One of my many "blog" on F1 Fan Voice, this was posted a few months ago. So no hatred for the Augmented Reality graphics mentioned.
F1’s Great Information Censorship.
Fans need better access to the wealth of information F1 has.
For a sport that has enough numbers to fill a small continent, fans are left starved of even the basics. In a world where accessibility is key to interest, F1, FOM and FIA are performing admirably in hiding information, with their unrivalled restriction in the sporting world. Coupled with the poorest presentation of the sport since the dawn of the digital age.
F1 branding and digital platforms presentation has been overhauled. This overhaul brought many flaws and no improvements, leading to it even harder to follow the sport in its basic form, let alone get a little bit more detailed information.
One could not be more disappointed when looking for results. The official website for practice sessions show classification only, we are lucky to get a bit more info for qualifying and race, but still very limited.
Information for F1 practice sessions, the best part of the weekend, needs to be seriously overhauled. Fans follow free practice to start speculation for the weekend by analysing all the info they can get their hands on. F1 official outlets supply’s then with nothing, in it’s current format.
Where is the wealth of information that this sport gushes? It feels like a fan has to go to the dark web to find even the slightest but more information from a session. A little more detail is found over on the FIA website, why? Even then it’s impossible to navigate to, and then you have to download a file to view the info. Such an awful service.
F1 needs to follow MotoGP website result section. There is a great deal of timing and session information, that is easy to find and access. Classification, lap analysis which shows every lap time INCLUDING sector times, for every lap completed in a session. All speed trap figures, all fastest lap sequences, tyre usage, even the weather for any session. All viewable within the site, no downloads necessary.
The Portal’s.
The official website has never been on point, yet it managed to regress. One of the worst font tyre in history has been used, one that is a struggle to read, that is too wide. It’s layout is slow, cumbersome and poor to navigate. While causing eyestrain with its overkill use of white (like all medias current trend, to ensure humans are blind in two years).
Leading onto the dire TV graphics. That have all the hallmarks of being untested, with no user group input. The presentation of the sport having a general trend of being vague, obtrusive and at times irrelevant or inaccurate, if it isn’t malfunctioning. It’s a portal into the sport and is critical.
- The font has infected all corners, due to its bad design, being too wide, is causing graphics to be ugly and obtrusive.
- Massive amount of information missing from the timing tower, we were lucky to have times displayed. Especially during practice sessions, as those that watch these want a wealth of information. Times, tyres, run number, pit/track status.
- Timing tower should never be off the screen.
- As soon as a time is posted, there is no need to show full names with manufacture logo’s, it brings nothing informative or important to the show.
- It’s hard to differentiate the on track name highlight and in pits name dullness. Needs a clear indicator a “P” or name/number in black or in red.
- No tyre info. Tyre info with number of laps completed with said tyre set. Just like MotoGP have added this year.
- Run number would also be nice, just like MotoGP.
- Real time lap time at the bottom of the screen was very obnoxious, mainly due to the new font and box size. As well has displaying the sessions fastest lap in the same box, isn’t needed.
- Actual sector times need to be on the real time timer, instead of just “S1 S2 S3” and the corresponding sector colour at the bottom.
- More live timings needed at bottom of screen during practice sessions. It was always one at a time.
- The qualifying “Driver in danger” was hilarious, So over dramatic. ’Muerica. I found it confusing though as it had a red line at the top of the “Driver in danger” so, to me, that meant the driver was in drop zone. that line needs to indicate the actual drop zone, like it used to, coupled with the red numbered positions.
- Telemetry, needs an off board graphic like there used to have. Nice compact, none obtrusive, very informative circular graphic in the corner. The onbaord Halo is ok, but due to different camera angles on some cars it doesn’t work and is too obtrusive. See. IMG.2
- Brake indicator for telemetry, there is no way drivers are 100% on the brakes every time they press the pedal. It needs to be dynamic like the throttle application display.
- Tyre symbols are hideous, Why the gaps in the circle? Use the previous symbols, bold colour and form. Full colour for new tyres, grey out centres for used tyres.
- “Driver in danger” box in confusing due to a simple redline. The redline should be at the bottom of the box. It indicates the cut off for the drop zone. Having it located above the box confuses the viewer.
- See IMG.1 for a vastly improved timing tower. With all the important info, displayed and easy to read.
The Pre and Post Game. Intro too long, and uninspiring, both audibly and visually. Nothing iconic about the F1 theme tune at all, rid of it next year and it wouldn’t be missed. As F1 is about to be locked out behind paywalls. Use Fleetwood Mac – The Chain, that has been iconic for British audiences, and is truly perfect for the sport.
At least they didn’t play music during the race. Which was a very believable vicious rumour going around before the start of the season. Indy car do it and it’s awful.
If podium interviews weren’t awkward enough. Post session track interviews took it too another level, becoming impossible to watch. Drivers, haven’t even set foot on the ground and a mic is rammed into their face. It needs to change, delay the interviews for a couple of minutes, let the drivers de-rig and settle a little. Then they can engage fully for the benefit of the fans. Vettel has realised how awful they are and is successfully avoiding them.
What’s really funny is how these things are an issue. compared to MotoGP there are no complaints, I only have praise, because it’s getting better and better, both online and on TV. Clear, easy to read and fully understand, supplying fans with a feast of information. While the presentation is a joy to watch and has zero cringe level, compared to F1.
IMG.1
IMG.2