Inside Formula 1: Business. Lifestyle. Power.
Inside Formula 1: Business. Lifestyle. Power.
In My Opinion: The spotlight
Lewis Hamilton fell under heavy criticism from fans and journalists over spraying a grid girl with champagne during the 2015 Chinese Grand Prix podium celebrations. The British driver was branded as “sexist” but he should have been congratulated. Hamilton’s action…
In My Opinion: The Forgotten Man
Merely a month ago, Lewis Hamilton’s third world title seemed to be a mere formality. The British driver was dominating the sport in a true Schumacher/Vettel fashion. He was racking up pole positions and race wins almost effortlessly. Now, a…
The career path that works
I’m often asked why I decided to set up the Motorsport Industry Association (MIA), way back in 1994. There were, in fact, many reasons and in the January 2014 edition of the Paddock magazine, I outlined them in some detail.…
A civil war
The start of the 2015 Formula 1 season is very underwhelming. Mercedes are still out of touch, miles ahead of the chasing pack. Only a miracle can prevent them from winning every race this season. The most successful Formula 1…
Innovation in activation
“Passion”. It’s a word you’ll often hear as brands trumpet the launch of their new F1 sponsorships. “We plan to our tap into fans’ passion for Formula 1”, the press release often reads. Sounds good in theory… But a…
Thanks for the memories!
If asked to describe how good or bad a racing driver I’d been, I think I’d fall back on that rather overworked school report phraseology: “He made good use of what little talent he possessed, but with more application could…
The Formula 1 dream gets tougher
With rule changes for the Super License 2016 onwards, a debate over talent versus money, and a huge talent pool in Europe and elsewhere, the route to Formula 1 is only getting tougher for young aspiring drivers worldwide. The…
Rear-view mirror revolution
Everybody agrees that Formula 1 needs a revolution to stop decreasing fan numbers and shrinking global television audiences. But in an effort to cure the sport, Formula 1’s doctors pull out prescriptions for pills from the past. Is the 1000bhp-racing…
2015 season preview – sponsorship
That eternal equation – is the income greater than the outgo? It’s a timely question as we approach the new season, and sponsorship is certainly one of the main revenue streams for Formula 1 teams. Who has been successful in…
“That’s an experience you can’t buy!”
More than once I’ve heard hospitality guests of a Formula 1 event say something like “that’s an experience you can’t buy!” Indeed there are few things that compare with the quality and excitement of attending a Formula 1 race as…
Formula 1 2014 sponsorship roundup
A roundup of sponsorship: the 2014 season brought both good news and tough challenges for the sponsorship scene. It was great to see Martini back in Formula 1, but now there is pressure to eliminate alcohol sponsorships. Senior sponsorship execs…
Money, Egos & Speed: The tide is turning
The tide is turning: I recently watched a most enjoyable programme on the Sky F1 channel. It was Brunswick Film’s “Review of the 1971 F1 World Championship” and what amazing memories it brought back, watching so many famous names battling…
