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Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull and Germany greets fans during the Indian Formula One Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit on October 27, 2013 in Noida, India.
The Indian GP this year could possibly the last ever and on a personal level being a huge motorsports fan myself it is sad to think that it might never return again, for the media there doesn’t seem to be excitement any more, the buzz seems to have died down but it all was so different only a couple of year’s ago.
I remember when the F1 came for the first time in 2011, the tickets were priced at exorbitant prices, out of reach for me as being a student you genuinely can’t afford those tickets. So, predictably I was broke, but it was great to see the event was a huge success, Jaypee was laughing it’s way to the bank, FIA and Bernie were happy, the drivers and teams were happy it looked like a fairytale.
The authorities took it for granted, that response they got would then continue for ever but perhaps they failed in understanding the market they were entering and catering to.
F1 in its first year had a novelty factor, people had only heard about it and now it was coming to India, the whole F1 circus along with the media buzz, celebrities and sponsorship was an untapped market that people wanted to be associated with but the reason for all that fervour can be summed up into one word, novelty.
The fans and followers of the sport were gripped with the F1 fever, the business men saw the green leaf and the socialites saw an opportunity to be seen at an International event, it was a formula that could never fail right? Wrong.
If you take out the fans from the holy trinity mentioned above the rest saw it as a one time thing.
I personally feel that the Indian GP came too soon for India.
Formula 1 has been on our screens for a long time but it’s broadcast was always secondary for the networks, it has gradually grown with a good core group to cater to but it has a long way to go before even being considered a sport of secondary or even a tertiary importance.
Also not only is broadcast an issue which is very poor ever since Fox took over ESPN but also it needs a strong fan base. The broadcast although may now have a good commentary feed but the programming of the shows plus the content like interviews and montage still look way behind time comparing to Sky Sports, the company whose feed they share. Taking cricket out of the equation sports like football and tennis still enjoy a huge audience, if a big name comes to India sell outs are guaranteed. Specially if you take the case of football there are more fans of certain individual clubs like Manchester United or FC Barcelona than the hardcore fans of F1.
What I liked about this year’s Grand Prix was that the fans present there didn’t come for celebrity spotting or as a status symbol (admittedly there were a few) but for the sport itself, the sound of the V8s and to witness history being made. People had a genuine passion for F1 and that is what made it a success in my eyes.
Sameer Gaur later via his twitter confirmed that 60,000 people attended the Grand Prix which seems enough for a general sports event in India where even India’s test matches often are played to empty stands but seemed quite low for F1 which enjoys a regular attend of 100,000 + across the globe but how does Jaypee solve this problem?
Race winner and 2013 Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Infiniti Red Bull Racing celebrates in front of the crowd on the main straight following the Indian Formula One Grand Prix at Buddh International Circuit on October 27, 2013 in Noida, India
While I was there I noticed a few things, first if, hypothetically, all tickets were priced at the same rate as that of the Picnic stands I believe the organizers would sell out the venue every year but that is not possible. So what?
As a student myself I love the sport, have done so ever since I was a six year old kid, but it is not possible for me to spend 5000 on tickets plus all the other expenses at one go, on one event for one day and more so if I am not from the city and living in a hostel or a PG it becomes virtually impossible. Most of the demographic at the track consisted of young male-adults.
Taking as a case a fresher or a person who has just been on a job for the first time, a first time job doesn’t pay you much and then you have your basic household needs to complete, as a once in a lifetime event like the first race, it is plausible to spend big money once for the experience but to think I have to do it every year will definitely put you off.
So, the best thing to do is offer the more expensive tickets, specially the three days one at a slightly slashed rate with tickets for Friday free and offers like selling two tickets at a cheaper rate and try to sell them more rather than giving away corporate passes because for one, they are hardly interested in the sport and second they completely destroy the atmosphere.
Also we need to build a fan base. In South India there is a culture for Motorsports, they have regular championship’s, got a few racing tracks and karting is a great weekend activity, go further north, we have a F1 track, on which a world champion was crowned, made history and has literally left a mark there but a man who wants to imitate him can’t and feel like his hero, can’t find a proper karting track and kart to drive on.
Getting Motorsports into the conscience of young people is the most important tool for a long term future of the Indian GP as well as the fan base,the sport needs to grow from there just like Sachin was for cricket lovers or to some extent Bhaichung Bhutia has been for Indian football. Narain and Karun have got into the F1 but they hardly ever finish less than a couple of laps behind the leader to create a buzz about the sport in the public and the media.
For me the most important contribution has to be from the govt., it is highly stupid and insensitive to say that F1 is not a sport, may be that by itself requires another 1000 words.
The govt. needs to realise if they invest properly and help Jaypee it is only they who will benefit, may be after some time when they are done spitting vitriol on their counterparts will they actually learn.
Whether these measures are implemented or even discussed in the future only time will tell but it is for sure that the F1 fraternity loves India and wants to come back. Sebastian Vettel’s show for the crowd after his win has left them asking for more and I don’t know what course will F1 take in India from now, but Sebastian has definitely made this year’s Indian Grand Prix iconic and a memorable one.
