Ferrari: Reflective thoughts on Valencia and F1’s DNA
February 5, 2010 by Negative Camber
Filed under Parc Fermé, Prime & Option
Ferrari have offered a brief opinion piece on the recent test at Valencia. Nothing major or important to report but I did find it interesting that they took the time to reflect on the test and what it may have meant for F1. I, like many, watched from afar as the teams unveiled their cars and set about testing them for the 2010 season. There were many reasons to be excited and I will let teh Ferrari piece explain those reason but I was impressed by the numbers…so was Ferrari:
Maranello, 4 February – Not long ago, Formula 1 was seen as done for and in decline. During 2009, all sorts of extraordinary measures were invoked to try and save it from disappearing completely. Judging by some figures relating to the recent three day test in Valencia, our sport would seem to be in pretty rude health. The press room was packed with around three hundred journalists, photographers and TV crews and the grandstands accommodated no less than 56,000 spectators, despite it taking place on weekdays, with 36,000 yesterday alone. It was such a big crowd that the exit off the Valencia – Madrid A3 motorway saw queues more typical of a summer break weekend.
These numbers are very significant, testifying to the enormous enthusiasm that, despite everything, Formula 1 continues to generate. Okay, it has to be said that the “Ricardo Tormo” circuit was hosting seven new cars making their debuts and at some point or other, no less than four world champions were in action. Added to that was the return of Michael Schumacher, but the main attraction was undoubtedly, Fernando Alonso’s first official appearance in red. This is what the fans want to see: the big name teams and drivers going head to head on track, with different cars to look at, all revealing the latest technical innovations. These are the elements that make up the DNA of Formula 1 and that is something that should never change.
As I watched reporters and press agents cover the event, I was keen to see the pictures, comments and near-live Tweets from Twitter accounts of F1 journalists from all walks. I was particularly intrigued by Edd Straw’s comments, via Twitter, regarding the crowd on the third day. I asked him if he had any idea of a number for attendance and Mr. Straw took the time to reply (thank you Edd) that it was rumored to be over 20,000 and from his vantage point, that was not unrealistic.
After the dust had settled, most news outlets have it close to or over 30,000. It was in Spain and the hometown hero, Fernando Alonso, was testing a Ferrari for the first time. Like the Spanish fans, I am excited about the start of this season. More so than I was last year. I had written an ill-mannered story (that’s just me…I’ve been writing ill-mannered stories and emails all week) on the grumpy nature of some folks in the F1 industry about the upcoming season and how they seem intent on sucking the oxygen out of the room. What ever the reason, I choose to ignore it because I think this year might be fun for a change.
Ferrari’s piece is nothing major folks. I t has no breaking news or controversy or technical merit. It is just a simple reminder that f1 enthralls us. It is a simple call to arms for fans of F1 to remember that no matter how jaded you may be whether journalist or fan or team employee–F1 has a terrific DNA and we should never lose that. Now, how does everyone feel about changing the points and short-cuts?
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We all know that they should stop trying to over-fix things and that the sport is fine as it is. But i have to disagree with this statement: “Ferrari’s piece is nothing major folks. I t has no breaking news or controversy or technical merit. It is just a simple reminder that f1 enthralls us.”
That statement would have been true if Ferrari didn’t throw the “people come to see the big teams like Ferrari” in there little reflection of events. Because we all heard Montezemolo and his hostile attitude to any new teams quite a few times along with there obsession of running third cars and staff like that.
There definitely was a small pushing of there agenda there.
Just becuase Ferrari is the one making the statement doesn’t make it any less true. They do more then most to ensure that F1 remains the type of series that I’m interested in, speaking for myself of course…
The 50,000+ people certainly didn’t show up hoping that Campos or Lotus might make a surprise appearance.
If last year Campos was the championship winning team and Fernando was there new driver then the 30000(how the hell did we reach 50000, every time the number changes mouth it seems to get bigger) would have still been there. Ferrari or not. Those guys where mostly Spanish fans. Alonso fans. Also the fact that there where many presentations and Schumi on the track helped the numbers to go up.
Let’s be honest here. Ferrari isn’t throwing it there every chance they get because is true. They are doing it because that’s what they want.
I completely fail to see there logic. On one hand everyone is trying to reduce the cost and they think is a good idea to have 3 and 4 cars? And accusing the new teams of being small is stupid. Of course they are, they just being created, everyone starts from somewhere. Ferrari was small when they started also. Maybe no one should have let them race. Sure not all new teams will survive but that is the game. Some make it and some don’t.
I think the 56,000 was the total for the three days.
I agree with your rant about about Ferrari’s silly 3 cars idea and so on, but I’m not quite sure what you’re point is in general. They conceeded that everyone was there to see Alonso as well as Schumi and all the new cars, not just to see Ferrari.
But I’m pretty sure that Alonso at Renault would not have pulled the same crowds. Besides Ferrari wasn’t the championship winning car, far from it. They’re all there because they smell the potential with Alonso/Ferrari.
OK, but they’re not and he’s not…
50,000+ cumulative over the course of the multi-day practice. 30,000+ on a single day. Of course they were Spanish fans, it was in Spain. Of course Schum (driving for Mercedes, a tiny little F1 team) helped the numbers.
So far you’ve said the fans were there to see Alonso (= Ferrari) and Schum (= Mercedes) and the Ferrari statement in question seems to be:
“This is what the fans want to see: the big name teams and drivers going head to head on track, with different cars to look at, all revealing the latest technical innovations.”
Arent’ you arguing Ferrari’s point?
Of course its what they want, its been proven in polls that its what most F1 fans want as well…
I don’t think anyone, including Ferrari, are faulting the teams for being “small”, the issue is the way in which these teams have been introduced into the series. The idea of bringing new teams into F1 is fine, but the way in which this gaggle of new teams has been cobbled together and batch uploaded to the F1 series is crazy. This is supposed to be the pinnacle of motor sport, not some half-assed, “lets get something out there to see what we can do, it’ll be interesting” series. These teams are missing testing, they don’t have their cars ready, they may even skip some of the races…
Hey listen, who knows…maybe Campos will be the Constructors Champion in 2010, but my money is on them being 10 seconds off the pace…and that’s just not good for anyone.
…and that’s all I have to say about that… ;-)
SR, I’m basically agreeing with your earlier point, sorry if it wasn’t clear.
I was pointing out that even though a lot of the fans might be there to see Alonso, the numbers are larger because he is at Ferrari and they feel he has a hope of winning the c’ship, i.e. Alonso in a Renault wouldn’t have the same drawing power.
I was also giving a nod to Ferrari’s inherent pulling power by pointing out that they aren’t the championship winning car and yet people are still excited about seeing Alonso with them for the first time.
About the attendance, I was just clarifying to Monad how they got that figure.
About Ferrari’s attitude to smaller teams, I didn’t say anything about that. I do think they are silly to go on about running 3 cars and for sure that was just about getting Schumi back; just lets see much they go on about it now that he joined Merc.
I hope that’s clearer.
Ferrari have never made any bones about their position in the series. They maintain, and I agree with them, that they are one of the most important teams in F1 and have been for decades. If you aren’t a Ferrari fan, fair enough, but I am not sure they are far off the mark in their prideful position. FOTA’s breakaway threat showed us that even major tracks will go wherever Ferrari goes.
I don’t see how the fact that Ferrari is an important team has to do anything with me saying that there statement wasn’t completely with out politics as you claimed.
That’s all i basically said. Am not accusing them for having a position and trying to make it true. Am just saying that this statement also had something to do with that position and therefore has a small controversy opposite of what you said.
Ah. My bad, I misunderstood your point. Sorry.