F1 drivers will "take the unusual step of surveying fans" as F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone and other key figures "explore ways of spicing up the sport," according to Andrew Benson of the BBC. With Mercedes "once again dominating this season" and drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg "fight for supremacy, F1 is under fire for lacking excitement." Ecclestone and company are "already contemplating rule changes" for '17. But drivers have "decided to take matters into their own hands by asking fans what they would do." They "intend to use social media to canvass views on a wide range of issues" -- technical, commercial, audience behaviors, etc. -- even "asking fans whether F1 should be viewed as sport or entertainment." Unlike most businesses, F1 "rarely asks consumers for feedback." Instead, ideas for change tend to be "generated internally, on the basis of what senior figures believe is the best approach" (BBC, 5/13).
MEETING FOR TEA?: In London, Daniel Johnson reported a "crucial" meeting of F1's "squabbling stakeholders will be personally overseen by the most powerful man in the sport on Thursday." CVC Capital Partners Co-Chair & Co-Founder Donald Mackenzie "has grown tired of the inertia and will attend in a bid to bang some heads together." Mackenzie has been to both of the last two races in Bahrain and then in Spain, "growing concerned at falling audiences, not to mention F1's financial and political struggles." Mackenzie, usually "extremely wary of publicity, has largely stayed away since CVC bought the sport" for more than £1B in '06. Ecclestone has been "allowed to run it without interference." But ever since the 84-year-old's trial for bribery and the collapse of two teams last year, Mackenzie has been "forced to step up his involvement." He has spent the last few months "sounding opinion on which direction Formula One should go in" (TELEGRAPH, 5/13). REUTERS' Alan Baldwin reported past strategy group meetings, each "billed as increasingly 'crucial,' have rarely lived up to even modest expectations." When asked what might be achieved this time, Ecclestone said, "We might change the date of the next meeting. Possibly. I’m not sure. It’s not easy to get decisions made." More immediately, there "will be a vote on whether to increase the engine allocation for this season from four per driver back to the five they had last year -- with some teams opposed" (REUTERS, 5/13).
