It’s plain that this period of Method 1 doesn’t attraction to everybody. Whereas tv viewers knowledge exhibits growing viewership in main European nations, many long-term followers proceed to criticise the brand new guidelines.
“Method 1 was higher earlier than,” or “F1 was a lot better,” are the sorts of feedback heard in some factions. Nonetheless, it’s price noting that folks are likely to view the previous by means of rose-tinted spectacles, and keep in mind solely sure issues – usually the extra optimistic features of the previous.
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Nonetheless, an authoritative opinion has risen to the fore after Jacky Ickx shared his ideas on the brand new period of Method 1.
Ickx, a number of winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and former Ferrari F1 driver, helps the brand new laws. In his view, it’s fallacious to check at present’s prime open-wheel motorsport championship with that of the previous.
Opinions don’t matter, criticism doesn’t matter, and even help doesn’t matter. In his thoughts, solely the viewers issues. Method 1 wants individuals to observe it, and it’s now within the highlight greater than ever.
Jacky Ickx, Genesis Magma Racing
Photograph by: FIAWEC – DPPI
“So far as F1 is worried, we should not make the error of evaluating yesterday’s F1 with at present’s,” Ickx instructed Motorsport.com. “My opinion doesn’t matter. What issues is taking a look at how the viewers is doing.
“It’s about whether or not individuals observe F1 and the way a lot they observe it. The viewers is the important thing to every part. If F1 retains consideration excessive and generates share, then it’s fantastic. With out the general public, nothing could be achieved. If the general public is there, then it’s fantastic.”
Many followers have criticised the overtakes seen within the first three races of the season. However for Ickx, it doesn’t matter how they occur: what issues is whether or not they create spectacle and appeal to the general public. At the very least for now, it appears the 2026 laws have succeeded in attaining this.
“In my time, we actually noticed solely 4 parameters on the dashboard. It was a unique period in comparison with this one, the place drivers have to consider many extra issues. However the viewers is the important thing to the success of motorsport.
“It’s important to observe individuals’s opinions, after all. However I consider that folks don’t actually care what’s beneath the hood. What issues are the battles on observe — whether or not the struggle is sweet, whether or not the problem is intense. That’s what counts. We’ve by no means seen such excessive viewers figures.”
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