Critical of the hurriedly enforced radio ban, Williams Pat Symonds is also unhappy at the sport's failure to listen to its fans.

Curiously, when asked about the ban on performance radio communications at the official press conference on Friday, Sauber boss Monisha Kaltenborn claimed that it resulted from "complaints that were raised by the fans".

Ignoring the fact that the sport has never really listened to the complains of fans, and certainly not reacted with such haste, just twenty-four hours earlier Bernie Ecclestone had taken credit for the move.

At a subsequent media briefing which only further muddied the waters, when asked who was responsible for the ban, Charlie Whiting would only reveal that it followed a meeting of the Strategy Group in Monza.

Pressed a little harder the Briton merely replied; "it's not for me to say what goes on in those meetings", which suggests that it was indeed Mr Ecclestone... and not a group of frustrated fans banging down the doors.

Whilst reaction to the ban amongst fans appears mixed, and taking Kaltenborn's curious claim into account, it was interesting to hear Williams Pat Symonds speak on the issue at the weekend.

"Unfortunately Formula One doesn't ask the public what it does enjoy and that's a great shame," he told Sky Sports News.

Symonds has often shown he has his finger on the pulse regarding such matters, a couple of years back he asked why the sport wasn't actively engaging with sports fans who chose to spend their weekends out shopping rather than watching qualifying or the race. At the time, Pitpass asked why the sort wasn’t engaging with F1 fans who were out shopping rather than watching qualifying or the race

Interestingly, despite Ecclestone's belief that social media is a 'passing fad', the official F1 website began ramping up its Twitter activity at the weekend, even if much of the content - obligingly re-tweeted by a number of the teams - was as soulless and prosaic as one might expect.

Perhaps, the sport should spend a bit more time listening to the likes of Symonds, after all, he like many others working in the sport, began and remains a fan.

Chris Balfe

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by f1fan, 23/09/2014 22:14

"I agree with P. Symonds that Formula1 should listen to us the fans and not
just ignore us. Without us fans, Formula1 will have no companies who are willing to spend millions of dollars to advertise on the race cars or the race tracks itself. Give us at least the benefit of the doubt, we are not stupid.
"

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2. Posted by jo6pac, 22/09/2014 22:17

"What a concept listening to the fans. If CVC sells then maybe but until then not much of a chance of that happening. Sad.

Watched my first race for a few minutes Sunday and was taken by the lack of sound by the cars, ugly and quite and I can't wait until the last race and that double points thingy;)"

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3. Posted by Paul C, 22/09/2014 21:31

"Monisha needs to quit listening to the complaints of the fans and get her cars running stronger. I'd rather hear all of the advice on the radio. Maybe F1 needs spotters like NASCAR - ask Lewis and Nico about that."

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 22/09/2014 19:36

"I thought that the nadir had been reached & the depths well & truly plumbed in the era of Max 'n Bernie, it only shows how wrong you can be.

Bernie is rapidly using up whatever "goodwill" he accumulated during the years when his ceaseless wheeler-dealing appeared beneficial to at least some in the sport. If he was half as smart as he's supposed to be, he'd leave now with what few scraps of reputation he has left still intact"

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5. Posted by Darvi, 22/09/2014 17:08

"Ecclestone has for years believed that he and only he knew what was right or wrong for Formula 1 and for a number of years he didn't do a bad job. In the last 10 he's gone a bit Maggie Thatcher with all the new circuits in places where no-one can afford to watch the race. He's 84 and needs to make way for someone with younger and better ideas. Meanwhile Todt seems to be determined not to do anything constructive. Sadly the teams association has imploded (orchestrated by Bernie) and the sport is going nowhere."

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6. Posted by Editor, 22/09/2014 17:07

"You mean the one that formerly sponsored McLaren?

Talking of pissed...."

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7. Posted by markscottuk, 22/09/2014 17:04

"Maybe they were all pissed on the official F1 Whiskey at the time?"

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8. Posted by kiwi2wheels, 22/09/2014 11:36

"Monisha Kaltenborn is a disgrace to the Sauber legacy, a typical PC "diversity " appointment to appease some (potential ?) sponsor ? And a lawyer, did they think she would become another Max Mosley ?

I suppose her training has been useful for keeping the hoards of unpaid creditors at bay though.................

"

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9. Posted by my tyres are going off, 22/09/2014 10:55

"This space left blank as no one listens"

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Symonds talks sense

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