The drivers unanimously agree on the success of the demonstration in London
After the announcement of the decision by the Silverstone Grand Prix organizers to activate the clause to break their contract with F1, all the teams and almost all the drivers gathered in the heart of London for an exceptional event.
On the occasion of this grand event between Whitehall and Trafalgar Square, Britons and one-day visitors had the privilege of getting a fingertip feel of the Formula 1 universe. Through this event, Liberty Media introduced the world of F1 to a new audience, as 100,000 people came to observe the teams and drivers.
Since the start of the 2017 season, Formula 1 has been multiplying events to make each race weekend an American-style spectacle, and it seems to be opening up again to fans who had been increasingly sidelined in recent years.
Here at Silverstone, the traditional Thursday day was an opportunity to meet some of the drivers and reflect on this extraordinary event. The only controversy surrounding the event is about the absence of Lewis Hamilton, one of the most prominent drivers on the grid who constantly proclaims his love for the fans. He officially decided not to participate in this show to focus on his preparation for the Silverstone Grand Prix but instead chose to spend two days on vacation in Greece… The paddock unanimously praises the performance from yesterday, and most wish to replicate the event in major cities, or even in his hometown of Nastola in Finland for Valtteri Bottas!
More seriously, the drivers, some of whom felt reinvigorated by the London show, share the idea that it would be fantastic to host such events in countries where there isn’t a Grand Prix yet, in order to encourage the public to attend a race. It seems that the initial feedback from the public is very favorable.
Indeed, Fernando Alonso revealed to us this afternoon that he had heard that some spectators now wished to attend a Grand Prix. The Spaniard insisted that it was a unique experience and that he appreciated the contact with the spectators. He also shared that his favorite moment was the finale with all the cars on London’s temporary track, as well as being able to hear the roar of the old cars’ engines. He would probably change nothing about this unique spectacle.
So when will there be another exceptional day of sharing with the crowd? Maybe during the winter break, but certainly not in Moscow for obvious reasons that Dany Kvyat reminded us of during today’s press conference.
From our special correspondent in Silverstone
