MARK WEBBER: F1 FANS HAVE TOO MUCH ACCESS TO DRIVERS AND THE SPORT

Ex-Formula 1 star Mark Webber controversially believes fans have too much access to the paddock and the stars at the highest level of the sport.

Speaking to motorsport.com, the former Minardi, Jaguar and Red Bull contender rebuked the longstanding notion that F1 is too closed off to the general public. It was a response to Fernando Alonso’s recent debrief of his World Endurance Championship stint in which he said the access fans have to that discipline would cause Formula 1 drivers to “hide even more.”

Webber took it a step further, stating that the stars of Formula 1 need to be seen as exclusive and on a pedestal — even on social media.

“You’ve got to be very careful because the drivers still need to be heroes and something that’s still a little bit hard to touch and feel,” Webber told the website. “We might have gone a bit too far with that in terms of access and social media. We’ve got to be careful we don’t trivialize their profession.

“Roger Federer is not doing any interviews before Wimbledon. Access has absolutely got to be kept an eye on.”

Speaking at the Goodwood Festival, the former open-wheel and sports car contender said Formula 1 could stand to learn something from the picnic and family-friendly atmosphere of the famed tennis event.

Source: Autoweek