F1 as an Olympic event

Just seen an interesting BBC article, positing the idea of introducing F1 to the Olympics.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/36937800

They go through a number of pros and cons and while they do provide good answers to all the questions they pose, they ignore a few fundamental problems:

1. Yet another race to squeeze into an already-crowded schedule.
2. Getting FOM, the FIA and the teams to agree to an additional race.
3. Agreeing on the specs of a standardised Olympic car (not to mention the cost).
4. Running cars in national liveries with no sponsors' logos (and wearing unbranded overalls)?
5. Altering drivers' contracts so they can compete in a non-championship race.
6. Would all drivers want to compete at the Olympics?

Its a nice idea and one that I personally like, but I think the above issues would stop it ever becoming a reality.

I think the Olympics should have motorsports events, for bikes and cars. 3 each - speed, off-road and obstacle / skill based. I think it would be hard - if not impossible, to get pro drivers involved, for contractual reasons, but I'm sure there are plenty of amateur drivers with racing licences who would love the chance to compete.

Thoughts?

No chance. We have kind of had this with A1 GP (nation vs nation) & it was pretty abysmal.

You'd never get F1 or even F1 lite just for the sheer costs of it.

GSC wrote:You'd never get F1 or even F1 lite just for the sheer costs of it.

Yeah - that was one of my thoughts...plus the contractual and sponsorship hassles.


Still, that doesn't rule out motorsport of some form being introduced. It would just have to feature amateur drivers / riders...or at least ones that don't have to worry about multi-million pound contracts and/or sponsorship deals.

Also wouldn't cost that much (comparatively) to create some standardised cars / bikes, rather than the technical monstrosities that F1 cars have become.

Manufacturers would queue up to get a standard car used. Sponsorship value is immense.

Don't think there's any appetite to get a new sport in the Olympics where a machine does all the work mind. Horses seem to be fine.

I dont think you'd have much issue getting F1 drivers in though. As long as it was in the first week.

GSC wrote:Manufacturers would queue up to get a standard car used. Sponsorship value is immense.

Don't think there's any appetite to get a new sport in the Olympics where a machine does all the work mind. Horses seem to be fine.

As some journalist noted, you'd just be swapping one type of horsepower for another.

Aye, to be honest of the list of sports id like to see in the Olympics, motorsport is pretty far down. But I'm beginning to get bored of F1 so I may be biased.

Well, I agree motorsport is hardly necessary, but given they have crap like rhythmic gymnastics, beach volleyball and dressage, I think it'd be a good substitute.

As for F1, its so close to becoming irredeemably broken, my enthusiasm is waning too. So many fundamental problems that nobody wants to address. I think the new regs next season will improve things a bit, but will still fall well short of creating genuinely exciting races.

Whatever next?? Darts in the Olympics as well? No way should F1 ever be in the Olympic Games.

I'd tend to agree. F1 is something of a purists' sport and not something I'd expect your typical Olympics fan to want to watch.

However I do believe there is a place for motorsport events. After all, chariot races were included in the ancient Olympics.