JPM - Merchandising

[Peter Mallett]

OK a bit strange for a topic I guess but I felt you couldn't move around the circuit this weekend without seeing a Kimi hat, tee shirt, or indeed a Finnish flag. Not to mention some seriously "relaxed" Finns.

Kimi seems more popular than MS these days.

However, I wandered down to the Mercedes concession stand and had a look around. There was a Macaroon simulator with "Kimi" on the sides. You could buy Kimi and Juan Tee Shirts and Hats/flags etc. But which one was on display? Yep Kimi.

I know he's the leading driver in the points but what's happened to the "draw" that is/(was?) JPM?

Seems to me that he's being sidelined from publicity.

Thoughts people?

[garcon]

Maybe if he started competing with Kimi, they'd let him compete in the merchandising.

[Glen]

There are a few things in the pipeline:

His own brand of motocross body armour.
A "Juan-brand" F1 brakelight, endorsed by Montiero and Verstappen.

Plans for a pie shop and burger emporium are on hold since he got thinner than Kimi.

Kimi brand vodka and auto-drop trousers are well advanced in development also.

[Peter Mallett]

Well I was trying to be serious.

[Glen]

Don't be so ridiculous! Serious? On a monday?

[Lotusonpole]

Ooops...
I thought Glen was being serious.
Anythings possible.

And as far as Monday morning goes, its mid-week here in Saudi.
My Monday morning blues start on Saturday a.m.

Cheers
Peter

[Ralf's Girl]

Garcon's probably got a point - Montoya hasn't really done much to shout about this season! When he came into F1, he was good at blowing his own trumpet, and he was hyped up by the media, but in the last couple of years he really hasn't shown much of what we saw in his first season or two in F1, where he was being hailed as the natural successor to Michael Schumacher.

The only thing he's had much publicity for this season is his *ahem* tennis accident.

[Skam85]

I would have thought JPM tennis rackets, or maybe even a JPM motorbike of some sort...

[Racer_kyle]

it's all very well saying they should be equal.But raikkonen will always be Ron Dennis' golden boy. His little Hakkinen. Dennis always favours the Finn.

[Glen]

To be serious, the amount of merchandising for each driver will bear no relation to what McLaren wants or favours and will simply be a response to the level of public demand. Kimi is winning, people want Kimi stuff.

[Peter Mallett]

Now you're coming round to my point.

Carry on.

[Glen]

Carry on being sensible? No way.

[Born Racer]

I think Montoya is getting much closer to Raikkonen, following a ropey start to the season. Unfortunately for him, for this year it's too late in a sense because Raikkonen's the one they're trying to get the driver championship win for.

Some drivers up against a driver of such speed would crumble- not Montoya, and that's a pleasure to see (unlike Alonso VS Fisichella, where it seems perhaps the challenge is too much for Fisichella and he won't raise his standard as a result of such tough competition.)

Interestingly I noticed Ron Dennis speaking much more highly of Montoya in Turkey. Perhaps he felt some of his recent comments, whilst not harsh, came across as a little OTT ("all he had to do was get round the last corner"- Hockenheim), and so he redressed the balance by showing his support. He said something along the lines of "we don't care which of our drivers comes first". I think for the remainder of this season that Raikkonen is in the hunt that may well not be true, but nonetheless I believe the support is there for Montoya because he's raising his game.

Ron Dennis said at the start of the season he hoped being at McLaren would bring the best in Montoya out. I feel he will be proved correct on that.

[Logrence]

We've seen nothing of Montoya this season - he's gone all grown up and sensible, almost - he's even got a baby! Very boring in the press conferences, hasn't come up with any crazy-wild overtaking maneouvres or anything. Kimi has driven some cracking races and so gets the better image.

McLaren are great at squeezing the life out of drivers; Kimi didn't have any in the first place, clearly better off there.

[Knowlesy]

Yes, I've felt they have squeezed the life out of him to some extent. The free spirit is gone, he seems less happy and chirpy and he looks very uncomfortable in the McLaren, which I guess was inevitable given he's new to the team. As a result, this season hasn't been great. However, I think he's done alright considering the shoulder injury and subsequent recovery period. I think his mind may be on next year.

As for the merchandising, whoever is winning sells most merchandise. I noticed at Silverstone this year less red and more black/silver blue/yellow.

I can't understand why people don't just stick to one or two drivers and support them all the way.

[thejester]

Interesting thread Peter.

I imagine the point that who's winning gets the merchandising profile is correct. So I imagine there would be a lean towards Kimi. However I would guess that the marketing/merchandising team also take the location of the gp into account, considering the geographical distribution of their drivers' respective fans. Perhaps they were expecting a large influx of Finnish fans? Is JPM less popular generally in europe? I suspect the situation would be different at Interlagos, Barcelona, Indy, possibly Canada, maybe even Monza??

[gringottsdirect]

Originally Posted by thejester

However I would guess that the marketing/merchandising team also take the location of the gp into account, considering the geographical distribution of their drivers' respective fans. I suspect the situation would be different at Indy ?

Agree with this.
At Indy ( as everybody knows probably ) most popular McLaren merchandising was definitely Montoya, in fact I only recall a small amount of Finnish / KR supporters - unsurprisingly given the distance.
There were some BAR fans, including a trio of face painted BAR codes walking around, some Renault, a few Coulthard - but probably 90% were either head to toe Ferrari supporters, shoes, socks, shorts, shirts, caps, jackets, flags and cool boxes or head to toe JPM supporters. Ferrari seemed to have the biggest amount of painted faces - the Colombians the most large flags.
Given the expense involved in buying all this stuff I was thinking JPMs fans must have spent a fortune in F1 merchandise with him changing from Williams.

Doesn't Hungary have the biggest influx of Finnish fans ?
I don't seem to see much Sauber, Minardi, Jordan these days but Red Bull are masters at marketing so we will see more of them no doubt.
Did they sell much Sauber merchandise at Canadian GP ?

[429CJ]

Originally Posted by gringottsdirect

Agree with this.
, in fact I only recall a small amount of Finnish / KR supporters - unsurprisingly given the distance.

Yeah, Minnesota and Wisconsin are too far from indy.

[gringottsdirect]

Originally Posted by 429CJ

Yeah, Minnesota and Wisconsin are too far from indy.

That's very good.
Now if you can find fifty people in Minnesota and Wisconsin that have heard of Kimi Raikkonen - I will watch my Fargo DVD instead of Lost this week as a punishment.

Seriously though - interesting point !

[429CJ]

I just wonder, how many of those Colombian spectators in Indy GP were actually from Florida?

[Jordi]

Originally Posted by knowlesy

I can't understand why people don't just stick to one or two drivers and support them all the way.

I do! That's why I have BAR and Sauber shirts and caps... (next year BMW?)

[Logrence]

Where's the fun in supporting a loser?