Formula One drivers are to ask fans worldwide for their opinions in what they are billing as the most thorough survey ever carried out by any sport.
A statement by the Grand Prix Drivers Association (GPDA) said the initiative will be formally presented today in the Monaco paddock by directors Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel and Alex Wurz.
“With the GPDA Global Fan Survey, the grand prix drivers aim to create the most extensive, in-depth survey of fan opinion ever undertaken by any sport in the world,” it added.
GPDA chairman Wurz told Reuters earlier this month that the drivers wanted to give more back to their fans, at a time of change when unfavourable comparisons are being made with other series.
“To make sure this sport remains at the pinnacle and gets ever more popular, we would like to engage more with the fans,” said the Austrian, a former F1 driver who now competes in the world endurance championship and is a two-times Le Mans winner.
“I hope it’s cool. The fans will tell us if they like it or not and that’s what we want... we want to give a little bit back and communicate with the people who love the sport equally to us,” he added.
F1 has a reputation for being exclusive and inaccessible compared to series like the world endurance championship, where fans have much more access to the paddock and drivers during race weekends.