Question for F1 followers
 

Do you like the new format of interviews on the podium? I kinda liked the press conference style from previous years. Everyone looks awkward and ill at ease including the guest interviews. Just my .02$ worth.

It seems a bit less serious. I like seeing the older F1 drivers doing the questioning though. Vettel was funny yesterday hamming it up with Coulthard, dumping that champagne substitute on his head while he was talking to Kimi.

I don't. They all seem lightweight to me. I understand the logic of doing them in front of the assembled fans there on the start/finish straight. But I much preferred the old format, in which we seemed to get much deeper questions and answers.

the old format was boring, and all the drivers would do is fidget with the mic and their hat, at our local watching party we used to make bets on how many times a driver would touch the mic. (kimi was the all time leader at this). anyway, now the mics are in their hands, and they are not as close to each other, and that helps them to be slightly more aggressive towards each other

Like the older format better but do like the former drivers doing the interviewing.

That said, I do miss Peter Windsor as well doing the interviewing...

Kimi won not only the race but the interview as well. totally funny how he poked fun at the press and any other critic of his "not smiling enough" and then poked the other podium finisher in fun about not being much of competition. The Vettel had to one up him in the smack talk. Alonso was just glad he was not further back in the field. and thinking how the hell did Vettel get from the back to the podium.

Yeah, all good points, I understand also that it was done for the adoring fans
gathered below the podium, but I think I prefer the old press conf style for the better questions and answers. I sorta liked the fidgeting, Kimi was always the least interested and Button was usually very smooth. Mic touching seemed to be the thing to do for all of them. They look quite awkward holding the mic now. I'm guessing Andretti will be the guest interviewer at Austin. It was a long time coming, hope it's a good one! (The race)

Why can't they do both? I was at Singapore and the podium interview seemed trite and most people were sort of ignoring it. Why not a few minutes on the podium saying their politically correct sponsorship statements and then an in-depth interview with the drivers afterwards.

I mean, come on, you have just come off of 2 hours of intense, concentrated effort and now some twit asks you in front of a crowd "what were your feelings on lap 27 with Bloggo came close to your rear tire?". Let them say their nice piece and then a more thorough, in depth interview once they have had a few minutes to collect their thoughts and analyze what happened.

Having said that, I suspect that BBC will introduce time delay as, to paraphrase Mr. Coulthard, "drivers are working in their second language and don't know wtf is correct language for international TV".

D.

Like the new format. The old format was boring and you could pretty much already guess everyone's answers since its the same week over week. With the new format you still get the same answers but its in a much more relaxed atmosphere. I like seeing the people they bring in to do the interviews and its cool to hear the fans react to what the drivers say.

The drivers are just one cliche after another in the old format. There's a chance the new format could force a response other than the usual. I was expecting a lot more from Eddie Jordan though.

I prefer the new format because it is more light-hearted and less serious than before. The old format was kind of like being in a business meeting and lacked the "fun" surrounding a GP.

I like the old format with other drivers or peter Windsor.......

Well, they do.

You may not see it on the broadcast but there is more to the post race interviews than the crap that's conducted on the podium. If you don't see it on TV (thanks Speed...) you can read the transcripts of it.

JR

I like the new deal better, more continuity, more levity, is good for the crowd there and those watching on TV also. Also like the guest interviewer, kind of a wild card in the mix.

Someone needs to coach Vettel on bottle spraying etiquette. His mischievous child act just doesn't fly in this setting. Last race it was the beautiful women on the podium.

In the old interview format we used to laugh at all the flashing of the sponsors watches. It just seemed weird to pluck them out of the moment to sit down and do their spiel.

Cheers Richard