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Global
Press release

Global Fan Survey Highlights: F1’s Fans Want Change But No Revolution

Motorsport.com & GPDA announce Executive Summary of Global Fan Survey results.

Bernie Ecclestone and Alex Wurz, Williams Driver Mentor and GPDA Chairman and Charles Bradley, Motorsport.com Editor in Chief and the drivers launch the GPDA Global Fans Survey

Bernie Ecclestone and Alex Wurz, Williams Driver Mentor and GPDA Chairman and Charles Bradley, Motorsport.com Editor in Chief and the drivers launch the GPDA Global Fans Survey

XPB Images

GPDA Survey announcement
Bernie Ecclestone and Alex Wurz, Williams Driver Mentor and GPDA Chairman and Charles Bradley, Motorsport.com Editor in Chief and the drivers launch the GPDA Global Fans Survey
Alex Wurz, Williams Driver Mentor and GPDA Chairman with the media
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W06
Esteban Gutierrez, Ferrari SF15-T Test and Reserve Driver
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF15-T
Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari SF15-T
Charles Bradley, Motorsport.com editor in chief
Jenson Button, McLaren Honda
Toyota Racing: Alexander Wurz
(L to R): Alexander Wurz, Williams Driver Mentor with Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari
(L to R): Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari with Alexander Wurz, Williams Driver Mentor and Jenson Button, McLaren
Motorsport.com logo
Motorsport.com - RUSSIA screen shot
Motorsport.com - FRANCE screen shot

MIAMI – (July 1, 2015) Motorsport.com and the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA) announced on Wednesday the preliminary results from their Global Fan Survey – the biggest project of its kind ever conducted in sports in association with expert research company Repucom.

“The wealth of data collected, thanks to everyone who took the time to share their opinions, has provided a rich source of information for the whole Formula 1 industry to consider and analyze,” said Repucom’s Nigel Geach, Senior Vice President – Motorsport.

“The GPDA/Motorsport.com survey only deepens our understanding of the marketplace and what fans in 2015 care about and consider important.”

Despite concerns, fans don't want gimmicks

With more than 200,000 participants from 194 countries taking part, the Survey – conducted via Motorsport.com’s global digital platform – has delivered a vitally important snapshot of the views of fans.

Following careful analysis of the results by Repucom, it has highlighted concerns that F1 is failing to attract new audiences – with 75% of respondents saying they have been following the sport for more than 10 years and many of those admitting to not watching it as avidly as they did in the past.

Despite the worries about the current state of F1, it is clear from the results that fans are not demanding any knee-jerk reactions nor a radical overhaul of grand prix racing that takes it away from its historic roots.

The majority of fans are against gimmicks like success ballast, sprinkler systems, standard engines or fewer teams running more cars. Instead, they favor initiatives that have been a success in the past, such as a return to tire competition (79.6%) or refueling (60%).

"Protect F1's core values"

“The fans have spoken in numbers greater than ever that they want to see change in F1,” said Motorsport.com Editor in Chief Charles Bradley. “But while they feel a need for a revamp, they also want to protect F1’s core values of racing purity and historic venues. 

“There’s a clear message here for the sport’s rule makers to consider a back-to-basics approach, and allowing room for engineering innovation to make the cars look – and sound – more exciting. This data from fans is priceless.”

GPDA chairman Alex Wurz said: “The scientific nature of this survey, as well as the data that we have been able to extract from it, is like gold and we should value it as such. Not only do we get clear trends and answers to the 52 questions, but we gather a very deep and scientific profile of fans around the globe.

“Formula 1 may need to ask itself some important questions, that’s why we wanted the fans to have their say, but through the survey the fans are clear, they don’t want a radical overhaul of grand prix racing that takes it away from its historic roots.”

The Executive Summary of the GPDA Global Fan Survey can be downloaded from today on gpda.motorsport.com 

About Motorsport.com

Formed in 1994, Motorsport.com is a technologically advanced international network of online motorsports content featuring world-class digital distribution, video and interactive multimedia worldwide with news bureaus in 14 countries in 10 different languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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                   http://www.motor1.com

                   www.motorsport.tv

                   www.360racing.com

Facebook www.facebook.com/motorsportcom

Twitter      twitter.com/Motorsport

 

For more information contact:

Scott Sebastian: M +1 312.519.5040

Email: scott.sebastian@motorsport.com

Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing

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