Will A1 gp ever take over from formula 1?.

[mitzi dude]

Just a thought do you think A1gp ever take over from F1, what do or does anyone think.

[Asp]

This has been discussed a number of times in the past, and the general opinion is no. They are very different ideas (F1 is best driver/constructor - A1GP is best team), they run at different times of the year, the cars are vastly different - A1GP was established as a compliment to F1, and there is no reason it should want to even try to take over from F1.

[Hazza]

The question I have is do you think that with the conclusioin of the season we'll see more F1 drivers?

Tony Kanaan I belive has stated he'd like to run for Brazil at the conclusion of the IRL season, and that'd be pretty cool to say the least!

[courageous]

F1 contracts being what they are, I think the only F1 drivers you are ever likely to see in A1 are guys like Sato, Albers, or Karthekein who need to prove themselves to F1 teams for next year.

[Mystery]

That's quite an exciting prospect though isn't it. Dan Wheldon in for Team GB anyone??? Then we might see if he can drive on a road course. Would be great to see TK in at Brazil as well but then again why would they change a winning team?

[muzza4ever]

Brazil don't need any more help!!!!!!

When you see how much quicker than everyone else Nelson was you know he's likely to be the driver of the series.

[Gaz]

Mr Piquet did well this weekend theres no doubt about it but I think the fact he is being run by ART will be a big factor in just how quick he was. They have dominated Euro F3 and now GP2 over recent seasons.

Piquet's always been superb around Brands, I followed him in his F3 days...on certain circuits such as Brands he's leagues above the competition, but he aint consistent from one circuit to the next. One day he's a word beater, he might go to Lausitzring and be absolutely nowhere, he's that kind of driver which is why I've never jumped on the "he's awesome" bandwaggon.

[Duffacus]

A1GP may have started as a "compliment" to F1 and wasn't designed to overtake it, but if the success and momentum of Brands Hatch continues... then who knows

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

Even though A1 has never intended to compete with F1, I think it's highly likely that in a few years A1's popularity will have made it the second tier of open wheelers.

[THR]

it was good to watch, and cheaper than the GP to goto! so its good but aint the same is it... id imagine it might do better in countries who have drivers and teams that aint in f1.
which i suppose is wot its all about really!!
i think it will be around a long time

[Wolffang]

I think it has a good chance to take over, and possibly overtake F1... Question is who is the true World Champion???

A1 is truely a global event.. one day we will see many more countries joining...

We will have to see...

It was an awesome race at Brands Hatch.. I was there to experience it all...

Read the MSV review

[thejester]

Well the championship deciding F1 race a couple of hours later was an absolute snooze-fest by comparison. Never thought I'd say this, as I'[ve been a devoted F1 fan for years, but were there a choice to make tomorrow between watching a F1 race and an A1GP meeting...I'd watch the A1.

Hopefully F1 will get a wake up call and finally work out a way to generate more on-track competition.

However, if the money stays in F1, so will the best people.

[Adam43]

This discussion does A1GP no favours IMHO. It is different and good. if you are having to say 'and it was better than F1' then you are demonstrating a chip on your shoulder and that you aren't.

There is a motorsport world outside F1. A1GP is part of it. Just enjoy it, rather than have to prove something.

If you want to talk detail then the teams and the drivers are not of the calibre of F1(by a long way IMHO). So what? It is A1GP and we have had one race. The day when it has made it will be the day we discuss a race and not have to refer to F1.

Frankly I enjoyed them both. There were some fantastic moves in the opening laps of the F1 race and a flat out blast for the rest of it and we got a new (F1) world champion. The A1 race was good too, much finding of feet, but a couple of great drives by a dominant Brazilian team. I look forward to the next event in both series.

[Mystery]

I think you have a fair point Adam to say that this kind of discussion doesnt do the series any favours because it really isnt trying to be F1 and isnt trying to compete with it either.........yet

At the same time though I think there will come the day when people are going to choose whether to watch A1 or F1 and that's when the discussion becomes relevant. On Sunday's evidence I would (just) choose A1, and for a first race weekend it was a pretty good start.

Will it ever take over from F1 - nope - F1 will either progress or kill itself first

[jump]

Originally Posted by muzza4ever

Brazil don't need any more help!!!!!!

When you see how much quicker than everyone else Nelson was you know he's likely to be the driver of the series.

He was phenomenal I thought

[Go-Pakistan]

Nelson Piquet Jr. hasn't done so well in GP2, but he was the clearly the best at Brands.

It will be good to see other drivers winning races so there is a fight for the championship. It creates a level playing field as it's a one-make series, unlike era's of team domination in F1, like McLaren, Williams and Ferrari.

Looking forward to next race....does anyone know about terrestrial (uk) TV coverage or is it only on sky sports?

Nice one.

[Andrew Kitson]

No. Grand Prix racing, F1 or whatever it will be called in the future, will be top dog.
The A1-GP is a great idea and has had very clever marketing. It will receive tremendous coverage in the winter months when no other racing is happening and despite the hype on the TV and in the daily press, it is not the new F1. It was never intended to be, despite claims of 'Grand Prix racing returns to Brands Hatch'. The best engineers and designers in the business work in F1 to make their cars go faster, not working on an off-the-shelf 'one make' kit car.
It is basically F3000 in a frilly dress and receiving the marketing that F3000 should have had. The nation thing is a good idea to attract interest, as 46,000 spectators at Brands will testify. But it needs top drivers and they will always go to the pinnacle where the motor manufacturers can pay them top dollar.
...and A1-GP does not have Monaco, one of the three most famous races in the world.
But it will succeed in it's own marketplace no doubt and provide employment for many in the winter. But F1 it isn't!

[Redracer77]

I read about the 46,000 but there must have been a load more than that there......

Maybe it was 46,000 declared to the taxman and 30,000 that paid cash and slipped through the net!!!

[Andrew Kitson]

I reckon 46K was about right. You could still see grass on South Bank which was not overflowing as it was at the 80s 'Mansellmania' Grands Prix, when only a sea of faces could be seen with no parking allowed on there.

[Andrew Kitson]

Here is a shot of a really crowded Brands meeting. The last GP there in '86. The crowd was like this across the whole of South Bank.

[Gaz]

Christ, I'm glad I wasn't trying to get out of the car park that day!

[Andrew Kitson]

I was parked in the field across the road from the paddock entrance - next to the M20. It took 6 hours to reach the Dartford tunnel!

[muzza4ever]

Go-Pakistan - Sky Sports has exlcusive UK rights I'm afraid.

[jump]

Good pic that mate.

[mctshirt]

Originally Posted by Andrew Kitson

No. Grand Prix racing, F1 or whatever it will be called in the future, will be top dog.
The A1-GP is a great idea and has had very clever marketing. It will receive tremendous coverage in the winter months when no other racing is happening and despite the hype on the TV and in the daily press, it is not the new F1. It was never intended to be, despite claims of 'Grand Prix racing returns to Brands Hatch'. The best engineers and designers in the business work in F1 to make their cars go faster, not working on an off-the-shelf 'one make' kit car.
It is basically F3000 in a frilly dress and receiving the marketing that F3000 should have had. The nation thing is a good idea to attract interest, as 46,000 spectators at Brands will testify. But it needs top drivers and they will always go to the pinnacle where the motor manufacturers can pay them top dollar.
...and A1-GP does not have Monaco, one of the three most famous races in the world.
But it will succeed in it's own marketplace no doubt and provide employment for many in the winter. But F1 it isn't!

I agree with you 100% Andrew but there's a bigger picture.

A1GP cannot replace F1. Formula 1 is the pinnacle of chassis/engine construction in the world of motorsport and will always attract drivers, mechanics, engineers, etc. who want to work at being the best in the world in motorsport. As you can appreciate it has only been ever increasing financial reward since the sixties...I believe Jackie Stewart was one of the first drivers to stick his hand out in a big way to drive a Formula 1 car. Bernie has turned the sport into a circus requiring very large amounts of money to continue the way it does. This is where A1GP comes in...what happens if A1GP snowballs into the spectacle the hype would have us believe it will?

All the tons of money that previously was poured into F1 from TV coverage, sponsorship, track/promoter fees, etc. is slowly but surely sucked away to A1GP leaving the circus if it hasn't split into 2 or 3 parts (depending on who's fighting with who) high and financially dry and still boring to watch. This is a very big ''if" I'll grant you but I believe it is what the great unwashed are referring to when they say A1GP will take over F1. The anoraks will know F1 is the top dog but mum, dad and the kids and their disposable income will be at the A1GP if the promoters get it right.

F3000 in a frilly dress it may be but what's to stop A1GP changing it's dress as long as everyones got the same one (so it can't be F1). In the future it may attract talent on the way up or down depending on the state of F1. Some may stay if they get to be a good enough demi-god. Monaco is historic but it is nothing more than a shopfront for F1 these days. Monaco will never see the glory days of Fangio again...to call the modern Monaco Gp important is to hark back to a past when the old Nurburgring was considered safe enough and Spa didn't need a bus stop. Time will tell but if Formula 1 wants to keep it's cash cow away from A1GP it better start having more than one interesting race a year.