“Audience at F1 has different significance than football”

6:45 – Helmut Marko has high hopes for the Formula 1 season opener in Austria. The absence of an audience is annoying, but not much more than that. Fans are less missed in motorsport than in football according to Marko. In addition, he expects the races in Spielberg to set new ratings.

Four months have passed since the last Formula 1 meters during the winter tests in Barcelona. Enthusiasts now long for real action and will be served their beckons next weekend. That it will happen in Austria, makes Marko downright proud. “It is only now that you can see how important Formula 1 can be for Austria,” he kicks off in conversation with the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

The highest ratings ever for F1
The economic impact for the Styria region could of course have been even greater with fans on the track. The fact that the seats are empty is a loss for Marko, although the sporting consequences in his opinion are limited in racing. “A race behind closed doors has a completely different meaning in motorsport than in, for example, football. A driver is already locked in his cockpit, who usually also gets almost nothing of what is happening around him. As a result, the absence plays a role of audience for the feeling of the riders less of a role. “

An additional consequence is that all interested parties must follow the action via television or via digital platforms. In that respect, Marko has sky-high expectations for the races in the Alpine country. “This will be the first major digital event [van deze coronatijd]so I expect we will get higher ratings than ever before. “

Fear in F1 world greater than in Austrian society
Finally, for the people who still have to be present at the track in Spielberg, Marko repeats that strict measures are in force. “The fear of Formula 1 actually goes even further than the regulations in Austria,” said the 77-year-old Austrian. “Among other things, it is mandatory to wear a mouth mask and to keep a distance. As far as testing for corona is concerned, it will be my turn on Wednesday.” These tests would first be performed every two days on all F1 personnel, but the frequency has decreased to once every five days. Employees can still get tested immediately in case of complaints.

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