Formula One fans have called on the sport to be more competitive and with fewer gimmicks, a survey has claimed.
The majority of fans who took part in the questionnaire also called for a return to a tyre war, in-race refuelling, and perhaps alarmingly, suggested that grand prix racing has gone from "exciting" to "boring" within the last five years.
Indeed, only 10 per cent of the 217,000 fans who gave their views on the current state of Formula One believe the sport is in a better shape now than it was in 2010.
The Grand Prix Drivers' Association Global Survey was launched at the Monaco Grand Prix in May and was backed by the sport's drivers and its ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone.
The results, published on Wednesday, coincide with a meeting of the F1 strategy group as it bids to solidify plans for the 2017 season to make the sport more entertaining.
Mercedes have dominated Formula One since the sport changed to 1.6-litre V6 turbocharged engines at the start of 2014 with either Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg winning 23 of the 27 races. And 89 per cent of fans surveyed believe the sport needs to be more competitive.
Pirelli has been Formula One's sole tyre supplier since 2011, but eight in 10 fans have called for a rival manufacturer to enter the sport.
Earlier this month Michelin signalled its intent to return to the sport after submitting its proposal to become the sport's official tyre supplier from 2017.
The French manufacturer, last involved in grand prix racing in 2006, is set to go head-to-head with Pirelli, whose contract expires at the end of next season, for the three-year deal.
Refuelling has been banned since 2009, but 60 per cent of fans believe it will spice up the show. Most teams however are said to be against the proposal.
A slim majority called for points to be awarded for the fastest lap (51 per cent) but only a small number of fans agreed with the reversing of grids (18 per cent), and the introduction of a handicap system to make the field more competitive (26 per cent).
Meanwhile, only 40 per cent of fans surveyed believe the heavily criticised Drag Reduction System (DRS) - an artificial driver aide to increase overtaking which was introduced in 2011 - has improved racing.
"Formula One is facing its challenges and can be improved, but you do not believe it needs a revolution and you do not want it to become an artificial show with gimmicks introduced to simply make it more entertaining," said GPDA chairman Alex Wurz in a statement.
"Instead, you want the very same thing that us drivers want: pure racing amongst the best men in the best machines.
"It is now time for us to look in close detail at the findings of the survey and from there work with F1's key stakeholders to make sure they listen and consider your input carefully."
Source: PA
