I’m not running a soap opera...
(But you should be, Mr F1 supremo)
CHASE Carey says Formula One must not be a soap opera. That’s a bit like saying East
Enders shouldn’t be. Or that 42nd Street isn’t a musical.
Sadly, as the sport goes into the closing race of the 2017 season in Abu Dhabi, problems are mounting for Carey, chief executive of F1’s new owners, Formula One Group — and the figures are alarming.
For the first time in recent memory, the prize-money pot has diminished, plummeting by £32million year-on-year, a 13 per cent cut from £236m to £204m.
If former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone had presided over such an event, they would have carried him off to the old people’s home.
Liberty Media have the controlling interest in Formula One Group and some may attribute the reduction to their spending on new London offices.
Most of Carey’s initiatives so far have fiddled around the edges. For example, was the £12m outlay on the razzmatazz at the American Grand Prix — including boxing announcer Michael Buffer’s yodelling — really worth the brass?
Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda said: ‘There should be ideas for generating money. I don’t see them.’
The honeymoon since Liberty completed their January buyout is over. Goodwill still exists towards Carey, but it is not blind. Nor is it unlimited.
Mercedes, Renault Liberty’s 2021, year his Leading predicament, of the to change. engine have hear make- manufacturers Ferrari Carey criticised it So, plans or-break was given stick and dismaying for to blather He his said: New about ‘These York-boardroom soap sorts opera. of discussions held privately are probably between better partners than in public.
‘We believe we can find compromises that will benefit everybody. We are first and foremost a great sport — we are not a soap opera.’
Sportsmail understands Carey turned down the offer of advice from Ecclestone, despite making the man who built modern F1 chairman emeritus.
Away from the arguing, a very good season is in its last stages. Champion Lewis Hamilton set the fastest
time in practice yesterday.