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Brawn: F1 against gimmicks like reversed grids for 2021 overhaul

Ross Brawn does not want reversed grids to be adopted by Formula 1 as part of the 2021 overhaul and believes that such "gimmicks" would turn fans off.

Brawn's team is currently working with the FIA on both the 2021 technical package and changes to the sporting regulations, designed to promote closer competition and better racing.

The introduction of a point for the fastest lap is an early example of that push but Brawn stresses that there will not be a revolution in the race format.

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"I think fans like change when it brings better racing and better entertainment," Brawn told Autosport.

"They may object to change if they see it being done for the wrong reasons. And maybe people are a bit uncomfortable when things change.

"I personally think there are some references that we have to keep - the length of the race, and the nature of the race.

"I don't think reverse grids would be at the right level for F1. It works in other formulae, we know that from our own experience.

"But there are different requirements in F2 than F1. We're definitely not into gimmicks, we're into nurturing and developing the racing, and understanding what the fans enjoy, and seeing how we can give them more of what they enjoy with integrity.

"We don't want it to be gimmicky. Because I think that will turn fans off."

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Brawn says F1 has learned a lot about its fans from its market research but adds it still has work to do in order to fully understand their interests.

"We're learning more and more about our fans, and what they enjoy, and the nature of motor racing fans," said Brawn.

"It's fascinating to start to understand the interests of our fans, and what they like to see and what they don't like to see.

"But I think they accept change when it's going in the right direction.

"I mean, 2021 is a big change. I think there will be some who see the cars and don't like them, but I hope the majority will see the cars and love them. They'll certainly love the benefits they'll see out on the track.

"Because it's never been done before we don't have lessons learned yet. We haven't done the full cycle in terms of changing things in response to the market research, and seeing were it goes. We have in smaller areas.

"And it is all about what questions you ask. If you ask a fan do you want to see closer racing and more overtaking?, the answer is a clear 'yes.'

"No one is ever going to say 'no' to that.

"But then it's getting deeper than that. What aspects do they love, is it about the drivers, is it about the teams, is it the combination, is it the tracks, the format of the racing?

"And there's a lot of very useful stuff coming out of the market research.

"We've got some very experienced people in the company, but it's a new thing for F1, so we need to just proceed a little bit cautiously. But there's a lot of good stuff."

Zdroj: autosport.com