Red Bull setting the tone for leaving

Red Bull will be another Benetton: they will be there as long as they´re winning.

But if they keep doing (and spending) as now, they´ll be able to stay on top for a loong time.

 

Since team 1 uses Renault power, it would be the perfect opportunity for Renault to return as a manufacturer.

A winning manufacturer.

 

I read it as : Change the rules too much to bring us down a level, and we are off.

 

Sound like another team that we all love?

 

Nah. They're having way too much fun and are *making* money up at the pointy end - No reason to tear that apart.

I do think Dietrich (sp?) would like to unload STR to a "strong" buyer however - IIRC, he pretty much bought them so that his buddy Bernie could maintain a full grid after Stoddart cried "enough!" - Remember, less than 20 cars would cost Bernie *big* money......

We've had WC cars from a sweater maker for gawds sake! Makes no difference to me if it's "Team Pepsi", "Team Nike", "Team arsehole attorney" or anything else as long as they're out there competing. The car manufacturers come and go at will, but F1 always finds a way to continue.

RBR aren't going anywhere anytime soon IMO.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Yes indeed.

I can tend to agree Ian, only RB can pull the plug very easily, they may not like to take on a battle from below to the top again.

I think it is a bit of a veiled threat to the rule makers.

 

No doubt.

Seems to me that RB (and I suspect we'll be seeing more "Monster Energy" sponsorship soon enough) are doing it for pretty much the same reasons as the cigarette companies back in the day - Namely, reducing tax liabilities - "May as well give it away as give it to the taxman...."

As long as the brand continues to make more money than God, they *need* a write off. [In their case, *lots* of write offs!]

Now, if the great unwashed eventually decide that little cans of orange sugar water aren't actually what they want to buy, then lookout below! Doesn't seem likely right now though.

Cheers,
Ian

 

If F1 was a function of spending, Ferrari would win every year.

Red Bull can do everything they possibly can, and yet still get beaten.

It happens every year to 9 out of the 10 teams that occupy the grid (give or take on the # of teams obviously).

 

Anyone know about the finances of F1, ie. how self-sustaining is a team? How much do they earn for winning the WCC? Judging by the logo sizes on the RB livery it seems like maybe only one or two sponsors in a big way.

 

Some of the best kept secrets in F1 right there!....... FWIW, rumors suggest;

- Winning the WCC is worth ~ $100MM - I've "heard" or "read" anywhere between $75MM and over $100MM. Also remember the "two year" rule - I believe RBR has made (and will be paid next year) more money this season than last for example - A WAG says ~$80MM last year, > $100MM this year eek

- Living at the front therefore makes your team pretty much self sustaining, even without *any* sponsor $ - Sponsors are much more important for the mid-field and tail-enders.

- IIRC, the sidepods of a front runner sell for ~$20MM-$40MM per year - Again, I dunno where I got that from though. The rear wing? ~$10MM. "Minor" deals? ~$2-5MM depending on who's car it's on - My guess for example is Kaspersky are in at about $5MM per season on the Ferraris.

- In addition, the sponsors then pay big $ for "entertainment" - This falls nicely outside the RRA of course but if you're putting a few MM onto the car you may as well invite the VIPS and so on, and while the teams provide the facilities, they get more $ for 'em.

- My (somewhat ) educated guess is the front 4-5 teams are making money - Certainly the team principals/owners and big-dick designers make pretty good money - Adrian is probably at ~$10MM per. Ross, a little less. etc. These guys contracts are *very* results oriented.

As noted, nothing more than WAG's though.......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Oops, also meant to say RBR (& STR of course) are a little different - They're ultimately owned by the orange drink manufacturer ("RB Cans Inc" ) and hence put their own name on the side....

RB Cans Inc then funds RB Technology (who I believe Adrian works for) who are then contracted to design the car for RBR. [They also tried doing the same for STR, but the others cried foul - You've gotta be your own constructor. So now RB Cans Inc funds them separately.....]

Totally different situation to Vodafone, Santander, Pepe Jeans, Lucozade, etc etc.

Cheers,
Ian

 

Renault is with Lotus now, I think Nissan will buy them since Infiniti is on the car.

 

I think Red Bull Racing will stay in F1 as long as Newey is there. IMO, RBR F1 team is Newey's baby and I can even see him finding a way to acquire the team, much like what Ross Brawn did should he chose to do so in the future, if RBR does decide to leave F1 that is.

 

One of the quirky things of F1 finances:

Ferrari will get more money from Bernie this year than Red Bull.

Such is the premium of being Ferrari, the sport's #1 team in recognition, prestige etc

As for Red Bull leaving: First Mateschitz needs to find a buyer for Toro Rosso. He's been trying to do that for years without success.

 

Well, I said "doing" AND "spending".

Money is not enough. But it helps a lot.

And of course nobody can win forever, but it won't be the first time that someone wins 5 championships in a row.

We have to be prepared for the worst.

 

Renault and Nissan have cross shares in each other, they are strategic partners...

 

Last year, I think, "+1".

This year, I'm not so sure - Definitely, Ferrari gets more than their "fair share" every year but that's one of the reasons the Concorde defines a multi-year deal.... Ferrari can only suck for so long before even their Bernie $ get reduced. May be one of the reasons LdM and Stefano are so eager for a "return to form".

Cheers,
Ian

 

According to Benoit they're getting it this year again.

 

Are you sure about this, even down in 3rd? I know Ferrari gets much more than anyone else for winning the WCC, but this is news to me.

 

Helmut Marko said today on F1-live.com that F1 is perfect marketing tool for RB. So as long as their winning and doing well, there's no reason they should leave. Plus, with the amount of $$$ they have in their reserve, i don't think they need sponsors as well.

 

Pretty sure. Can't find the reference now but I did read it. That of course doesn't make it true automatically.

 

That would be huge for Infinity if they could buy the team and keep Vettel and Newey.