36 spectators in Istanbul

With 36 tickets sold, the Istanbul Grand Prix was not sold out. While outside the enclosure, the F1 was successful, the stands were deserted. For many, the prohibitive price of tickets is the only cause of this disapproval. Mark Webber, questioned on this subject after his second place, called on the organizers to think about free Grands Prix to fill the stands. Tickets were on sale from 44 to 326 euros.

Stefano Domenicali relies on these figures to once again denounce the bad slope on which the discipline has embarked: “We focused on many subjects while forgetting the public, the show. It's like being in a football stadium that's completely empty. »

Many circuits outside Europe are hosting F1 with empty seats. In China, Malaysia, Bahrain and Turkey, the occupancy rate remains low while the Canadian, French and San Marino Grands Prix have been removed from the F1 calendar. Fernando Alonso did not miss the opportunity to ask for the return of the circuits “of his childhood”, a reaction supported by Felipe Massa.

The contract for the Turkish Grand Prix ends after the 2011 edition. For the president of the Turkish federation, a place in the calendar will be difficult to maintain after this date.