There are lots of things you could say about Clive James, whose death has been announced today. But I was, of course, particularly drawn to his work in Formula 1. Read full article
1 commentArchive — Bernie Ecclestone
The game changed and they didn't: The true cause of Williams' decline — — RaceFans
An excellent analysis setting the decline of Williams into a historical context. Dieter Rencken traces the decline back to 1998, the commencement of the first Concorde Agreement following Bernie Ecclestone’s acquisition of Formula 1’s commercial rights. This is when Bernie Ecclestone began acting in his own interests, and not that of the teams.
That certainly explains why the number of independent teams has decreased since then. The remaining teams, as Dieter Rencken notes, have changed their business models to adapt to the modern commercial realities of the sport.
Williams’s dogged determination to stick to the same business model it had in the 1980s and 1990s may be seen as noble by some. But increasingly it’s being shown to be foolhardy.
Claire Williams may refuse to allow Williams to be a B-team. But let’s not forget that Frank Williams first entered F1 with a customer chassis. Why should they continue to tie their own hands?
See also: Williams have hit a new Lowe
Liberty Media need to learn that you can’t polish a turd
Two years ago I wrote about how I felt motorsport is in an inevitable decline. F1 may have undergone a change of ownership since then, but the problems are, if anything, greater now. Read full article
2 commentsBernie Ecclestone’s over-the-top TV deals are hindering F1
Formula 1 have announced their online streaming service. But thanks to one short-sighted decision, it won't be available to UK fans until 2025. Read full article
3 commentsBernie Ecclestone’s fixation with TV is Formula 1’s undoing
Bernie Ecclestone has been a genius when it comes to exploiting TV for the benefit of Formula 1. The trouble is that TV is now on the decline. Read full article
5 commentsIs Formula 1 in crisis?
Formula 1 appears to be surrounded by an unprecedented amount of uncertainty. Everywhere you look, there seem to be bad news stories. Read full article
2 comments