Selection box - Why wouldn't they let him fly? - Max Verstappen, team bosses and a whole host of F1 drama
Published by Christine
Formula One is currently twisting and turning, this way and that, trying to decide what it is and which direction it is going to go in the future. The qualifying debacle in Australia has refused to go away, with the regulation change revoked and then that reversion also revoked as well. Broadcasting rights in the UK have been handed exclusively to pay-per-view company Sky in the future, and it all feels as though things are up in the air right now. With that in mind, here are a handful of good reads, views and listens that might help us keep things grounded.
Let's begin with that concept of broadcasting and viewership with some thoughts on how the sport presents itself to the fans at home.
Formula 1 is still a growing sport with a healthy global fanbase, but we're not using the tools at our disposal to find out who's watching and which markets they're tuning in from. As a result, underestimates of F1's audience share could be off by 20 percent or more.
I understand that this makes sense to Sky, because Sky has profits to achieve each year. But you’d be foolish to think that Sky actually has the long-term interests of the sport in mind. Instead they have spreadsheets detailing what proportion (and it will only be a proportion) of free-to-air F1 viewers they can sell subscriptions to.
Let's move on to slightly happier topics and review some of the action that actually did take place this weekend. One of the talking points of the weekend was the team radio and reactions of Max Verstappen, the somewhat stroppy teenager.
Max Verstappen showed his trademark speed at the 2016 Australian Grand Prix, but did he also show some immaturity? Is he behaving like a typical teenager? Verstappen's request on the radio for 'team orders' shows that he's learned well from our current and previous World Champions.
Max’s radio outbursts show that he is clearly determined. As the season progresses, the effect of the determination factor on Max and Carlos’ relationship will be captivating to watch. Max was ‘on the limit’ at the weekend according to Carlos Sainz but added that the pair still have a ‘healthy rivalry’ which drives the team forwards.
For someone who’s just 18 years old (2 of which have been in Formula 1), it was indeed unbelievable. Why wouldn’t they let him fly? Was it because of his age? Maybe! Was it because of his boldness? Let’s hope not. Or maybe it was because they wouldn’t let him have a driver’s license till last year. It’s true. Max’s father had to drive him to work in a car just so that Max could race in one.
The clampdown on pit-to-car communication may have reduced radio traffic over the Melbourne weekend, but there were still plenty of fascinating and colourful exchanges between driver and engineer. Here are just a few...
Not all the drivers have tarnished themselves with the grumpy brush, in fact many of them had a lot of fun over the past few days.
Watch highlights from the F1 Fan Forum in Melbourne's Albert Park - including a first victory of the 2016 season for Jenson Button, and the formation of 'Wrong Direction'.
Codemasters are busy working on the next installment of their F1 gaming franchise, and it turns out they ask fans and gamers to come along and test out the game for them - hands up who wants that job?
None of them knew what to expect on Monday morning. Formal paperwork over with, Principal Games Designer Lee Mather gave our 8 community guys a presentation, giving them the lowdown on the brand new game, and what we’d got planned for them over these 3 days. Finally, down to business, and with a combination of pads and wheels, it was then getting to grips with F1 2016
Finally, a couple of interviews with current and former team bosses to get some brilliant insider gossip as always.
The first in a new series – we look back at the 2008 and 2009 Formula 1 seasons when Honda pulled out of the sport. Ross Brawn and Nick Fry, after trying to find a buyer, decided to purchase the team themselves. What followed was one of the most remarkable seasons in Grand Prix history. Here is the full story.
Running a Formula One racing team is no easy task. With a budget of over $150 million, races in 20 countries, and a team of personnel ranging from engineers to medical professionals and drivers with mega personalities, it takes a determined person to run the show. Claire Williams exemplifies the traits required for success in this fast-paced environment.
