Formula 1 drivers are to take matters into their own hands next week with a proposal by the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, which will see them asking fans what they want from the future of the sport.
Talks are ongoing about the future direction of F1, with opposing views about what should and shouldn’t be done to “spice up the show”.
With the teams, Formula One Management and the FIA often ignoring the fans and what they want, the drivers have taken it upon themselves to find out what the fans would change about the sport.
They will begin by surveying fans next week, asking their opinion on a range of topics such as the technical and commercial side, how thrilling the racing is and what could be done to improve it, as well as audience behaviours in a bid to bolster television ratings which have recently dropped.
“Top @GPDA_ action coming! We want to hear from you the fans, what you think about our sport! Global fan survey details next week #RacingUnited,” wrote Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo on Twitter.
Whether the survey has any impact on the decision makers isn’t known, and it’s likely coming too late given a meeting is planned this Thursday to discuss and finalise changes for 2017.
Among the changes up for discussion is to boost power output to 1,000bhp, introduce wider rear tyres, grippier and longer lasting tyres, as well as more dramatic looking cars.
