The new regulations have caused debate: ex-driver Jacky Ickx warns against the mistake of “not comparing yesterday’s Formula 1 with today’s”
Multiple overall winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and former Formula 1 driver Jacky Ickx has spoken positively about the current Formula 1 regulations, which came into force this year, but have already caused heated discussions in the first three races of the new season.
“We must not make the mistake of comparing yesterday’s Formula 1 with today’s,” Ickx told Motorsport.com, “My opinion doesn’t count. What counts is to see how the audience develops.“
”It’s about whether people follow Formula 1 and how much they follow it. The audience is the key to everything,” emphasizes the Belgian. It is undeniable that the current Formula 1 is not to everyone’s taste, but the television ratings show increasing viewer numbers in many European countries.
“If Formula 1 keeps the attention high and generates market share, then that’s fine,” adds Ickx, who emphasizes the importance of viewing figures for the sport: “Without an audience, nothing can be done. If the audience is there, then it’s fine.“
A major criticism of the first races was the ”artificial” overtaking maneuvers, but for the two-time world championship runner-up, it doesn’t matter how the maneuvers are created: The only thing that matters to Ickx is whether they create spectacle and attract the crowd.
“In my time, we really only saw four parameters on the dashboard. It was a different era compared to today, when drivers have to pay attention to many more things. But the audience is the key to the success of motorsport.”
“You have to follow people’s opinions, of course,” says Ickx. “But I believe that people don’t really care what’s under the hood. What matters are the battles on the track, whether the fight is good, whether the challenge is intense. That’s what counts. We’ve never seen spectator numbers this high.”
