Why Liberty moved podium interviews to the grid

Why Liberty moved podium interviews to the grid

Wednesday 25 July 2018 15:36

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Liberty Media's decision to move post-race interviews from the podium to the grid was made in an attempt "to capture how athletic and demanding" Formula 1 is. Some drivers have complained about the move as it gives them no time to decompress after a grand prix.

Lewis Hamilton refused to be interviewed immediately after the British Grand Prix, a race in which he finished second behind Sebastian Vettel after spinning in contact with his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen on the opening lap.

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Hamilton explained that he was too exhausted after the efforts of the race to be interviewed, having given an interview on the podium shortly afterwards.

VIDEO: Hamilton refuses post-race interview

Liberty's attempts to improve the show of F1 has incorporated new graphics, while the F1 TV Pro offering has exclusive camera angles, with the post-race schedule shake-up also brought in to try and spice up the broadcast.

"It’s helmets off and an interview as soon as they step out of the car," F1 director of marketing and communications Ellie Norman told the Guardian.

"We want to capture how athletic and demanding it is. To capture them when they are sweaty and out of breath, the raw emotion rather than a sanitised version.

"This sort of thing is being put into place to change the perception and to get across how exciting and visceral the sport is."