Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently advocated for shorter Grand Prix races. The Italian not only supports the idea of a reverse starting grid but also believes that many new fans would benefit from slightly shorter races. Many enthusiasts and drivers oppose Domenicali’s plans, although former driver and ex-FIA steward Johnny Herbert sees merit in shorter races. In particular, he believes the Monaco Grand Prix could benefit from a few less laps.
“There is an issue with the length of the race – we feel it’s a bit too long for younger viewers,” Stefano Domenicali said ahead of the Italian Grand Prix. “We see on many of our channels that highlights are extremely popular; perhaps the full race is good for those who grew up with Formula 1, but a large part of the audience only wants to see the key moments.” As expected, these statements caused quite a stir among both fans and drivers. For instance, Fernando Alonso responded by saying ‘football matches are not made shorter either’.
Former driver Johnny Herbert, on the other hand, agrees with Domenicali’s plans. He sees how some races could even benefit from a shorter format. “In Monaco, a shorter race could work,” Herbert said in an interview with Racing Tipster. “I think it would intensify the race and thereby produce even better races than we currently have.” The Monaco Grand Prix has been under pressure from fans for years, as the narrow street circuit often results in a procession.
Decline in Viewership
“I agree with him (Domenicali), there are races that last too long,” Herbert continued. “I remember the viewership numbers from my time in television. At the start, everyone was glued to the screen, then there was a drop in the middle, and then everyone came back at the end for the climax. If you trim that down a bit, there’s a good chance you’ll hold the viewer’s attention for longer. You simply can’t walk away, because something can always happen.”
Herbert also has ideas to increase engagement with the live broadcasts. “If there’s a sprint race weekend, you could organize two short races of similar distance,” he suggested. “Perhaps that would satisfy both parties, including the race fans.” This year, changes were made to the Monaco GP in hopes of organizing a more exciting race. For instance, all drivers were required to make two pit stops. However, this did not yield the desired result; teams had their drivers block the entire field to protect their positions.
