I’m not sure how to start this article, i will just have my thoughts leading the story and have it written. This time it is not about the hideous fan base of today it is more about the reachability of Formula One and especially for the drivers. Perhaps this goes also for plenty of Feeder Series such as the Formula 3, Formula 2 and the mysterious formula 1 academy. I feel like the closer the path to Formula One comes for drivers, the most distanced they get. The more the fans get pushed away.
Now I understand with today’s keyboard warriors, fat fucks on fat bikes and morons in our society life isn’t as it was. Security measures sadly needed because of it. It only becomes more harsh and the same time more and more pathetic. However, it is not the issue, well just a small part of the issue. Probably the biggest issue is the level of professionalism the sport is at this moment. Not stating that it is wrong, I do believe it is a good thing. Still, it is part of the problem, I think there is too much structure, too much rules. Resulting is less fun for the fans, right?
Maybe I’m just imaging it, though I recall 15 years ago it was much easier to get involved with the sport. Fans were able to reach out and get in contact with drivers, teams and what not. It seems today that you only gain access if you have too much money and rent a VIP box for no reason. Or, if you are some influencer with no story to tell only one-liners and weird experiences like abducted at Venus after taking too much cocaine. Of course, this is out of context completely though you understand probably what I’m trying to say. Perhaps you don’t I can’t blame you as I don’t even understand it. Yet it feels like the sport is abandon it’s fans, this already starts in the lower Formulae series.
Am I wrong? Yes and no i think. The thing is that I’m still stuck in the early 2000s when life was different. Instead of only four or five feeder series we had much more of these series. Such like the Formula Ford (in all it’s levels), Formula Renault, Formula Renault 3,5, Formula 3, Formula 3000, Formula Nippon and so on. I recall being at Zandvoort where I met Ricard van der Ende, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Michael Bleekemolen and Renger van der Zande. All approachable, all ready for a talk and took the time to answer questions.
Today, it seems the drivers became the opposite. PR machines were only a small group of humanity is sensitive for, well I hope! Where are the days you could just make your way to the paddock and ask Damon Hill for a signature just before the start of a F3000 race? Again, I still live in a world that doesn’t exist anymore. I expect things that used to be normal and became now something only available for the elite. While it is the fans that make a sport, not those in their suits sipping champagne while watching Golf on their smartphones during the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix.
