an F1 race was to see who will pit first???

Probably.

Everyone could more or less guess within a lap or 2 when they would pit anyway. When was the last time there was a real surprise?

[K-One]

Kimi got his own rule