SUZUKA - 2014 Japanese Grand Prix

[Jericoke]

Hamilton's move on Rosberg was very good, but all in all this was a very bad event.  They should have started the race earlier to avoid the bad weather and impending darkness.  I've got nothing against racing in the rain, but experience of very wet Grand Prix at Suzuka (remember when Brundle's McLaren hit a marshal at the 1994 event held in similar conditions?) should have told them that bringing the start forward to avoid the worst of the weather would have been sensible.

We hear so much about how FOM's race fees are crippling promoters and require high ticket prices in order to recoup their investment.

My understanding is that most fans arrived via bullet train, the cost of which was included in the ticket price.  Fans couldn't just get on another train, there was no other train.  If they ran the race ahead of schedule, they would have to refund half the tickets.

Any chance those refunds would come out of Bernie's pockets?

[cosworth151]

I'm sure that an earlier start time would have voided many of the international TV contracts, too. That would have come directly from Bernie's pocket.

[Jericoke]

I'm sure that an earlier start time would have voided many of the international TV contracts, too. That would have come directly from Bernie's pocket.

Well, the way the BBC commentators were talking, it sounded like local organizers were the obstacle, not Bernie.  I'm sure that when dealing with 'live' events, the contracts are very generous (in Bernie's favour) when it comes to moving times.  That's the risk of covering live outdoor events.

[Irisado]

I still think that they could have found a way to start the race earlier.  The fact is that there just wasn't enough of a will to do so between Ecclestone, the FIA, and the circuit promoter/owner.  Had they wanted to change the time, they could have found ways to get fans into the circuit earlier in my opinion.

[Jericoke]

I still think that they could have found a way to start the race earlier.  The fact is that there just wasn't enough of a will to do so between Ecclestone, the FIA, and the circuit promoter/owner.  Had they wanted to change the time, they could have found ways to get fans into the circuit earlier in my opinion.

Rail schedules aren't very flexible.  It's not possible to run a train whenever you wish.  Even if the organizers managed to convince the Japanese government that they needed an 'emergency' train schedule due to the upcoming storm, surely the people of Japan would be appalled that in a time of emergency public resources were being used to help a few playboys race their cars at a time when no one is watching.