Thunderstruck
F1's stellar pandemic performance and Shastri on T20s
Cyclist Sir Chris Hoy taking on AC/DC’s Brian Johnson and former F1 driver Martin Brundle in 1960s Mini Coopers. What’s not to like about stars in not-quite-reasonably-priced cars? None of this trio made the podium in the John Whitmore Trophy at the Goodwood Revival, but the mix of glamour, stardust and earlier-era horsepower showcased over last weekend’s meeting encapsulated the essence of motorsport - an essence that Formula 1 has rediscovered during the pandemic. Just in time too.
Sporting leaders often boast about the enduring appeal of their particular sport. But history shows that popularity is a fragile asset, not only prone to cycles but also capable of long-term, relentless decline if a sport loses sight of its potential future fanbase. Think of the near disappearance of speedway. Or the current struggles of rugby league in England.
The Goodwood Revival is a nostalgia-fest, as much an occasion to dress in vintage clothes and soak up the ancillary attractions as sit in the stands and actually watch the racing. Formula 1 is one part of the event’s heritage, period grand prix cars featuring prominently in the schedule and on the circuit’s surrounds. Only a couple of years ago, the modern F1 product appeared at risk of evaporating under the weight of poor comparisons with the halcyon days of the sport as represented by the Revival.
Omar Chaudhuri and Ben Marlow at sports consultancy Twenty First Group boil the critical ingredients for what they describe as a ‘compelling show’ down to quality, jeopardy and connection (a reason for fans to care) - and rightly declare these to be necessary conditions to creating commercial value. Their analysis, with a particular focus on Olympic sports, is bang on. You can read it here: Fostering the Fanbase
“A modern-day fan with attention divided across multiple sports and devices needs to know whether it is worth their time to watch an event to its conclusion.” Twenty First Group
With too many teams financially severely stressed, Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton too dominant, and only just through a change of controlling shareholders, F1 entered the pandemic - like many sports - with too much of the wrong sort of jeopardy.
It got lucky, though, in having a compelling, behind-the-scenes Netflix series just when the world found itself locked in its living room with time weighing heavily. Drive to Survive is the compelling show that every sport should crave. It is of the highest quality, is all about jeopardy, and its greatest gift to F1 is the way it tells the stories of the drivers, giving fans multiple reasons to care.
And Drive has clearly created a new cadre of followers. TV viewing figures in the United States - the key, underexploited market for F1 - are up almost 40% over the past couple of years.
Alongside elite football, F1 was commendably quick to construct a pandemic bubble and get back into action to engage those new fans. The nature of the sport made the lack of live crowds much less of an issue than those reliant on stadium atmosphere - although the packed banks of orange-clad fans at this year’s Dutch Grand Prix was a reminder of what had been missing.
Most importantly, F1 is now enjoying a driver rivalry for the ages. Roughly two thirds through the season and only five points separate Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Over the past ten years, the average gap between champion and runner up at the end of the season has been 76 points. Just twice in that period - most recently when Hamilton was last bested in 2016 - has the final divide been in single digits.
F1 is far from out of the woods, either financially or in popularity. But through judgement and luck it has found much needed oxygen. Some quibble about a season of 23 races being too long, but this is positively abstemious when compared with those sports currently scrambling to overload their calendars with new formats and competitions - of which more below. All F1 needs now is for 2022’s technical changes to narrow the gap between the front and back of the grid and its immediate future should be secure.
Shastri’s T20 memory loss
Donald McRae’s interview with Ravi Shastri in Saturday’s Guardian contained a great addition to the debate about cricket’s crowded calendar.
“I would like to see less and less bilateral T20 cricket… There is enough franchised cricket. That is working. But what is the point of bilateral? In my seven years with this Indian team I don’t remember one white ball game… Test matches I remember every ball. Everything. But the volume is too much. We beat Australia 3-0 in the T20 series. We beat New Zealand 5-0 in New Zealand. Who cares?’”
If the head coach of the national team in the dominant country in the cricketing world is so openly dismissive of T20 international series, will the ICC be brave enough to press pause and rethink its priorities? Or is the sport destined to be undone by its own greed?