One of the funnier moments during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend was the sight of Fernando Alonso entertaining himself (and TV viewers) after his McLaren came to a halt during free practice on Friday but, aside from his trackside frolics, he said something that was alarmingly honest.
“We should pay the people who are in the grandstands to watch the cars passing,” said Alonso. “Fans want to see fast cars, something where you cannot close your mouth after you see the car passing.”
“I was 30 minutes on the side of the circuit and I was sleeping. Thankfully I found this chair and a TV camera. If not, it’s impossible [to watch],” said Alonso.
And this is what fans are subject to for three hours on a Friday: mundane and meaningless action.
Race fans are dishing out anything from $185.00 to $960.oo for a weekend ticket to be treated to something which Alonso himself would not pay to do.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone said earlier this year, “I wouldn’t spend my money to take my family to watch a race.”
There have been calls, which have gone quiet of late, to reduce F1 weekends to two days and scrap the Friday running altogether.
With Liberty Media, the sport’s soon to be owners, wanting to increase the races on the annual schedule, Friday’s on a grand prix weekend may soon become redundant.
For sure double F1 world champion Alonso won’t oppose the idea.
Read the full story at GRAND PRIX 247
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