It’s plain that this period of Formulation 1 doesn’t attraction to everybody. Whereas tv viewers knowledge reveals growing viewership in main European nations, many long-term followers proceed to criticise the brand new guidelines.
“Formulation 1 was higher earlier than,” or “F1 was once a lot better,” are the sorts of feedback heard in some factions. Nonetheless, it’s value noting that folks are inclined to view the previous by way of rose-tinted spectacles, and bear in mind solely sure issues – typically the extra optimistic points of the previous.
Nonetheless, an authoritative opinion has risen to the fore after Jacky Ickx shared his ideas on the brand new period of Formulation 1.
Ickx, a number of winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and former Ferrari F1 driver, helps the brand new rules. In his view, it’s fallacious to match at present’s high open-wheel motorsport championship with that of the previous.
Opinions don’t matter, criticism doesn’t matter, and even help doesn’t matter. In his thoughts, solely the viewers issues. Formulation 1 wants individuals to comply with it, and it’s now within the highlight greater than ever.
Jacky Ickx, Genesis Magma Racing
Picture by: FIAWEC – DPPI
“So far as F1 is anxious, we should not make the error of evaluating yesterday’s F1 with at present’s,” Ickx instructed Motorsport.com. “My opinion doesn’t matter. What issues is how the viewers is doing.
“It’s about whether or not individuals comply with F1 and the way a lot they comply with it. The viewers is the important thing to the whole lot. If F1 retains consideration excessive and generates share, then it’s tremendous. With out the general public, nothing will be performed. If the general public is there, then it’s tremendous.”
Many followers have criticised the overtakes seen within the first three races of the season. However for Ickx, it doesn’t matter how they occur: what issues is whether or not they create spectacle and appeal to the general public. A minimum of for now, it appears the 2026 rules have succeeded in attaining this.
“In my time, we actually noticed solely 4 parameters on the dashboard. It was a unique period in comparison with this one, the place drivers have to consider many extra issues. However the viewers is the important thing to the success of motorsport.
“You must comply with individuals’s opinions, in fact. However I imagine that folks don’t actually care what’s below the hood. What issues are the battles on monitor — whether or not the battle is nice, whether or not the problem is intense. That’s what counts. We’ve by no means seen such excessive viewers figures.”
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