Is F1 being killed off for a new series?

With the latest comedy rules that are being brought in, adding to the clown college handiguide current regs, and now Monza apparently being dropped, is Bernie killing the Formula 1 brand?

Think about it:

One of the rules about the tracks having an F1 race is that they can not have a similar series come and race on the track too (whether this series exists or not is irrelevant). This was done obviously so that if a rival F1 series (call it GP1) where to come along, they couldn't tempt F1 teams away because who would guarantee that GP1 would be as succesful as F1?

Back when most contracts where still in place, F1 had races on most of the greatest tracks in the world. A rival series would have a serious problem getting enough followers for their series to be succesful enough to attract big sponsors and big money if they're only racing on tracks no one cares about.

F1 now has plenty of tracks that no one cares about, but because there is no rival series in place we don't really have a choice. F1 is also being held on a couple of ''key'' tracks (Monza, Spa, Monaco).

Now with the silly engine, hideous cars, fuel saving races, horrible noise and a 30% drop in figures compared to last year...soon might be the chance for GP1 to get going.

I say GP1, because old buddies Ecclestone and Briatore own the name (inclusive of GP2 and GP3, so the support races are there in an instant). CVC still owns a big chunk of F1, and they will always want more money. Why should they want a track that can pay 15 million only, when there are countries jumping with 30 or more million in their hands, begging for a race? They only want to see numbers....

Ecclestone and Flavio are sneaky enough and have good enough lawyers to pull this off in a big sweep. They have both loudly complained that the lack of noise is going to make people disinterested in F1.


Say what you want to about the two, but they will know a thing or two about making a series so incredibly spectacular that a big majority of the fans (and more importantly, the teams!) will make the jump to GP1. Bernie hates CVC having the control they have...now he and his mate can be in full control again.

 

And I would strike just about now...

Give the designers a box and let them do what they want:

Maximum stipulated amount of downforce. Get there how you want (no movable aero devices such as fans)
N/A 2.5 liter engines with minimum 100kg weight (so that not everyone jumps at a V8)
ERS system like in use in F1 at present moment (combined power units should provide over 1100hp)
Big, fat slicks
Open wheel cars, open cockpit
mechanical differentials that can not be controlled by any computers


1st year completely open testing for all teams. Year after the constructor that wins gets the last amount of testing milage, and then trickles down (up?) to the last guys, who can sell their mileage to richer teams (there will always be richer teams) to recoup some cash they lack in sponsorship.

A personel cap of lets say 120 people per team.

Surely that'll be a pretty serious rival series to F1 in it's current state.

 

Monza can't afford the 25m+ that countries are willing to pay up.

When the number was 15m it was really stretching what they can afford. Remember that Bernie/CVC takes a chunk out of almost everything that the track owners can make a buck out of. AFAIK, they even take a slice out of what the vendors make!

Countries who need the tourism don't care if the track makes a loss, the track owners certainly do. If the country sponsors the whole event, no problem...

If GP1 was to charge for instance 12m, they'd definitely get a good amount of proper tracks involved, and everyone will be happy.

 

Yup. Hence why I'm saying that Bernie/Flavio are able to convince them to jump ship so to say.

Whether the drivers are the GP1 world champion or F1 World champion, whichever is the true pinnacle of racing, will matter. The history will follow it, so to say (however you word it, I can't think clearly today).

 

Completely agree.

I wouldn't need bahrain and abu dhabi on the list though.

 

Could be!

If he does I hope he looks up this thread and takes up my advice.

Or he could just hire me and I'll do it for him, lol

 

Interesting, a few hours after I make this thread, Gary Anderson has written an article on Autosport asking the exact same thing!!

Gary Anderson: Is a Formula 1 breakaway the answer? - AUTOSPORT+

Gary, you there?

 

Can't read the whole thing but the question is being asked by F1 experts now...

 

I can tell you now that IF that's the plan, it's not going to work out well for F1 and the series will fold very quickly.


Younger target audience is needed. Motorsport isn't as popular with young people as before...they spent all their time on social networks and youtube. Stream it live on youtube for instance, plenty of cash to be made. It wouldn't be impossible or hard to make a very sophisticated live internet stream programme like Sky has, with multiple cameras of your choosing, live timing etc, even if the added cameras + live timing would be at a small fee...I'd definitely buy that, and I'm sure many here would too. Choose your own commentary team etc...

All that needs to happen is someone to convince Ferrari, Mclaren and garagistes like Williams and Sauber and the rest will follow, F1 will fold almost immediately.