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Why F1 stars have lost their mystique

The drivers have lost their gladiatorial image in recent years but they remain Formula 1's main draw. JONATHAN NOBLE thinks it's time to introduce a novel rule change

While Formula 1's teams have concentrated their efforts to spice up the show on making the cars look better, there's no escaping the fact that the focus of fans' interest is the drivers. However much we marvel about the cars and the amazing technology in the sport, it's what the men in the cockpits do that really stirs us all.

Over recent weeks, as F1 chiefs continue their self-analysis over why interest in the sport is declining, one issue that seems to be overlooked is that the men in the cockpits have lost a bit of the gladiatorial status of yesteryear.

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Author Jonathan Noble

Jonathan Noble is Motorsport.com’s Formula 1 editor. Having graduated from University of Sussex Jonathan worked for sports news agency Collings Sports reporting on F1, F3, touring cars and other sports, with articles appearing in The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, Reuters, Autosport and other publications. In 1999 he moved to Haymarket Publishing to become a senior editor at Autosport Special Projects, and one year later he became Autosport’s grand prix editor. In 2015 he moved to Motorsport Network, becoming the F1 editor for Motorsport.com. He is also a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and sits on the FIA Media Council.