Ecclestone Sounds Alarm Over F1's Fan Base While Showing Unusual Support for Hamilton
Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has expressed concerns about the sport's ability to retain its audience heading into 2026. In a rare moment of public backing, Ecclestone has also voiced support for Lewis Hamilton.
The man who once wielded immense power over Formula 1's direction has raised the alarm bells regarding fan engagement. Bernie Ecclestone believes the sport faces a genuine risk of hemorrhaging supporters at a critical juncture.
In an unexpected show of support, Ecclestone has stepped forward to back Lewis Hamilton—a noteworthy endorsement from the legendary figure who shaped modern motorsport for decades.
Original source
Crash.net
Related Regulations
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Full Regulation Text
Article B10
MEDIA ACTIVITIES & OFFICIAL CEREMONIES
Chapter: B
In Simple Terms
Article B10 covers all the official F1 activities that happen around race weekends, including driver and team appearances for media, fan events, car displays, and the formal procedures for qualifying, races, and podium celebrations. Teams and drivers must participate in these mandatory activities and follow the specific rules for how they're conducted.
- Teams and drivers must participate in mandatory media activities and official ceremonies
- Covers pre-event displays, media presentations, and fan engagement activities
- Establishes formal procedures for qualifying sessions, race procedures, and podium ceremonies
- Defines requirements for professional conduct during official F1 promotional activities
Official FIA Text
Media Activities and Official Ceremonies including pre-event car displays, media presentations, fan engagement activities, qualifying and race procedures, and podium ceremony requirements.
Article B10.1.1
Day before on track running
Chapter: B
In Simple Terms
On the day before a race weekend starts, up to six drivers are required to participate in official media activities and fan meet-and-greets for a limited time. These drivers must do press conferences or team media sessions and spend time with fans, all within strict 30-minute to 1-hour time windows.
- Maximum six drivers selected for media and promotional activities
- On-track running limited to 1 hour within a 2-hour window, 23 hours before FP1
- Drivers must participate in FIA Press Conference or separate team media sessions
- Six drivers must be available for fan engagement activities for maximum 30 minutes each
Official FIA Text
Up to six drivers selected for official media and promotional activities for maximum one hour during two hour period 23 hours prior to FP1. Drivers must participate in FIA Press Conference or separate team media sessions. Six drivers must be available for fan engagement activities for maximum 30 minutes each.
Article B10.1.3
Second day of on track running
Chapter: B
In Simple Terms
On the second day of track running (Saturday), up to ten drivers can spend a maximum of 30 minutes each doing fan activities. Drivers knocked out in Q1 or Q2 must immediately do media interviews after being weighed. The top three qualifying finishers then go through official post-qualifying procedures and attend the press conference.
- Maximum 10 drivers can participate in fan engagement activities, limited to 30 minutes each
- Q1 and Q2 eliminated drivers must be available for mandatory media interviews immediately after weighing
- Top three qualifiers participate in post-qualifying procedures and the official press conference
Official FIA Text
Ten drivers available for fan engagement activities maximum 30 minutes each. Drivers eliminated in Q1/Q2 must make themselves available for media interviews immediately after being weighed. Top three drivers in qualifying participate in post-qualifying procedures and press conference.
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