Not that long ago the Formula One came with the “amazing” idea to have all the teams to launch their car.. I mean liveries in one event. This event has to happen in England and fans have to pay a big amount of money. Just to see 2024 or 2023 cars with the 2025 livery. I still don’t get the idea to have one event for it. What is wrong with teams deciding themselves launch their cars. They used to show their new challengers early in a season or during a shakedown. Is it really about the money and the PR they will gain? Just give the their own launches.
I recall teams using Internet in 1997 and 1998 to broadcast their Launches live on internet. It were great times with a 56k modem, your parents unable to call, and eventually giving them a bill of 300 euros. You also had teams that really went too far with their launch on those days. Like McLaren who hired the Spice Girls for the launch of the MP4/12. Benetton and even Sauber had a weird revelation for their new cars. Ferrari was as always classy, strict and without much glamour, like it should be.
Though, this is not the era I mean with the normal car launches. I’m pointing more to the days when teams just launched their cars. Like EuroBrun and Tyrrell did in 1988 with respectively their 188 and 017. Bring the car to one of the circuits load it off the truck put the drivers, designers and other important people behind it and voila photos can be taken. Usually the car would get it’s shake-down right after the revelation.
Pacific Grand Prix with the fake flowers in 1995 is not the best example. Felt more like a funeral with a champagne bottle that refused to pop by Keith Wiggins.
Minardi also used to have these simply but efficient launches in the past. Give it a little show, serve some good pasta’s and wine and everything will be fine. There is absolutely no need to make one big show of it. The other issue with their new plan is that all the teams will do the reveal during the same event. It feels and tastes forced and far from a joy moment. Having the teams revealing it independent is much better. First of all they probably use their new challenger, second off all there is no need to charge fans hideous prices.
Though in the end, it is all about greed in the sport, isn’t it?
