In F1 big changes are often silent. FIA And Liberty Mediathrough a press release from International Federation, a true masterpiece of hermeticism, have announced that they are working on a strategic plan aimed at seizing future opportunities. A “Do ut des” to further increase the potential of the highest category of motorsports the near future. A sort of armistice between the continuously opposing parties, since the advent of Mohammed Ben Sulayem as the highest office of the federal body.
The reasons for friction between FIA And FOM there were many, so much so that we ran the risk of forgetting some of them. Certainly the rejection of the expression of interest submitted by the team Andretti at the FIA and rejected by F1 it was the culmination of a clash over which of the two parties should boast the inherent ownership of the discipline. Liberty Media holds the commercial rights to Circuswhile the category is governed according to technical, sporting and financial regulations defined by International Federation. The feeling is that the very entrance of the team American is at the origin of a more approach soft on the part of FOM.
Primarily Liberty Media it’s a corporate American and, for better or for worse, the center of gravity of the category has been moving from the old continent to the new one for some time. The United States of America is no longer the promised land of F1. On the contrary, he recites clearly a market that is starting to appreciate a category that has been snubbed for years, in favor of other disciplines motorsports stars and stripes almost for example IndyCar And NASCARjust to name a few.
Do not allow the Andretti team access to the F1 on the altar of alleged one-way advantages enjoyed by the team of Michael Andrettiin addition to representing a ridiculous motivation, it is a perfect own goal, precisely towards that catchment area that would like to identify with a real American team because, with all due respect, the team Of Gene Haas has never been able (and perhaps never even tried) to warm the hearts of overseas fans.
F1: FIA and Liberty Media: the underlying geopolitical dynamics
Unfortunately in every area in which a huge amount of money circulates, the geopolitical context of reference is fundamental and the F1 it is currently a sport capable of producing truly unprecedented profits. Confirmation of the assumption can be seen in the presence on the calendar of generous countries without any tradition and culture of motorsport, but with a lot of money to be able to offer without being afraid of paying the very high bills of the category. If tomorrow Abu Dhabi or Jeddah were no longer part of the calendar F1fans certainly wouldn’t turn up their noses.
The preamble above to make it clear how political or economic power can become decisive for the resolution of apparently insoluble conflicts. Many will not have missed the presence of Donald Trump In the Grand Prix Of You love meofficially guest McLarenbut who was actually walking in the garden of his house because the Florida it is a fiefdom of the American entrepreneur in terms of political consensus. To escort the Tycoons they were always present Mohammed Ben Sulayem And Stefano Domenicalitop representatives of FIA and Liberty Media.
A presence that makes noise as the friendship that binds the former president of the United States is well known United States with Mario Andretti. Coincidentally, just before the American stage, a group of members bipartisan of the Congressthey asked for answers from the owner of the F1 (Liberty Media, ed.) regarding the exclusion of the American team as eleventh team of the category. In a letter to the president and CEO of Liberty Greg Maffeithe 12 US representatives said they were concerned.
Troubles that arise from apparent anti-competitive actions that could prevent two American companies, Andretti Global And General Motors (GM), to produce and compete in F1. The Republican congressman of Michigan John Jameswhere the General Motors, is at the head of this intriguing battle. The letter was signed by 11 other representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, from Texas, North Carolina, Indiana And Florida.
Apparently, in the next presidential elections in the United States scheduled for November this year, if by mistake he were to win again Trump the position taken by FOM in regards to Andretti and of the same Cadillac it would get really embarrassing. Probably the FIA he found in the American institutions that side to push into a corner Liberty which makes profit its strength but being an American company this time there is a really big risk. The concise and enigmatic statement from International Federationessentially expresses the concept that the balance of power between FIA And FOMfrom today, they must be equal…
Author: Roberto Cecere – @robertofunoat
Images: F1 – FIA
