Discussion
Bernie is after more money. He made a threat to Monaco to the effect that they'll have to start paying money to run the race. I'm not sure his new kinship will bow to Bernie in such matters if he publicly airs his washing. There's a suggestion that the European circuits will end up having to pay him more and, just as stupidly, that Russia and Korea are as stable a political element at Spain.
I've got to say that I've always felt that Ecclestone is the enemy of the F1 fan. Neither he nor that bloke he was friends with who used to do something at the FIA were ever enthusiasts for the sport. They always struck me as being in it for the money and authority.
He’s done his own thing of attacking the solidarity of FOTA by suggesting there’s just two important things in F1: the names Ferrari and Formula 1. So he sees it as a threat. Nice to know.
I consider myself to be an F1 nerd. I plan my year around the F1 calendar. I also spend a lot of time going to rugby but in any conflict between the two there’s only one likely winner.
Yet I’ve got to say that if the sport does go overseas I might well drift away as it will be no longer F1 to me. I see no problem with closed wheels.
I used to watch F1 with a group of mates. Some would come and go but we’d keep in touch. But people started to drift away around the time that FIA chap began to think his opinion was worthwhile and now there’s just the three of us and one of those moved away this year.
It is odd that, despite this season being fascinating, although perhaps not a classic at the moment, I can still see me going to sports cars as a distinct possibility if we have more rice and less potatoes in the F1 menu.
I know things have to change but wings, skirts, turbos and a nutter in charge all failed to change the essence of F1. No Monaco, no series in Europe and that will be different.
Bernie needs to be cut down to size.
I've got to say that I've always felt that Ecclestone is the enemy of the F1 fan. Neither he nor that bloke he was friends with who used to do something at the FIA were ever enthusiasts for the sport. They always struck me as being in it for the money and authority.
He’s done his own thing of attacking the solidarity of FOTA by suggesting there’s just two important things in F1: the names Ferrari and Formula 1. So he sees it as a threat. Nice to know.
I consider myself to be an F1 nerd. I plan my year around the F1 calendar. I also spend a lot of time going to rugby but in any conflict between the two there’s only one likely winner.
Yet I’ve got to say that if the sport does go overseas I might well drift away as it will be no longer F1 to me. I see no problem with closed wheels.
I used to watch F1 with a group of mates. Some would come and go but we’d keep in touch. But people started to drift away around the time that FIA chap began to think his opinion was worthwhile and now there’s just the three of us and one of those moved away this year.
It is odd that, despite this season being fascinating, although perhaps not a classic at the moment, I can still see me going to sports cars as a distinct possibility if we have more rice and less potatoes in the F1 menu.
I know things have to change but wings, skirts, turbos and a nutter in charge all failed to change the essence of F1. No Monaco, no series in Europe and that will be different.
Bernie needs to be cut down to size.
The thing is, Monaco doesn't need the money that F1 brings.
Monaco doesn't need the prestige that F1 brings. There are plenty of other race series that would happily race there for free. Monaco doesn't really lose out, F1 loses one of the "Blue Riband" events.
I would class these races as F1's Blue Riband events; Belgium Spa-Francorchamps, Britain Silverstone, Germany Hockenheim/Nurburgring, Italy Monza, Monaco, France. These have always been F1's big draws, the ones the drivers want to win because of the history.
Due to Bernie's "dealings" (or lack of) we no longer have a French GP, the German GP is financially f
ked, the British GP looked fked last year and has been saved for a considerable amount of time despite, not because of, Bernie.
Is the Belgian GP on this year? It is, what about next year? Oh, we don't know yet? But...isn't it supposedly the best circuit on the calender?..for spectators, TV and the drivers...so why is it on rocky ground.
That is 4 of the 6 events that Bernie has had a hand in screwing over, only Monaco and Monza have not been tarnished by his "Sadim" touch (clue- everything he touches turns to st for other people). If he tried. Screwing over the Italians he would end up with horses heads in his bed, so only Monaco is left. As I said above, F1 needs Monaco far more than Monaco needs F1.
Yet after all the blustering and ranting, we are left with circuits like Malaysia (which despite being only just over a decade old, is falling apart), Turkey (amazing track for the one spectator who turned up this year), Hungary (which was never really a good circuit back in the eighties when it was new), Abu Dhabi (have you heard about the hotel?), China (where they have to dress up the army in civilian clothes to make the place look half full), Valencia (a dull circuit around a dull dockyard in a dull city with a dull crowd. I say crowd, there weren't enough spectators there to play a 5 a-side match). Do you see where I'm going with this?
The decision as to where the F1 circus goes in the season is left to the clown. This is not a good state of affairs.
I know a dodgey bloke, maybe if we all chipped in a tenner...
Monaco doesn't need the prestige that F1 brings. There are plenty of other race series that would happily race there for free. Monaco doesn't really lose out, F1 loses one of the "Blue Riband" events.
I would class these races as F1's Blue Riband events; Belgium Spa-Francorchamps, Britain Silverstone, Germany Hockenheim/Nurburgring, Italy Monza, Monaco, France. These have always been F1's big draws, the ones the drivers want to win because of the history.
Due to Bernie's "dealings" (or lack of) we no longer have a French GP, the German GP is financially f
ked, the British GP looked fked last year and has been saved for a considerable amount of time despite, not because of, Bernie. Is the Belgian GP on this year? It is, what about next year? Oh, we don't know yet? But...isn't it supposedly the best circuit on the calender?..for spectators, TV and the drivers...so why is it on rocky ground.
That is 4 of the 6 events that Bernie has had a hand in screwing over, only Monaco and Monza have not been tarnished by his "Sadim" touch (clue- everything he touches turns to s
t for other people). If he tried. Screwing over the Italians he would end up with horses heads in his bed, so only Monaco is left. As I said above, F1 needs Monaco far more than Monaco needs F1.Yet after all the blustering and ranting, we are left with circuits like Malaysia (which despite being only just over a decade old, is falling apart), Turkey (amazing track for the one spectator who turned up this year), Hungary (which was never really a good circuit back in the eighties when it was new), Abu Dhabi (have you heard about the hotel?), China (where they have to dress up the army in civilian clothes to make the place look half full), Valencia (a dull circuit around a dull dockyard in a dull city with a dull crowd. I say crowd, there weren't enough spectators there to play a 5 a-side match). Do you see where I'm going with this?
The decision as to where the F1 circus goes in the season is left to the clown. This is not a good state of affairs.
I know a dodgey bloke, maybe if we all chipped in a tenner...
Mazda Baiter said:
Monaco doesn't need the prestige that F1 brings. There are plenty of other race series that would happily race there for free. Monaco doesn't really lose out, F1 loses one of the "Blue Riband" events.
. . .
we are left with circuits like Malaysia (which despite being only just over a decade old, is falling apart), Turkey (amazing track for the one spectator who turned up this year), Hungary (which was never really a good circuit back in the eighties when it was new), Abu Dhabi (have you heard about the hotel?), China (where they have to dress up the army in civilian clothes to make the place look half full), Valencia (a dull circuit around a dull dockyard in a dull city with a dull crowd. I say crowd, there weren't enough spectators there to play a 5 a-side match). Do you see where I'm going with this?
Excellent post.. . .
we are left with circuits like Malaysia (which despite being only just over a decade old, is falling apart), Turkey (amazing track for the one spectator who turned up this year), Hungary (which was never really a good circuit back in the eighties when it was new), Abu Dhabi (have you heard about the hotel?), China (where they have to dress up the army in civilian clothes to make the place look half full), Valencia (a dull circuit around a dull dockyard in a dull city with a dull crowd. I say crowd, there weren't enough spectators there to play a 5 a-side match). Do you see where I'm going with this?
Derek Smith said:
Mazda Baiter said:
Monaco doesn't need the prestige that F1 brings. There are plenty of other race series that would happily race there for free. Monaco doesn't really lose out, F1 loses one of the "Blue Riband" events.
. . .
we are left with circuits like Malaysia (which despite being only just over a decade old, is falling apart), Turkey (amazing track for the one spectator who turned up this year), Hungary (which was never really a good circuit back in the eighties when it was new), Abu Dhabi (have you heard about the hotel?), China (where they have to dress up the army in civilian clothes to make the place look half full), Valencia (a dull circuit around a dull dockyard in a dull city with a dull crowd. I say crowd, there weren't enough spectators there to play a 5 a-side match). Do you see where I'm going with this?
Excellent post . . .
we are left with circuits like Malaysia (which despite being only just over a decade old, is falling apart), Turkey (amazing track for the one spectator who turned up this year), Hungary (which was never really a good circuit back in the eighties when it was new), Abu Dhabi (have you heard about the hotel?), China (where they have to dress up the army in civilian clothes to make the place look half full), Valencia (a dull circuit around a dull dockyard in a dull city with a dull crowd. I say crowd, there weren't enough spectators there to play a 5 a-side match). Do you see where I'm going with this?
For some reason I could vent bile about this subject until the cows come home.
The problem that I see on the horizon is when Flav takes over from Bernie. I don't see how the situation will improve. If there's one person in the history of F1 that I wouldn't trust not to be bought (apart from Max, Bernie and Piquet Jr) it's Flav.
On the other hand, better the devil you know...maybe.
mybrainhurts said:
Mazda Baiter said:
mybrainhurts said:
I will never understand how the Poison Dwarf has been allowed to get away with what he has for so long...
When I take over, he'll be peeling potatoes in my kitchen...
Best get your worktops lowered then...When I take over, he'll be peeling potatoes in my kitchen...
Or put smarties tubes on Bernie's legs to make him walk like a robot. [/Jimmy Carr]
Mazda Baiter said:
mybrainhurts said:
Mazda Baiter said:
mybrainhurts said:
I will never understand how the Poison Dwarf has been allowed to get away with what he has for so long...
When I take over, he'll be peeling potatoes in my kitchen...
Best get your worktops lowered then...When I take over, he'll be peeling potatoes in my kitchen...
Or put smarties tubes on Bernie's legs to make him walk like a robot. [/Jimmy Carr]
Bernie seems to be openly and shamelessly indluging in the ultimate need of the powerful: more power. David Icke would have a field day.
In this quest he seems intent on taking the races with the biggest fan bases away from the fans so that nations with developing economies can get to advertise their country on an international scale, via a pants mock-up 'racetrack'.
He also seems intent on owning any and all race footage and crucially at the same time, denying the fans any opporunity to buy race footage from him instead. Despite this being an obvious and easy commercial opportunity. It seems if you miss a race on TV for whatever reason, that's it, tough. You will never know exactly how the race went. And if you didn't record it, you only get one chance to see a once in a lifetime unique moment. (The FIA season reviews for race footage are always useless).
It seems BE would love to run F1 without any fans whatsoever. If he wanted to run a business, why didn't he select a business, not a sport?
Bernie loves the headlines. Loves being talked about. Because the more people talk about him, the more people talk about F1. He's just winding people up to get in the news. He's a complete and utter tosspot while doing so don't get me wrong, but all this is doing is getting more publicity for the F1 circus, and like it or not, he's in charge... for the moment. It's the Silverstone scenario all over again. Monaco will survive as an F1 race long after Bernie's 6feet under.
I really can't believe that Bernie has as much power as he does.
The decisions he has made as to where to put the Grand Rpix don't even make any commercial sense for the sport except to him and his mates. Valencia being a prime example. Dull and why is it there? Because someone is paying Bernie for the privilege while circuits like Estoril barely get by.
With the amount of money floating around in the sport Bernie could stage his BRIC races and still give money to the likes of Spa and any other iconic tracks to allow them to be safe/accesible/profitable as they should be to stage F1 races. Rather than just bleed them dry.
The decisions he has made as to where to put the Grand Rpix don't even make any commercial sense for the sport except to him and his mates. Valencia being a prime example. Dull and why is it there? Because someone is paying Bernie for the privilege while circuits like Estoril barely get by.
With the amount of money floating around in the sport Bernie could stage his BRIC races and still give money to the likes of Spa and any other iconic tracks to allow them to be safe/accesible/profitable as they should be to stage F1 races. Rather than just bleed them dry.
I believe the problem to have somewhat more sinister roots than just asking the Monaco organisers for money. As you may know Bernie 'sold' the Commercial Rights to a consortium of banks and bond-holders who borrowed the money to buy the bonds. These instruments pay interest and the owners need to keep refinancing their debt. Unfortunately the money coming into F1 is shrinking, the interest rates they borrowed under are high and therefore they need to have a greater income.
Bernie is the front dwarf.....but behind him are some worried corporates who view F1 as just another revenue stream, not as a sport. Ever wondered who the faceless Grid walkers are....usually financiers being tapped for loans or investment advice, not fans nor investors as such.
Professional sport in the 21st century will be all about money and less about entertainment. Look at the World Cup and the 2012 Olympics.
Bernie is the front dwarf.....but behind him are some worried corporates who view F1 as just another revenue stream, not as a sport. Ever wondered who the faceless Grid walkers are....usually financiers being tapped for loans or investment advice, not fans nor investors as such.
Professional sport in the 21st century will be all about money and less about entertainment. Look at the World Cup and the 2012 Olympics.
Mikeyboy said:
Valencia being a prime example. Dull and why is it there? Because someone is paying Bernie for the privilege while circuits like Estoril barely get by.
Apart from the "Alonso effect", Valencia was the focus or the Americas Cup for the last few years. Sadly that's all going to go a bit pear-shaped now it's been won by a US team, so while Valencia may still be useful as a training base, it won't be generating anything like the sporting interest (and hence revenue for the city) it would have done had it been staging F1 and the Americas Cup.I think it's also a case of cash from a regional development agency sloshing around and helping to pave the way for the GP. Which has always struck me as spectacularly short-termist thinking.
So, all things considered, there isn't one *good* reason why Valencia has a GP.
Mikeyboy said:
I really can't believe that Bernie has as much power as he does.
The decisions he has made as to where to put the Grand Rpix don't even make any commercial sense for the sport except to him and his mates. Valencia being a prime example. Dull and why is it there? Because someone is paying Bernie for the privilege while circuits like Estoril barely get by.
With the amount of money floating around in the sport Bernie could stage his BRIC races and still give money to the likes of Spa and any other iconic tracks to allow them to be safe.
Something I heard a couple of years ago, which I can well believe, is that the money that Bernie gets yearly from the TV rights alone would cover the circuit costs and the teams costs. That's before his backhanders and bleeding the circuits dry.The decisions he has made as to where to put the Grand Rpix don't even make any commercial sense for the sport except to him and his mates. Valencia being a prime example. Dull and why is it there? Because someone is paying Bernie for the privilege while circuits like Estoril barely get by.
With the amount of money floating around in the sport Bernie could stage his BRIC races and still give money to the likes of Spa and any other iconic tracks to allow them to be safe.
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