34 replies to this topic

[Peter Perfect]

I realised at the weekend after watching the rally and superbikes that I don't actually watch F1 primarily for the racing.


If I want to see close, competitive racing I watch the superbikes/motogp.

If I want to see amazing driving skills I watch WRC.

If I want to see high-tech innovations I watch F1.


So the big question is, what's the main reason you follow F1?

[Earthling]

I watch F1 cuz its the pinnacle of motor cars mostly. I dont like Bikes much, and i hate guys driving on Ovals...and lastly, i prefer lighter and faster open wheel cars than closed ones.

hope that answers ur Q.

[Robbie]

My understanding has always been that F1 drivers are the best. That if you were cheering for a Senna or a Schumacher that it meant that you were cheering for an exceptional talent.

But I'm not sure anymore if that's enough. The sport has become very boring at times over the past, say, 5 years. When it goes exclusively pay per view (eventually all sport with an audience will) I won't be paying. Actually I'll welcome the excuse to start giving up my wasteful interest in the sport.

[AdrianM]

I watch all forms of motorsports - motorbikes, rally etc, and IMO F1 is the pinnacle of motorsport and therefore I watch it and take more interest in it than other catagories

[AMD]

Originally posted by Robbie
When it goes exclusively pay per view (eventually all sport with an audience will) I won't be paying.

the commercial side of F1 is based on massive free TV audience to see the sponsors. The sport provides the sponsors a unique marketing opportunity that would disappear if a promoter wanted to directly profit by asking viewers for direct payment. The massive amount of money flowing into F1 from manufacturers and sponsors would disappear because the pay-per-view audience is so much smaller.

[Beamer]

I watch F1 and WRC. Don't watch the bikes much, somehow it just doesn't grab me, allthough I realize that it is really, really close racing.

I watch WRC mostly because I'm impressed beyond belief by the guts these guys are showing. The speeds they drive on roads I wouldn't dream of gowing over 50 KM/h.

I watch F1 for several reasons:
The display of driver skills, the reaction speed of these guys,
the tactics used (yes even the pitstop overtakes and the MS chops),
the suspence of what new technology they'll come up with,
the 2 weekly schedule, which makes me look forward to the next race the minute the last has finished,
and the (allthough little nowadays) occasional absolutely brilliant overtaking manouvres.

In short, It's the combination of Drivers, Technology and the way the competition is set up.

[Robbie]

Originally posted by AMD

the commercial side of F1 is based on massive free TV audience to see the sponsors. The sport provides the sponsors a unique marketing opportunity that would disappear if a promoter wanted to directly profit by asking viewers for direct payment. The massive amount of money flowing into F1 from manufacturers and sponsors would disappear because the pay-per-view audience is so much smaller.

Yes, I know that what you're saying is the manufacturers' position. We'll see in the future: financial return can be achieved in different ways -- and ppv might be considered. As I said, I hope so!

[Raemius]

Although I try to kid myself and my wife otherwise, I basically like sport. Television coverage of sport has become so much better, more comprehensive and more involving over the last 5 years that some of my choices revolve around the quality of TV coverage rather than the sport itself.

However, I am a motorsport fan primarily, and an F1 one foremost.

If I want close racing/overtaking at the limit I'll World Superbikes.
If I want to be scared witless by an in-car camera I'll watch WRC.

F1?

Difficult to sum up, really.
Little or no overtaking on the track (penalised when there is).
Very few surprises week on week.
Bad guys win, good guys lose (Ahhh!, maybe that's it)

However, I'm still glued.
Baffled.

Next question (make it an easier one, please)

[Andre]

If it has wheels and an engine, I will watch. I'll wake up sunday at 6 am to watch a Motogp race and I'll be awake at 3 am to watch a CART race. But Formula 1 is something special. I grew up watching or reading about the best drivers in the world, the most advanced machines, the most coveted championship. I grew up admiring names like Piquet,Gilles,Prost,Senna. It's something that's already part of my life. More than football, more than any sport.

[Frans]

why?

they brainwashed me to keep watching ..... can't help it, can't stop it.

[The First MH]

Originally posted by Peter Perfect
So the big question is, what's the main reason you follow F1?

Politics! You can't find it anywhere near as bad as in F1...

[Sintra]

I've been watching since I was three. Had a Ronnie Peterson Poster on my wall in the Lotus even without me realising who he was. As a small child at the beach we would be playing with a group of about 10 family kids and friends shooting the crowns of bottles with our fingers on a set out circuit in the sand pretending to be Gilles Villeneuve or Didier Pironi or whoever. I saw as a small child people burn to death in their cars in places like Zandvoort when watching a gp. Gilles accident was the first consious 'death' experience I had, he was my first hero. I had such an incredible hunger for everything F1. Always dreamt about racing, identified with heros like Senna. In the 90's when I was older and had some money I started going to races, started doing karts and who knows, with a litle luck I'll soon be racing. Nah, am too old for serieus **** but there's still a lot to have fun with Read in the gossip magazines all about the princesses of Monaco etc. just because I knew the F1 circus visited the place once a year.
Most people I associate with are F1 lovers or even fanatics...
Anyway I can go on like this, but F1 is simply a part of my life, my memories, associations and even emotions... So I keep watching...

Oooohhh Mannnnn !!!! I need serious help!! Any Shrink around ???

[100cc]

to continue on sintra's post....I've been intersted in f1 since I could hardly speak. One of my first songs that I sung must've been the KEKE song(any finns remember this?)!! Although I was born after he became wdc.

I just love it. Passing is what its supposed to be - challenging. I'm interested in most motorsports, but none of the others on tv get my heart beating like an f1 start.

[the_costello_show]

I guess it is a paradox, really. F1 is the ultimate four-wheeled motorsport. From R&D, sponsorships, drivers, tracks, cars, technology, etc., nothing even comes close to the level of investment that F1 has. But, it is that same high level of investment that has separated the F1 field itself and caused F1 to become much larger than just a series of races.

For me, it is a culmination of all of these that draws my interest.

[AndreasF1]

Sintra hit the nail on the head. I am also tied to F1 since a little kid. I saw my first race in the 70's and can still hear my Dad and his friends yell out the name "Scheckter" after he made a pass at a race. I then collected all the articles about f1 I could find in teen magazines in the mid 80's. My biggest hero when I was a kid was Prost and then I turned to Senna in 1990. I have only missed a handfull of races since 1984 when I started to develop a real interest in the sport. I recall a trip to the Oesterreich ring in Austria where my dad took us behind the pits into the paddock and I met many of the drivers. I have pictures where I am with Lauda, Senna, Prost, Piquet, Berger, Rosberg and all the other heroes from back then. These are memories that will be with me forever. In my basement I know have a framed pictue with my brother, myself and Senna on the wall. The skill associated with F1 drivers amazes me the most, especially in the wet. F1 has always added extra spice to the weekends and that I am thankfull for.

[Zmeej]

First MH

Because I'm a masochist.
(particularly since 1999)

Seriously however, I've watched it since 1978, when my hero Mario Andretti (one of my first conscious TV sports memories was watching him win the Indy 500 in 68) joined the circuit.

Oddly enough for a Canadian, therefore, Gilles didn't join my pantheon until many years after he died (sorry Mtl'78), even though the fact that he won the first GP in Montreal was cool (I guess I was too mentally busy with Mario and hockey's Canadiens).

Also, as the good friend who taught me much about F1 said: "Cheering for Ferrari is kinda like cheering for the Yankees." For some reason, have always thought the equation Canadiens = Yankees was blasphemy (i.e. God and Satan might both be powerful, but to equate them is ... )

My interest in CART/Indy series has waxed and waned, depending on the presence of personalities/forces like Mario, Jacques and Zanardi.

Went to a stock car Saturday once, and it was entertaining enough, but for me NASCAR is kinda monotonous.

Also subscribe to the "same cracker wins every time" theory. The folks have great accents, but it all kinda reminds me of a Klan rally. As we know from Hunter S., George Wallace boosted his electoral strength in '72 by mugging with Richard Petty at the Daytona 500.;)

Used to go to live Supercross in the 70s-early 80s, but my yen for motorcycles has dimmed. I've never been able to get into the psychotic exposure to danger that is GP bike racing (forgive me, HST).

[ehagar]

Tradition more than anything else. Other reasons....

I consider it the pinnicle of automotive engineering, and being an engineer that interests me. So I consider Racetech and Piola's drawings automotive porn (and they don't have Jordan girls draped all over them...)

However, I don't consider F-1 drivers the best drivers in the world. Among the best surely, but I think you need more than talent to get a chance these days.

The racing itself is a mixed bag. Sometimes its good (so far its been pretty watchable), sometimes it is awfully boring. I generally prefer bike racing because it rarely disappoints.

[MONTOYASPEED]

Because F1 is THE best.

[logic]

Because F1 is fo funny
When somthing happens in F1, it can be very little thing for example driver says something. Every thing is found on web and the I go to first my primary forum and then here which is secondary forum and I found that people are already fighting about it

I watch F1 because of discussion forums ;) No other sport have such a big internet community, or what?

No, not really. That's not the reason. I started to watch because Mika was winning races and now I can't get out of this

[X-ray]

I watch because I like the way the wheels to round 'n round...

[troyf1]

Because I was totally fascinated by it when I first watched it as a child and still continue to be fascinated by it as an adult.........or to put it this way it's kind of like Pizza......even when it's bad it's still pretty damn good.........

[fifi]

i watch it coz there is **** all else to watch on a Sunday

[metz]

Originally posted by fifi
i watch it coz there is **** all else to watch on a Sunday

Yes What else you gona do at 7am on a Sunday????

[Zmeej]

Sleep!

Then again, it's a good reason to wake up...

[MONTOYASPEED]

Originally posted by metz
Yes What else you gona do at 7am on a Sunday????

She lives in Europe... races are not at 7 am.

[metz]

I was talking about you and I

[tania_walesuk]

The reason I started to watch F1 is simply because my partner loves watching F1 and has followed it for the best part of 20years, so instead of being parted from him I watched it as well in which resulted me in really enjoying it and looking forward to the next race,... and staying up late or getting up really early for the races...So that is the reason why I Watch F1 and yes I wont miss a single race now !!..and I'm really into it theres no stopping now !!

[Pets22]

Following it for years, can't imagine life without it, my reason for living - there is nothing else that really matters than the damn race every two weeks. God Bless F1

[Locai]

I watch it for the technology and because of all the behind-the-scenes intrigue.

Originally posted by AMD

the commercial side of F1 is based on massive free TV audience to see the sponsors. The sport provides the sponsors a unique marketing opportunity that would disappear if a promoter wanted to directly profit by asking viewers for direct payment. The massive amount of money flowing into F1 from manufacturers and sponsors would disappear because the pay-per-view audience is so much smaller.

I agree.

F1 and all motorsports can only survive on free TV. They cannot survive on pay-per-view. The reason is right on the side of the car -- sponsors. In no form of top motorsport that I am aware of is it finacially feasible to compete just off of the prize money. They must have sponsorship money.

Sponsors want to get their logo and name in front of as many people as possible. That, obviously, means that the races must be available to as many people as possible. There are too many casual (and poor) fans that would not pay to see races, not to mention too many wives that would never let their husbands spend the money to get it. Therefore, not enough money could be raised from PPV to offset the loss of all of the sponsors.

This is the whole reason that the automakers are threatening to break away. They want to gain more control so that they can ensure that F1 will remain free to see.

[F1Johnny]

So hard to say. In 1989, I got hooked on watching racing, any type of racing and knew al the names but never really pinned down a series to follow. I thought initially it was the GTP Sportscars but then I saw Senna and Prost at Suzuka 1989 and I have never looked back.

It is in your blood. The driver personalities and rivalries add to the spectacle. But the most important aspect is seeing the skill of these guys, the technical innovations and the speed, the braking and cornering constantly improving year after year.

I live for it.

[lateralforce]

Maybe ppl of my age watch F1, or rather started watching F1 because of that dark weekend in Imola, 1994. And for Malaysians in general, I think mostly it's because of the Sepang sirkwee, Minardi, Sauber...

[TAB666]

I just like everything about F1. The testing between races , the new cars , the technology , the BB's the races , everything !!

But the best racing on the earth is motogp , Go Rossi !!

[Punisher6]

Besides all of the other mentioned reasons, I have to believe that the biggest thing that keeps me glued is the exposure. I mean it's a brilliant little world that is this F1 thing. I'm not sure what the reason is, if it was all a master stroke from Bernie or if it just kind of happened. The British and world press have made it a soap opera! Not so much for the drama and stories, but because there are hundreds of stories about F1 every week or hell, even some days. It's so rapid fire and just like they say the "F1 Circus", I can read 4 websites a day and read tons of stories about my favorite teams and drivers everyday, I love it! It's so easy to get sucked in

[OssieFan]

I watch F1 because I still enjoy it, I still get butterflies in the stomach before each start. I don't consider the races boring, there's always something going on that I find interesting and now with Mark Webber racing I have an extra interest. There's also the fact that it's still the pinnacle of motor racing, it's still the same championship that all the greats have raced in and won (even though it has changed quite a bit over the years).

I love motor racing in general but nothing excites me or gets my interest more than F1.

[jhodges]

I am just in awe of the whole thing:

The butterflies at the start, the nerves I have watching qualifying, the technical achievement each car represents, the politicking behind the scenes, the Noise (glorious!), the history, the tradition, but most of all the Red Cars from Maranello....never would've cared otherwise. But I've been a fan for nearly 15 years and I still find the gap between the last race and the first of a new season a desolate time.

Just love it. Can't help it!