Future Grands Prix?

[Mike Harte]

Everyone seems to presume that the Liberty take-over is a done deal; I would suggest that it is far from being completed. So far, Liberty have purchased a 10% shareholding, and they have very little cash left to finish off the purchase. In fact, they will need to raise a considerable amount, and even then they are proposing that the majority of the purchase will be in the way of handing over their own shares. They have also approached the teams to tempt them to invest so that they have to find less cash.

In addition, there are regulatory hurdles to overcome. 3 countries, including the UK, have started investigations into the proposed sale, whilst the EU is also investigating. That could be major obstacle for the sale because the FIA and FOM have broken the agreement that they made with the EU about the FIA having any interest in the commercial side of F1. That is why BCE got control of the commercial interests for 99 years for a nominal sum.

Now that the FIA has a 1% shareholding, it means that they have a conflict of interest over the sale. As things stand on the proposed sale amount, the FIA would be inline to receive a windfall of around $330 million if the sale goes through, but in order for the sale to proceed, the FIA has to give it's blessing - that's in the contract details that were hammered out when Mr E got control.

And that, plus the Force India and the other team's official complaint, is upsetting the busybodies in Brussels.

Furthermore, I believe that there may well be a time clause built into the offer contract from Liberty, and that time is fast running out!

[S griffin]

What is Bernie's game, taking away such a great country for racing in Germany? Can't he see he's sucking the DNA out of the sport

[bjohnsonsmith]

I would really like to know, what the F1 Teams' take is on this?

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

I would really like to know, what the F1 Teams' take is on this?

I suspect that they have been listening to Liberty's 'monetising ' talk and thinking it will be more money for them and perhaps teams will rise in value.

In many ways the teams are no better than FOM or CVC they have largely demonstrated self interest, want the rules to suit themselves and as much money as they can get out of it.

They don't really care about the circuits losing money to stage a race , or ticket prices that fans have to pay to watch them.

[Sodemo]

Yep, the teams made a small cry when they moved UK F1 TV to pay channels, but more of a whimper really. Again, I think they couldn't care less to be honest.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

It will be interesting to see how F1's new owners deal with the situation. It is clear that CVC/Bernie had been pushing circuits to the limits of what was affordable for some time. Every other week we are learning about another GP on the doubtful list, and the reason is usually the figures do not add up.
Is it time for the circuits to get together and deal with Bernie as a group?
Even if you had the European GP's working as a group it could get them a better deal.
Don't forget that there has to be a certain percentage of European GP's in the season.

Yep, I think the time is right for the circuits to work together, particularly those with deals near the end of their time for several reasons.

The global financial and political climate is changing, for many countries subsidising a GP and/or building a GP track is way down their list.

As we have already said in the thread, some countries which were emerging markets years ago no longer see value in F1 as it has priced itself out of the market and even if they did want to spend the same, they can invest in more inclusive sports that have a legacy amongst the population.

Liberty are still very much finding their feet and may get twitchy if core circuits start walking away and F1 loses the heartland.

I think the circuits should present to Liberty collectively and be honest and say we can no longer afford it and there are x number of circuits in the same position and what can they do to improve this and see what comes back.

You can't grow the calendar as they wish (and arguably it is no neccesary as 2016 has felt plenty long enough to me!) if circuits drop out and there aren't the myraid of new ones that WILL actually be built and funded.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

Yep, the teams made a small cry when they moved UK F1 TV to pay channels, but more of a whimper really. Again, I think they couldn't care less to be honest.

You think they would be smart enough to draw the dots between declining sponsorship and the move to pay TV.That said free to air is a busted model.It wasn't really free it's just that the cost was borne by companies wishing to advertise to gain access to a mass market.With the advent of streaming,pay TV and time shifting the percentage of people watching these ads is in steep decline.The firms spend a smaller amount on tv advertising and the FTA stations have less to spend on programming including sports rights.Here in Australia all the networks are in varying degrees of financial trouble.Cricket Australia has already been told the next rights contract will be for considerably less than the current one for international cricket.That cannot move to pay because of government legislation.
It seems clear that in the future the people paying for sport on tv or the Internet will be the viewers rather than advertisers.

[Armco Bender]

Less is more,theres too many GP's.
Cut the season back to 12 decent races.

[Alan52]

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Less is more,theres too many GP's.
Cut the season back to 12 decent races.

TV income and most sponsorship nearly halved immediately.Also sanctioning fees.

[JABWOA]

Originally Posted by Alan52

It seems clear that in the future the people paying for sport on tv or the Internet will be the viewers rather than advertisers.

Totally agree, and this is not a bad thing. Looking forward to what Liberty *may* do with their promise of investigating digital delivery. *pending actual successful purchase.

[Rob29]

Originally Posted by Armco Bender

Less is more,theres too many GP's.
Cut the season back to 12 decent races.

NASCAR has 36 meetings-only two weekends off during seasson

[JeremySmith]

NASCAR is not a world championship is it .. 😉

[ScotsBrutesFan]

Originally Posted by Rob29

NASCAR has 36 meetings-only two weekends off during seasson

Yeah but many of the races are no more than a 3 or 4 hour drive away from the teams home base or the previous race ...with a few obvious exceptions.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by JeremySmith

NASCAR is not a world championship is it .. 😉

True but it's quite unique.

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by ScotsBrutesFan

Yeah but many of the races are no more than a 3 or 4 hour drive away from the teams home base or the previous race ...with a few obvious exceptions.

You’re greatly underestimate the size of the U.S. and how all of the place the NASCAR schedule is these days.

[bjohnsonsmith]

The new Monza deal has been signed.

http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/127316

[BSchneiderFan]

Shame it's only for three years at this stage, but at least Monza is safe for the time being.

Monza. Even the word *sounds* fast.

[bella]

been there three times this year and the novelty still hasn't worn off. fantastic place, should be high on any motorsport fans bucket list even if you can't afford the f1 race. glad to see common sense has prevailed, as good as imola is... it was only ever going to be used as leverege against monza a la donington, wasn't it?

[BSchneiderFan]

I'm afraid for me Imola will always be clouded by Senna's death and Pironi's betrayal of Villeneuve; which isn't logical, as Trips and Rindt both died at Monza, but it's true nonetheless.

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

I'm afraid for me Imola will always be clouded by Senna's death and Pironi's betrayal of Villeneuve; which isn't logical, as Trips and Rindt both died at Monza, but it's true nonetheless.

And also Berger's lucky escape in 89. There are a few positive memories that stand out though, Tambay's win in 83, the economy run in 85, Patrese ending hid drought in 90, the Schumacher brothers both doing a great race just after their mother had passed on and the Schumi-Fred battle in 05

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

And also Berger's lucky escape in 89. There are a few positive memories that stand out though, Tambay's win in 83, the economy run in 85, Patrese ending hid drought in 90, the Schumacher brothers both doing a great race just after their mother had passed on and the Schumi-Fred battle in 05

And the Ferraris dumbfounding the faithful in '91!!

[Sodemo]

Originally Posted by bella

been there three times this year and the novelty still hasn't worn off. fantastic place, should be high on any motorsport fans bucket list even if you can't afford the f1 race. glad to see common sense has prevailed, as good as imola is... it was only ever going to be used as leverege against monza a la donington, wasn't it?

Ive been to Monza once, in 2005.

Ever think that Monza doesn't get any wet races? I think I saw the entire decade's worth of rain in one weekend. It was just a low key GT meeting in September of that year, but it rained from the second we got there until the moment we left.

[S griffin]

Monza has had a few wet GPs, but you are right they are very rare. The only other European circuit that doesn't seem to have that much rain, to me, is Paul Ricard

[BSchneiderFan]

So Germany has been dropped from the calendar and Brazil is still TBC. At least the clash with Le Mans has been resolved.

[bjohnsonsmith]

The revised calendar is at the end of this article.

https://www.autosport.com/news/repor...-le-mans-clash