Let's say you were a motor racing loving millio (billio?) naire who's sick of F1.
What are the main three things you would do to maximize the probability that your new racing series could truly compete with F1?
1. Free distribution via multiple easy to access media channels. I'd want free to air TV carrying the series in multiple countries, plus youtube.
2. An annual marketing budget for the series of at least $100 million USD. With very experienced individuals overseeing the effort.
3. A willingness to run the series for a decade while losing massive amounts of money each year.
What other factors do you think would be important?
Better camera work to improve the visual spectacle is key. You want to chose camera angles which show the speed, rather than zooming out to give clear shots of lots of cars circulating. The marketing needs to focus on social media, with plenty of easy to find links and clear info on when and where they can see all the races and other sessions.
Also, tickets for events need to be cheap. I'd look at WEC or Formula E pricing as the guide. F1 is a premium experience, but a start up cannot command those prices. You want packed grandstands. So you want things cheap enough that families can pack them.
Not looking for another "what would you do to improve in F1" thread, but rather, what would you do to "dethrone" F1 as the "premier" open wheel racing series?
The only way to dethrone F1 is to make the alternative series something which the average person considers more important to win. You can't overtake the heritage of F1. So you need to do it by having all the stars, and all the brands. You need to be the "mostest" of something.
Would you try to convince the best drivers to switch series?
Of course. You need the big names to get the public recognition, and have the street cred. You'd need at least the current McLaren drivers, Alonso, Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz, and Hamilton. You also need at least Ferrari, McLaren, and either Mercedes or Aston Martin.
Would you come up with a car formula that had the highest probability of creating close, on-track racing?
There is no point in going for being the fastest. If you want to outdo F1 you need to provide more drama and memorable moments, which means you need better racing. So, to that end, I'd be looking at open-wheel race cars which must fix within a 4.5 metre x 2 metre x 1 metre box, weighing 600kg. I would insist on a spec tub, front and rear suspension, and since this is rivalling F1, a spec gearbox and electronics. The teams can create their own bodywork, but the underbody is spec, and cars much be wind-tunnel tested and matched, with all cars having a downforce/drag ratio of 3:1 with single element front wings of specified dimensions, and a spec rear wing. I don't want teams ruining the racing by trying to spend a ton on aerodynamic development. The entire point is to keep the racing as close as possible and making the points of differentiation quality of preparation, strategy, teamwork, and driving talent. We want to be bigger than F1, so while I would like to do an EV series, for the sake of public engagement, it's got to be 3-litre V10s putting out 750hp on carbon-neutral bio-fuel (the current fuel being supplied to WEC Hypercar teams would be ideal). Spec slick tires of probably F2 dimensions would work great, although I'd probably want the rules worked out so you could either run a race with no stops, or 1-2 stops, with the rough time difference between the two strategies being the same. There will be no DRS, or P2P. Put on your big boy or big girl pants and send it.
Would you create rules that are conducive to better racing?
Indycar blocking rules, and no testing at tracks on the season calendar.
Would you try to attract the most important auto manufacturers to the series?
Of course. If you want the fans, you need brands they've heard of. So I'd be trying to entice, McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes or Aston-Martin, Porsche, VAG, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai, and GM or Ford to the party. Ideally it'd be 12 2-car teams, but If fewer brands are in, 3 car teams can also work.
Is F1 beatable at all as an open-wheel racing series, especially in what appears to be its most popular times?
Yes. People want drama, and DTS was good at providing the human side of the series broad exposure, but if they're watching the races, they want action. They want passing, cool looking cars, and tight battles with multiple protagonists. F1's regular failure to provide that means there is an opening for other forms of the sport to thrive, with enough promotion to make people aware of it.
Or is it just not possible to replace it, so you would focus on creating a championship that attracts other niches such as older audiences who are nostalgic for certain elements of "their era of F1", or would be OK with a spec chapionship?
Would love to hear your inputs. Who knows, maybe Stroll or Norris Sr. take a look and get ideas...
I think that engineering purists would be incredibly offended at the idea of spec chassis and minimal aerodynamic development. I also think that they are not the majority of F1 fans, and most fans would probably happily trade "purity" for regular endings to races similar to the last 20 laps of the Indy 500, rather than the last 20 laps of Monaco. You would also get a lot more casuals joining in to that kind of drama, rather than seeing the best car win.
Edited by juicy sushi, 27 May 2024 - 02:44.