Sebastian Vettel admitted he is disappointed Formula One is no longer using grid girls but said he is supportive of some changes Liberty Media has made.
“I heard last year continuously people around the track supporting us, there was more things to do it was a bit more fun which I think is great,” he said in today’s FIA press conference.
“In general I think I’m a traditionalist, I like to hold on to certain things so probably there’s a lot of things I’m not a specialist in and I’ll need to understand,” he added. ”
“So I’m a bit confused why the races start later. A bit sad there are no more grid girls. But other than that there are not many changes yet. I think we need to wait.”
But he added “there’s been a lot of good progress over the last year in terms of how we engage with fans, the openness.”
“I think it’s part of a long process of learning where to go. I don’t think anyone probably in this room knows what is the key to Formula One moving forwards and succeeding. It’s a difficult question to answer but they’re doing the best they can and we’ll try to support them the best way they can.”
The paddock atmosphere has improved under Liberty, according to Daniel Ricciardo.
“There’s been some good initiatives within the paddock,” he said, “especially a lot of the European races where there’s the fixed team structures and it feels like week in, week out you’re just rolling into the same deal and everyone goes straight to their motorhome and that’s kind of it.”
“There’s generally a lot of friends or fans or VIPs in amongst the paddock but they’re kind of secluded so they’ve tried to create a bit of a bar and a common area, get some music in the paddock and create more of an atmosphere.
“The on-track stuff for us, the racing, that doesn’t change. But at least the fans and the people involved get a good deal.”
2018 F1 season
- McLaren staff told us we were “totally crazy” to take Honda engines in 2018 – Tost
- ‘It doesn’t matter if we start last’: How Red Bull’s junior team aided Honda’s leap forward
- Honda’s jet division helped F1 engineers solve power unit problem
- McLaren Racing losses rise after Honda split
- Ricciardo: Baku “s***show” was Red Bull’s fault
JCost (@jcost)
22nd March 2018, 6:18
Is Vettel the only traditionalist who loves the halo? 🤔
Joao (@johnmilk)
22nd March 2018, 9:18
He understands the halo, different from loving it. Same thing here, he acknowledges the changes amd acknowledges that he will have to understand them.
Wasn’t Vettel that jokes around when there were grid boys in Brasil?
Regardless, I think the move to get rid of the grid girls was a good one, but as I mentioned before not for the reason most of the people point at.
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
22nd March 2018, 16:12
@jcost It’s not like you can dislike it, publicly speaking. You’d be going against the drivers association and the fia, not to mention, common sense. The only fool to publicly despise the halo is Magnussen, whose career is certainly about to end.
JCost (@jcost)
22nd March 2018, 19:23
Didn’t Lewis bashed it publicly?
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
22nd March 2018, 6:36
Lewis practically lecturing Daniel that he should be grateful with RedBull and not rock the boat too hard and upset his current team.
Niedle (@niedle)
22nd March 2018, 6:44
More like Hamilton already playing mindgames to upset RBR. Praising Verstappen, warning Ric. He already tries to put them against eachother and the the season hasnt even begun.
Joao (@johnmilk)
22nd March 2018, 9:28
I’m assuming this comment was meant to be in the round-up?
Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
22nd March 2018, 16:14
@ruliemaulana what?
You mean Ham is afraid of having Daniel for a team-mate.
Bobby (@f1bobby)
22nd March 2018, 9:54
I agree with Vettel, proof that there is a first time for everything!
rushfan
22nd March 2018, 11:44
Caveman
Bobby (@f1bobby)
22nd March 2018, 13:27
Puritan.
rushfan
22nd March 2018, 14:25
another caveman
Bobby (@f1bobby)
22nd March 2018, 17:08
Haha.
joe pineapples
22nd March 2018, 11:48
Me too (and enjoyed it), and the music style was very much of that era. Its 2018 now though isn’t it.
Robert
22nd March 2018, 18:29
Music is fine but for the cat sounds in the background… or maybe that was a car? have to wait and see during the broadcast intro.