To whom may read this
I feel obliged as a 20+ year supporter of the sport including view through the Schumacher and Red Bull dominating years (I point out I do not support these teams) that I am totally disillusioned by rules and the way the sport is going in the future and how the sport is going in general.
As a fan over the past 10 years surveys have been put out to fill in so you the people who erite and shape the rules can make sure you deliver what the fan wants and get continued support, so off you've gone hid in offices all over the world and for what to deliver a set of rules that are full of self interest and nothing what the fan wants. In 2016 there's engine tokens to follow, tyre rules that nobody and I mean nobody as a casual fan or fan who's paid a good half months salary to sit in a grandstand to follow, and then now change qualifying so again the paying punter in the stand cannot understand one bit of what's going on - qualifying was the one thing that was fine and worked.
To compound the whole situation many fans and drivers have said with the current aero rules nobody can get close and follow another car, so you would thing hello let's change the aero rules, but with there being so many cheifs making rules the aero rules remain the same so cars still won't be able to get close to slip stream and prosessions will still occur.
So after much thought and as a fan I have some thoughts how these cans be solved and hopefully and finally someone will listen to me and bring Formula 1 back as the pinicle of Motorsport.
1. Qualifying - the new proposed rules are stupid and outlandish it's ok for Christian Horner to say it will work fine and we will understand it, I hear emphasise the word we, not the fans we. How can a fan expect to hear or understand what is going off. Bear in mind these people have paid good money and I mean good hard earned money to attend races, surely it's fair only fair to give them one thing back entertainment and understanding what's going on. My other thought on this subject if you were to change would be to have an hour format and each driver 12 laps of qualifying tyres and in each 15 minutes the drivers have to make a run if they don't their excluded from qualifying and must start from the back - not the pit lane.
2. Engine tokens - quite simple don't wait another year to do this just have it open no holds barred development so others can catch up so circumstances like honda never happens again as they could have packed bags and walked and maybe more manufacturers might be intrested in coming back to the sport.
3. Tyre rules - quite simple what the hell was anyone thinking. It will take the whole race for the commentator to explain the rules just make it simple please how are new fans and casual viewers going to follow this . Thoughts on this first of all if make tyres that will do a stint and the driver and team after practice pick the compound they would like to use, and after 3rd practice they can only use that compound so public would know soft or hard compound.
4. Fuel - I am watching a race not a fuel saving race I watched one once on top gear and I'm sure edie jordan can do another, so make the teams carry 10 laps more of fuel they require then drivers can go flat out for the whole race, and stop all these radio chat of back off and save fuel. Alternatively bring back refuelling although I am against this idea.
Electronics - I understand the engines are complicated and complex but I am fed up of hearing engineers saying mode G5 multi 21 magic paddle 2, set it so once the engine modes and maps are set for that race that's it and take away complicated steering wheels and go back to basics.
Circuits - the best races and circuits mostly baring the added exception are on traditional circuits where there are core racing fans, so what does Bernie and FOM do go off and do deals in South Korea 5 hour train rides away from the countries capital, around the streets of Baku where nobody can overtake. These great multi million pound stadia are great but what's point when after first race no fans turn up to watch and then funding stops and race goes, yet Imola, hockenheim, Nurburgring, magnes cours, don't get a look in because their government won't pay yet they have paying fans continually wanting to attend. Simple go to places where there is support and the paying fans will go and watch.
Aerodynamics - as much as I love there wonder multi decker flapped vented slotted slatted front wings there is one simple answer to this cars cannot follow each other closely hindering overtaking, yet at the latest meeting nothing has been done to solve this. I am sorry but simple wings of the mid 90s need to be brought back with all these and other aero parts dropped nothing sprouting all over the car just basic simple aero dynamic devices so cars can follow and overtake and drivers can RACE each other after all that's what Formula 1 is supposed to be about, not who can wow the world with the latest 20 decker high slot gap front wing. Rear wings and diffusers to be simplified and made easy and all loop holes closed.
Revenues - the FIA should enforce the more equal monies to all teams reward the best but don't make the bottom teams suffer and go bankrupt and force them out of the sport. FOM SHOULD HAVE FAIRER DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH AND STOP TAKING MONEY TO THEMSELVES. Put it back into the sport that's making them very rich anyway.
Rules - the fia and the FIA only should set the rules at the moment everybody has there own vested interests and this has to stop, if Jean todt can't do this or be intrested. Should step down as president and let someone else do it, and as for the teams sorry you've tried but got nowhere with this and you've had a chance back down and let the governing body make the rules like what happens in every other sport. FOM also should have no say aft all they only have the rights thanks to a deal that in personal opinion should never have been done.
Archives - FOM have Al, the coverage and rights to races past and present and also all the season reviews the 1981-2002 f1 season reviews are all on VHS and so many people can't now watch these, these should be released as streams and on DVD and at a reasonable price. Also all archives races etc should be put onto a membership site and new ways of view should be embedded the current models is broken and based on the 70s and 80s not the current era. If Bernie doesn't understand it then somebody who does should take charge.
I thank you for taking the time to read this open letter and I hope that you will reply in due course and some action is taken.
Kind regards
David meakin
