T H E M E S T O WAT C H
‘Super GP2’:
is this a right
move for F1?
Arrivabene has a
lot to do behind
the scenes
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THOMPSON/GETTY
Ferrari heads into 2015 a very different animal
to 12 months ago. On track, things certainly
look better. But then again that wouldn’t be
too difficult considering last season was its
worst for two decades.
But it’s behind the scenes where Ferrari
could really make a difference. The new axis of
chairman Sergio Marchionne and team principal
Maurizio Arrivabene certainly means business,
and they’re both determined to get Ferrari right
back to the centre of F1’s political prominence.
We got wind of Ferrari’s determination to be
more aggressive when it challenged the FIA over
the engine-freeze rules last year. It was duly
successful in its quest to open the door for
in-season engine developments. Expect a similar
edge to all it does from now, with Marchionne’s
and Arrivabene’s hotlines to Bernie Ecclestone
guaranteeing a louder voice for Maranello when
it comes to the future of F1.
XPB IMAGES
FERRARI FLEXING ITS MUSCLES
After a troubled 2014 campaign, Red Bull
and Renault had to face up to reality that
divorce was no option. They had to make
their marriage work for each other. The
subsequent reshuffle at Renault, and
renewed working relationship with Red Bull,
has helped close the gap to Mercedes,
even if there is still some way to go.
But how that pans out on track this
season will be more significant, as team and
engine manufacturer are currently plotting
their long-term ambitions.
Renault is working out if its marketing
efforts are better off being focused on
another team – potentially as a key
shareholder – rather than just as engine
supplier to Red Bull and Toro Rosso.
For Red Bull, its key question is whether
or not it can return to title glory with a
Renault engine or needs to look elsewhere.
After all, Honda will need a customer team
soon, and Audi rumours refuse to go away.
This could be a key paddock talking point
once the season gets going.
Renault’s Abiteboul and
Red Bull’s Horner:
still together, for now
MARCH 5 2015 AUTOSPORT.COM 51
PREVIEW
One fan who doesn’t
agree with Bernie
Formula 1’s quest for more-exciting cars has been
prompted by concerns about falling television
audiences, but there are wider issues about fan
interaction increasingly coming to the fore in
discussions about the sport’s future.
Bernie Ecclestone’s now infamous comments
last year – that F1 didn’t need social media and
a younger generation of fans – highlighted how
the sport risks alienating a new generation.
There are efforts within Formula One
Management to do more. Twitter is now getting
some attention and the F1 App is being ramped
up – but there’s a long way to go.
Exactly how much progress is made this year
will be critical, especially if F1 faces a fresh
popularity problem should Mercedes repeat
its domination of 2014.
RED BULL
AND RENAULT
SEASON
THOMPSON/GETTY
F1’S FAN ENGAGEMENT
51
The collapse of Marussia and Caterham last
year prompted a frenzy of panic in the paddock
amid concerns that other teams could go
under. But despite a call to arms from Lotus,
Force India and Sauber, no concessions were
made to help them, and further attempts to
introduce cost cuts have failed.
With F1 budgets going ever higher, and new
sponsors so hard to find, the chances of other
teams hitting trouble is only likely to increase. It’s
hard to know what can be done though, with the
bigger teams so determined to outspend each
other in the quest for success.
Matters are also not helped by the fact that
Bernie Ecclestone would appear to prefer the
prospect of customer cars – or ‘Super GP2’
– than making changes to F1’s business model
to help current teams.
Perhaps it will take another team going under
before something decisive is done.
S BLOXHAM/LAT
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