You are talking about the NASCAR Whelen Series that became the Euro Racecar Nascar Touring Series. They have nothing to do with the "proper NASCAR" US series. As an example, European cars are limited to 450hp, weight 1100 kg. In 2015, the series has only 6 races, some of them on 600m ovals. Hardly Daytona, eh ? They call themselves NASCAR, but haven't much in common with the racing in the US. We already have our own touring car series in UK, Europe, etc... Frankly, the Brands Hatch American Speedfest attracted more spectators interested in the historic Formula A/5000 that the stock car. There are been several attempts to bring stock car racing in Europe, for example. Most have failed, because people do not relate to that type of racing, just like CHAMPCAR tried to have races in Europe too. It didn't work. WE had Indy raced at Brands Hatch too, our Rockingham, in Germany, etc... There may even be a NASCAR series in Mexico, for all I know, but it's not the Sprint Cup. Now, I post the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule for 2015. I presume the Sprint Cup is the main series in NASCAR, and not some "truck" series... Schedule Page NSCS New | NASCAR.com Tell me if you see a race outside the US. I cannot see any. Hence my statement that NASCAR is easier to regulate and manage than F1, because it operates in only one country. Fell free to contradict me if I am wrong.
Remember that in 1969, F1 did fine with only SIX constructors, plus privateer one-car teams from Rob Walker and Frank Williams. And Ferrari was an also-ran that year. It'll survive....
The fact that a team that so recently was utterly dominent is seriously considering leaving the sport says a lot.
I highly doubt RB will pull the plug at the end of this season. It's all talk. Marko may be ruthless, but he's a business man and he wouldn't walk away from two teams, he would sell them. That process takes time. Anyone heard of a bid for RB? Didn't think so... F1s current situation is down to the tech spec, which needs to change, and the financial model, which needs to change. Neither is likely to change much anytime soon. So it would be easy to conclude that F1 is in crisis, but the sad truth is that there is no alternative series worth watching, so we, the fans, are here to stay. Net result, prepare to see some minor polish and window dressing but don't expect any radial changes...
I wouldn't be so sure. If anyone can walk away from F1 without feeling the pinch, it would be Mateschitz. He would save himself $400m a year, for a start, and could easily offload his 2 teams, as F1 team concerns or motorsport facilities. Red Bull is so involved in different sports that the Red Bull exposure would hardly suffer. The big looser would be F1, not Mateschitz; the man is a genuine enthusiast who has poured money in F1, built up 2 teams, gave a chance to severall new drivers and promoted them through the ranks. Mateschitz has been a true benefactor to F1, make no bones about it. Marko? He is just a consultant to Mateschitz, not the decision maker. Lauda: Mateschitz has lost interest in F1 http://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/lauda-mateschitz-has-lost-interest-in-f1/ Niki Lauda senses that Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz has lost interest in Formula 1, that it could prompt him pulling his teams out.
Firstly, I wouldn't rely too much on what you read in the popular press. As for Lauda - he is hardly the Oracle of all wisdom as he has proven many times in recent years. Clearly, some of what you say is true, but RB and TR are businesses. Emotion and enthusiasm has little to do with this - it's all about the $$$. RB not winning is costing RB $$$. They don't like this. They are desperate to fix it. They have blown their own legs off in the process by throwing their engine partner under the buss. Now they are dealing with the fall out. They have no where to go other than make massive threats and hope that Bernie wades in to save them by brokering a deal with Ferrari. I'm sure that will happen, but the arguments will simply be about the engine version that Ferrari supplies them. I don't feel Ferrari should be obligated to provide the exact same spec PU as the works team, but thats IMHO. RB aren't going anywhere - quite literally if they can't get an engine deal!
Well, Mateschitz's main business is Red Bull, the energy drink company. That's what makes him money. That's how he became a billionaire. Apart from a strong interest, F1 has just been a tool to gain world exposure, along with many other sporting venues, but it is not the core of his business. The drinks makes the money, the racing teams spend it. Both teams could be sold as business. The problem with sponsors acquiring teams, is that it is a bit more difficult to walk away from them, but it has been done before.
Yes...it says a lot about their lack of sportsmanship. Every team has off seasons. AND...let's be honest. Last year and this year haven't been THAT far off for Red Bull. They are still on the podium every-so-often and last year they won some races. A year and a half of not dominating the sport and they are going to take their ball and go home. Ferrari got on with it and fixed their car...Red Bull just started *****ing and moaning. IMO, they deserve to be moving backwards because they haven't got on with the business of moving forward. I think Red Bull should just go.
I really wish people would stop stating that RB and Toro Rosso cost Mateschitz $X00 million a year. Both teams operate independently, and both as a business. I would wager both teams operate at a profit, or at the very least, provide greater exposure for the dollars lost than would be spent on advertising for the same exposure. The fact that they remain competitive without big name (read $$$) drivers certainly helps.
F1 facing EU investigation after Sauber, Force India complaint F1 facing EU investigation after Sauber, Force India complaint - Formula 1 News Formula 1's governance structure and prize money system is set to be investigated by the European Union, after Sauber and Force India lodged an official complaint on anti-competition grounds. EU could force change
Well if FIFA can be brought down, then I would expect F1 to be in a lot of trouble It is a cartel and there is no way it could be described as being anything other than a protectionist society. Bernie has already paid off the Germans to drop his bribery charges, so the smoking gun is clearly present This will be interesting to watch!
+1 If only they could review the payment structure and stop the historical rights of some teams, that would be a progress.
Do like Joe; Seems to have his ear close to the ground. This jumped out at me; Only shame is he didn't name the guy...... Cheers, Ian
Yes I would agree with this however, in 69 F-1 was bigger than ever vs. today where its getting smaller than before. The fundamental thing that has changed is the need for a manufacturer engine partner. when you could go and buy a Cosworth off the shelf - 1/2 of your problem was solved. usually the teams just built a chassis that would work with a cossie and hewland gear box... today - its all from scratch. if the FIA would seek an Engine manufacturer partner who does NOT have a team, and make those engines available to teams = perhaps there would be more teams. but the fact is you will not be a winner with a spec engine. in 69 - Matra & Lotus were the dominant forces... both Ferrari and BRM were in decline = no more Cooper, and that left you with a few other "factory Teams" - McLaren, Brabham, and then sporadic one off's here and there.
EU investigation into F1 could be the final straw when it comes to Red Bull leaving the sport. New blow for Red Bull - Pitpass.com The investigation into the sport's governance and how its revenues are distributed was sparked when Sauber and Force India lodged official complaints with the EU competition commission. Amongst other things, the two teams are seeking an answer as to how 65% of the sport's prize money is shared by five teams who also have a major influence over the sport's rules. Under the current system, Red Bull, which only entered the sport in 2005 after buying the Jaguar F1 team, received around £25m more than Mercedes last year, despite the German team winning both titles. Already seriously contemplating leaving F1 after failing to secure an engine deal with Mercedes and unsure if it can get same-spec units as the works team from Ferrari, Dietrich Mateschitz has made no secret of his anger, his loss of passion for the sport, and the possibility of walking away, a move which could signal the end of two of the current teams. His frustration will not be helped by the fact that the EU investigation could see the Austrian team forced to hand back some of its prize money if it is ruled that the payment system was illegal. "It doesn't matter to us who gets the money and how it is spent," Bernie Ecclestone told The Times. "That is up to the teams. If they want things doing differently, then we will do it differently." Yesterday's confirmation that Sauber and Force India have gone ahead with their complaints resulted in a hectic day for the F1 supremo with (CVC boss) Donald Mackenzie understood to have headed to Ecclestone's office at the crack of dawn. CVC, which owns a 35% stake in the sport, is understood to have been specifically singled out in the complaint. The American private equity house bought its stake in 2006 with two loans. In that time it has halved its stake to 35% and reaped around $4.4bn. According to a report in the Guardian in July, this means a return on investment 351.8% and with its remaining 35% stake controls the voting rights of F1's Jersey-based parent company, Delta Topco. This gives the stake a valuation of up to $8bn and if CVC achieves that price, it will push return on investment to over 1,000%, making it the most profitable deal in the company's 34-year history.
So Sauber and Force India want to take tens of $Millions from the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes? Who supplies their engines again? Looks like it'll be Sauber/Honda and Force India/Honda coming to an F1 Grand Prix soon!
Makes a good story, but according to Bernie, Sauber, and Force India, the two teams informed Bernie of intentions back at Suzuka. CVC were prepared for this before it hit the presses.
F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone doing 'everything' he can to keep Red Bull in F1 Bernie is working on this!
They could make that up if they sold engines to Red Bull ; ) Supposedly selling to Manor now...since their car isn't a threat. LOL. F1.
