What Makes A Winning Formula?

Ferrari, F1, AGP. (C)

    The hills were alive in the Styrian Mountains. Formula One returned to Austria and the majestic Red Bull Ring at Spielberg for the first time since 2003. A visually stunning location, steeped in history, combined with a natural amphitheatre and great racing, certainly makes for a great TV spectacle. Selling out the event quite early, we cannot fathom the electric atmosphere that must of been prevalent as huge crowds filled the hills surrounding the circuit. Makes you wish you were there, right?
    Formula One often states that it needs to focus on promoting the brand and enhancing the viewing spectacle with the motive of boosting TV audiences, trackside crowd numbers, and therefore revenue. After watching the Austrian GP, we got to thinking about what factors would best achieve this. Is it simply a case of resurrecting traditional F1 circuits that are bloated with history? Are there other factors to consider?
    In recent years, newer F1 frontiers have emerged, but some have dropped off the calendar. Turkey and Korea spring to mind. Why is that? It all starts with the circuit itself, or more importantly, its location. While traditional circuits possess an inherent advantage and usually attract large crowds, the circuits that also seem to draw big crowds are located near the CBD of a large city, rendering them easily accessible to trackside fans, thus creating their own traditions. Think Canada - Montreal, Spain - Barcelona, Hungary - Budapest, Brazil - Sao Paulo, Australia - Melbourne and the spectacular night race in Singapore.
    Television is all about providing the home viewer with an experience as close as you can get to actually being trackside. If you're contemplating attending another country's GP, which one would you rather attend? One that's not readily accessible, with accommodation a distance away and half empty grandstands, or one that's bristling with an enthusiastic energy from the cheering punters passionately waving their flags at a jam-packed circuit? But if you can't attend, which one will you definitely watch next year on TV? One factor fuels the other.
    Intermittently, F1 teasingly suggests that the spectacle could be improved by making the drivers and F1 paddock area more accessible to the fans. One thing we'd like to see is a bit more jazzing up of the podium celebrations. Has the podium become a little stagnant with a bit of champagne spraying and a token interview? After all, it's a major achievement. We'd love to see a combination of the old and the new. In the old department, we'd love to see the return of laurel wreaths and floral presentations, but logically you can't cover up the sponsor's logos. In the new department, whilst we're not suggesting a live rock'n'roll style driver introduction a la Nascar All-Star Race; that wouldn"t work for F1; but a bit of pyrotechnics and the odd confetti cannon would provide the podium with a more celebratory vibe. Let us know what you think.
    F1 moves on to its spiritual home at Silverstone for the British GP. Big crowds will ensure an amazing atmosphere and for the first time since 2003 can access the infield of the circuit. Will anyone topple Mercedes? Makes you wish you were there, right?
                 Cheers....    

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