[Tech Issue] Closed cockpits- Closer to reality then we might think?

[S griffin]

Glad to see F1 still has a sense of humour

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

100% of the profit from sales of the McLaren edition flip flops going to their charity for orphaned children. Great reason to buy some flip flops I'd say.

http://www.gandyslondon.com/mclaren-...___store=uk_en

Thanks for the link- tried to find one yesterday and failed! Will be putting in an order....

[VIVA GT]

I was lucky enough to be invited on a jolly to the Geneva Motorshow on Thursday. A few manufacturers (Honda, Mercedes & Aston Martin at least) had current F1 cars on their stands. I realise that these were show cars / mock ups made to look like the latest thing but it was interesting to see that none of them were wearing a halo...

[bella]

not sure that's a point to make - none of the teams will be wanting to use manufacturing capacity to mock up something for the showcars even now with freight en route to melbourne, and the proper halo manufacturer probably doesn't have time either.

[VIVA GT]

The point that I was making was that despite making every apparent effort to make these show cars look like the latest thing, none had the most obvious change for 2018 (which could have been as much as a mock up as the rest of the car) fitted to them.

[F1Guy]

The Halo is very unpopular in Melbourne. Been in Melbourne since yesterday, and not one person has had anything positive to say about it so far. A lot of F1 fans have cancelled and/or asking for a refund of their tickets. Mark Webber said it's one of the worst decisions F1 has made for a long time. And most fans here seem to agree with him.



On another note, spotted Bottas having lunch yesterday. Must be very keen if he's already in Melbourne this early.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Glad to see F1 still has a sense of humour

More confusingly, it's McLaren with a sense of humor? That's more shocking than them not running at F1 pace for years now

[S griffin]

Well not so much of a shock now that Ron is no longer there

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

Quick question - I may have missed something, but what is meant/implied by the 'rotate' smiley?

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Quick question - I may have missed something, but what is meant/implied by the 'rotate' smiley?

Seems to go quite aptly with the post, I'd say? I don't think you've missed anything, but I guess it depends on what you're looking for......

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Seems to go quite aptly with the post, I'd say?

I can't comment on how well it goes with the post I'm afraid - as I don't know what the smiley is meant to mean.

It might fit perfectly, just wondering how / why?

[Skam85]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

A lot of F1 fans have cancelled and/or asking for a refund of their tickets.

Don't disagree that the Halo isn't great.. but we've known for a while that it was coming for 2018, so I don't like their chances of a refund.

I struggle to think that the tickets would have been bought before knowing about the Halo as well.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by F1Guy

The Halo is very unpopular in Melbourne. Been in Melbourne since yesterday, and not one person has had anything positive to say about it so far. A lot of F1 fans have cancelled and/or asking for a refund of their tickets.

This really baffles me.

F1 fans, who are in Melbourne this far in advance of the race, and have purchased tickets - are finding out about the Halo for the first time? Then, having found out about this one change, are disappointed so much that they are asking for a refund?

Have these people been living under a rock for the last few months? If genuine - then there is truly 'nowt as queer.....

[E.B]

Yet the Grand Prix board are reporting a recent years record level of advance ticket sales..... maybe they are (not!) drawn by the fact 'Furnace and the Fundamentals' (never heard of them) are playing live after the GP.

A combination of factors have been attributed to growth, including a strong showing from Red Bull and home grown hero Daniel Ricciardo in pre-season testing

https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/03/18...st-agp-decade/

[Skam85]

It helps that Sunday general admission tickets have actually dropped from $99 to $89 over the past 9 years - bravo Aus GP!

[S griffin]

Well it seems they are getting with reality down under

[chillibowl]

i think its fair to say we always knew there was going to be a bigger backlash from the HALO as the first GP approached and when the story moved from specialty sites to that of the local sites/papers.

this narrative of refunds is pretty similar to what happened when the new far more quieter engines came into play...throughout the season there will be stories of those 'surprised' and 'offended' by it and these stories will no doubt have quotes from fans avowing up and down how they will never attend a GP again.

par for the course imo.

[Sodemo]

So thats £65 as a direct UK conversion?

How much is Sunday entry at Silverstone? £165?

[Greem]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

So thats £65 as a direct UK conversion?

How much is Sunday entry at Silverstone? £165?

General admission, adult, 3 day - £185; Friday only £75, Saturday only £95, Sunday only £165. Cheapest grandstand seat for Sunday £235.

The 3 day & 4 day tickets are pound:dollar equivalent.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Skam85

I struggle to think that the tickets would have been bought before knowing about the Halo as well.

There are deals on tickets that are bought very soon after the previous year's AGP - the people that the poster referred to may well have bought their tickets in April 2017, which I think was before halo was confirmed.

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

F1 fans, who are in Melbourne this far in advance of the race, and have purchased tickets - are finding out about the Halo for the first time? Then, having found out about this one change, are disappointed so much that they are asking for a refund?

Have these people been living under a rock for the last few months? If genuine - then there is truly 'nowt as queer.....

Well of course there ARE people who live in Melbourne so they'd clearly be in Melbourne this far in advance of the race. As mentioned above they could have bought tickets a year ago and for all we know may have been asking for refunds for some time.

Personally, I don't like the halo but if I was in Melbourne and had a ticket I'd probably still go to see what it's like with the halo "live" and then make a decision on whether I'd bother with tickets for 2019.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

This really baffles me.

F1 fans, who are in Melbourne this far in advance of the race, and have purchased tickets - are finding out about the Halo for the first time? Then, having found out about this one change, are disappointed so much that they are asking for a refund?

This seems odd to me as well. I wouldn't say the number of those asking for a refund is zero, but I would be shocked if it is much larger than that?

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Have these people been living under a rock for the last few months? If genuine - then there is truly 'nowt as queer.....

People not knowing doesn't shock me at all. I would even go as far as to say I suspect a majority of fans know little or nothing about the Halo device.

Richard

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Tourer

There are deals on tickets that are bought very soon after the previous year's AGP - the people that the poster referred to may well have bought their tickets in April 2017, which I think was before halo was confirmed.

Well of course there ARE people who live in Melbourne so they'd clearly be in Melbourne this far in advance of the race. As mentioned above they could have bought tickets a year ago and for all we know may have been asking for refunds for some time.

I don't doubt that some people are asking for refunds - that is always the case with any change that is made to something. My disbelief though is the quantifying of this as 'A lot of F1 fans have cancelled and/or asking for a refund'

What constitutes 'A lot' compared to just a few voices?

Is the Halo popular - apparently not.
Are people complaining about it - almost certainly.
Are a handful of people claiming a refund - probably.
Will it change anything - absolutely not.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

What constitutes 'A lot' compared to just a few voices?

no idea, F1Guy might be able to shine some light on that. Given that the event draws around 400K attendance, even what you & I consider to be “a lot” might not show up as a big change.

[Akrapovic]

People are asking for refunds because of the halo?

[justracing]

IMHO when the general public, as opposed to the petrolheads here, catch sight of the 2018 cars with the Halo appendage for the first time it will tip the balance once for all with regard to viewing figures. Whatever side of the fence you fall there is absolutely no doubt that it is worst abomination aesthetically since F1 first began, only Formula E cars look(and sound) worse and unless something is done very quickly to address the situation it will bring about the final demise.