RE: Motorsport on Monday: 18/08/14

RE: Motorsport on Monday: 18/08/14

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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AlexKing said:
Cry. Me. A. fking. River.
The first half of what he said I agree with, the second not so much. But AlexKing, are you the kind of person that thinks money buys happiness? Because I genuinely don't think the F1 driver life of 2014 is that rosy.

Sports car racing (World Endurance Championship etc.) seems much more appealing. Fewer races, you still get paid, and you have more of a life.

markcoznottz

7,155 posts

223 months

Monday 18th August 2014
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It's like being a part if the royal family in that you are effectively owned. It's a pretty st life, because you can't really spend what you earn, there's always another race, engagement etc. It is dangerous as well, anyone who says it isn't needs a slap, maybe it's not as dangerous as it was, but the risk is still there.

FestivAli

1,085 posts

237 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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jason61c said:
"Paid a pittance
The poor drivers flogging their guts out at the tail end of the field actually get paid a fairly meagre salary, given they're putting themselves at risk every time they roll out of pit lane - even if it is something they love."

Really? Should we feel sorry for them? Racing an F1 car is safer than most things you do on a day to day basis. How many people would be happy to get paid £150-200k to do what they do? Not to mention all the other streams of cash they have coming in.

Such a silly statement really.
On the surface I would agree with you, but think of all the strict regimens they have to adhere to outside of races, with regards to diet, personal fitness ( I think I remember reading about JB a few years ago and he had to do 6hrs at the gym each day or something like that), what opinions they voice in public, whether they can do fun things like ride motorbikes (some can, some can't I believe because of insurance) and they have to travel for half the year. Their lives seem to me to be pretty much out of their control. I wouldn't do that for 150k. Maybe a million, but definitely not anything under that. Unless it was for a couple of years to save for a house and retirement funds (granted I doubt that is a consideration for any of them). The job basically sounds like a pain in the arse apart from any time spent in the car to me.

oldtimer2

728 posts

132 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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jamiebae said:
oldtimer2 said:
That said I am surprised by the range though I imagine that competition to get on the bottom rung will keep basic salary costs low if your sponsorship potential is low.
Not at all, to get on the bottom rung you need cash. Full stop. Unless you're on a team or sponsor development programme the only way you're getting into an F1 car is by bringing a great big bag of banknotes with you.

If we keep in Euros for consistency with the article you need a minimum of about €6m for a back-of-the-grid seat, this is around four times what is needed for GP2....
Thank you for that insight into the current realities of single seat racing. Given the hassle involved in being a F1 driver (as others have already described) I conclude that those from wealthy families propping up the rear of the grid are fulfilling the role of high visibility, high speed billboards for their sponsors in their home countries.

Carl_Docklands

12,103 posts

261 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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markcoznottz said:
It's like being a part if the royal family in that you are effectively owned. It's a pretty st life, because you can't really spend what you earn, there's always another race, engagement etc. It is dangerous as well, anyone who says it isn't needs a slap, maybe it's not as dangerous as it was, but the risk is still there.
You forgot the part where you get granted the best chat up line in the world and proceed to smash every promotional girl from here to Tokyo every year.

morgs_

1,663 posts

186 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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TinyCappo said:
TNW said:
bigtrev200 said:
Maldonado gets paid???
Yeah, but he also gets the bill from the panel beaters so he's a long way in the red.
I REALLY want to see the source and hear more about this.
Hello? Is that the parrot centre? Yes, I'd like to order a parrot please. Norwegian Blue? No thanks, haven't heard great things about them, apart from their plumage. Something a bit more red and whooshier please!

markcoznottz

7,155 posts

223 months

Tuesday 19th August 2014
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Carl_Docklands said:
markcoznottz said:
It's like being a part if the royal family in that you are effectively owned. It's a pretty st life, because you can't really spend what you earn, there's always another race, engagement etc. It is dangerous as well, anyone who says it isn't needs a slap, maybe it's not as dangerous as it was, but the risk is still there.
You forgot the part where you get granted the best chat up line in the world and proceed to smash every promotional girl from here to Tokyo every year.
I don't think any of the drivers have got that in them to be honest, I bet they are all in bed at. 9pm, never touch alcohol etc. The fun has gone out of the sport tbh. The last driver who lived it up was irvine. It's far too corporate, too many races, far too orchestrated since the dwarf controls everything, looks a right pain in the rear tbh.