richard_leeds wrote:[...]
In a business context its a great export. All those EU based teams, their suppliers and their employees are raking in money from other countries. Surely that's a sign of success?
[...]
I think the problem is that [insert relevant agenda]-seeking governments in countries with no real interest in F1 other than the exposure it provides on the international stage are driving up the price of hosting grands prix in places with built-in fanbases, which, in turn, drives up the cost of attending F1 races for stalwart fans of the sport. That means the Circus travels to places like Bahrain, Malaysia, China, and formerly Turkey, to run races in front of half-empty grandstands, and that does nothing for the health of the sport; it merely lines the pockets of the Midget from Hell who then turns that pocket-lining into a justification to demand more fees from wildly celebrated venues that never want for fan support.
Hey, I've been indicted! wrote:"If we do lose Monza, and I say if, because no decision has yet been taken, it would only be for economic reasons. Of course, the quality of the circuit and the organisation could be better, but - I repeat - is not the crucial point."
(In other words, "I want more money!")
The net result of this spiral, in my view, has been the systematic disenfranchisement of the fans, of those who are the very lifeblood of the sport. And who then wants to spend money to sponsor teams when there's no one around to look at the pretty logos?
There was a time not too long ago when even the backmarkers could find sponsorship dollars
somewhere.
But, not anymore.
FOM, which is little more than a glorified logistics company that nonetheless collects 50% of the sport's earnings, is driving Formula 1 into the ground.
