F1 must do more to rev-up the fans at new venues - Sport - Evening Standard
       

F1 must do more to rev-up the fans at new venues

Earlier this week I sat down for dinner in London and ordered a coffee before my food, just to try and warm up - so this is the perfect time to jet out to the Middle East.

Here on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, they have created an F1 oasis with perfect infrastructure. This is particularly apparent when juxtaposed with the chaos at the not-quite-finished Indian GP track in New Delhi which hosted the previous race.

In the past 12 months, both South Korea and India have entered the F1 fray, and neither has been without problems. In 2010 insufficient drainage meant a huge delay at the start in Korea, despite only limited rain. This year the crowd was sparse and there are doubts over the race's future.

India had more fans and more atmosphere but the circuit was clearly not fully finished. Those issues, coupled with the socio-economic problems that India has, leave people asking if F1 need to look at their policy of introducing new grands prix.

There is no doubt F1 is a valuable marketing tool and commercial commodity for an emerging nation or a country that wants to make a global sporting splash.

I believe that being held back won't help a country like India, where F1 or the Commonwealth Games offer new opportunities for growth and development.

Equally, South Korea is now one of the world's biggest producers of cars and ships and they've earned the right to host global sports events.

It's also easy to see how these moves benefit F1. Korea brings huge brands to the table and just imagine the revenue that would be generated if just one per cent of India's 1.2bn population bought an F1 ticket, dvd or team top.

Korea is not the only race struggling to pull in crowds. China, and Turkey have also failed to capture the nations' imagination. In Istanbul you'd hardly have known there was a race taking place this year so they've been dropped for 2012.

How does F1 avoid a repeat of past issues in Austin from 2012, New Jersey in 2013 and Russia in 2014? Well many really want to see F1 giving back, tangibly, to the places it visits.

I love this sport. It's inspirational as well as aspirational but expecting the world to find that out for themselves is expecting too much.

Comments

Don't Miss
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music

Grandpa Bob

Bob Geldof on grandchildren, activism and the state of music
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London