28/04/2015
NEWS STORY
As F1 seeks to keep its current fans on board, far less win over new ones, Claire Williams suggests changing race start times.
Thankfully, the resurgence of Ferrari, and the slow but steady improvement from Williams itself, suggests that Mercedes will not enjoy the sort of domination witnessed in 2013.
Nonetheless, it is clear from the empty grandstand seats at races over the last couple of years, falling TV viewing figures and comments on social media that the fans are not happy.
Whilst Bernie Ecclestone believes it is the new formula, and Mercedes obvious success in adapting to it, is the reason for the sport's decline in popularity, Claire Williams suggests otherwise, claiming that the timing of races doesn't help the sport.
Asked on the Sky Sport F1 Show whether races should be limited to one-hour in length, a suggestion that Flavio Briatore and Luca di Montezemolo subscribed to, the Williams team boss replied: "You could cut the two-hour race (limit) to an hour, it doesn't necessarily mean it'll bring about change. I think it's more important when we’re broadcasting our races.
"The way that society is now people want to spend time with the family and do something together," she continued, "and actually giving up your whole Sunday, which you have to do to watch a Formula 1 race, completely clobbers your whole day.
"If we moved it to later on in the afternoon, you go out, you do your day with your family, you come home and watch the grand prix at 4pm or 5pm in the afternoon. Those kind of considerations are the questions to ask first."
Of course, speaking to a British broadcaster, Williams is focussing on broadcast times in UK and Europe, which, despite Bernie Ecclestone's efforts to remove from the calendar in terms of races, remains the sport's heartland.
Nonetheless, of all the reasons seen and heard by us in terms of the reason for F1's demise, the Sunday afternoon start time is a new one on us.
Indeed, we are minded of the old joke about a football club on the slide. A fan phones the ticket office and asks: "What time does the match kick-off?" "What time can you get here?" comes the reply.