The Grand Prix Drivers' Association has launched a survey aimed at garnering fans thoughts on the sport.

The online survey comprises fifty questions on all aspects of F1, and is aimed at all types of fan, from armchair enthusiasts to committed race-goers.

"As F1 drivers we share a passion and deep love for our sport with our fans," said GPDA Chairman Alex Wurz. "We want to give every F1 fan the opportunity to share that passion and for us to understand what they really think about us and our sport.

We've heard the calls for fans to be consulted and this is our initiative to make that a reality," he added.

The GPDA, which was formed in 1961, is widely seen as the F1 drivers 'union', though it has had little significance in recent years, certainly in terms of speaking up for the men actually laying their lives on the line.

Be it the regulations, track or car design, the drivers’ union is rarely consulted for its members opinions.

Whilst anything that allows fans to voice their feelings must be recognised as a good thing, one cannot help but feel that as they say about voting, if it was to have any real significance it would be made illegal.

Indeed, speaking at today's FIA press conference, Christian Horner appeared to doubt the survey.

"I'm not sure that it's the drivers' specialist area," he said. "The GPDA was essential set up as a safety group, to look at circuit safety, drivers' safety, drivers' protection.

"It's great that they feel that they want to engage with the fans," he added. "I'm sure they'll be willing to put a lot more time in and get out there and meet them."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by CrisBD, 07/06/2015 7:25

"I did this survey but it didn't want my opinion on the way to make F1 more interesting which means, unfortunately, it was a waste of time.

F1 is a race, and the restriction on fuel flow equalizes the speed of cars. They all have the same amount of fuel, if they wish to use more to go faster at one point and therefore slower later that should be up to them. They want more overtaking, then allow them more power by using fuel faster and they will. Some complain that this would make the cars faster - but hello - without one car being faster than another, it's tough to overtake! Wake up, this is exactly what's needed...

Pettifogging rules such as this one which disqualified the Australian F1 winner last year are widely seen as ridiculous and a big turn off. No wonder they're losing spectators."

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2. Posted by phantom, 23/05/2015 10:25

"Of course. To hell with what the fans may think! Has F1 itself ever asked the fans? Let Horner watch a few races as a 'fan,' then he'd understand how bloody boring 'The Show' has become. Right now F1 is about as exciting as waiting for Election results in a Banana Republic."

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3. Posted by Jonno, 22/05/2015 21:15

"A complete and utter waste of time.
"

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4. Posted by Burton, 22/05/2015 18:21

"nice, well made survey (if you reply you haven't been to a race in the last twelve months you still have to pick a race you went to..)..."

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5. Posted by Gilly58, 22/05/2015 13:11

"where did my original post go?
"

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6. Posted by Spindoctor, 22/05/2015 7:54

"@Chris Balfe
Such cynicism .....

In respect of these surveys, I'm not exactly sure what the point (data-harvesting aside) might be.
F1 is not a democracy, and most certainly not run for fans.
I don't think that anyone who's followed the sport with more than a passing interest is in any doubt about what's needed, and I'm pretty sure that much could be done by FIA et al to make the necessary changes. If they had the wit or the will to do so.

Since the Max\Bernie bromance which handed Bernie the keys to the kingdom, it appears that he\CVC call all the shots, if only by manipulating all the other vested interests using crude divide & conquer."

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7. Posted by Editor, 22/05/2015 6:57

"And pure coincidence that the two biggest online publishers in motorsport run their ‘fan surveys’ at precisely the same time...

At least it will harvest a few more thousand email addresses for their databases.

The survey(s) won’t make a blind bit of difference – other than to give me a topic for the next podcast."

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8. Posted by Joop deBruin, 22/05/2015 2:03

"I did check it out before their website collapse. And I hate to tell you gents, there was no mention of being able to vote for scantily clad grid girls, so keep it out of your minds!"

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9. Posted by Joop deBruin, 22/05/2015 1:57

"Their digital people don't know how to buy hosted web services, so they are pretty much housed right now due to participation levels being high. http://gpda.motorsport.com/"

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10. Posted by TORC, 21/05/2015 21:52

"Great idea! Internet searches don't turn up a URL link to the survey anywhere which seems to undermine it's usefulness. It's very underwhelming that CVC, Ecclestone or the FIA haven't proactively already done this. Governance by democracy is (As current F1 illustrates) illusory at best..."

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