The departure of Bernie Ecclestone from his leading role in the Formula One group has had a big impact on the sport.
The Paddock was a happier place, bubbling with energy and ideas. It was a very new feeling. Inevitably there were some backward-looking folk who see the moving on an 86-year-old to be a sign that Formula 1 is doomed. I don't see that at all. It is great to see ideas being discussed and not rejected simply because it is new.
It is great to see that lot of people clearly believe that the page has turned and we’ll not see Ecclestone in charge again. Bernie is not the type who does well in the role of ‘Best Supporting Actor’. For the moment at least, there is a bit of a honeymoon going on between the sport and the men who carry the Liberty colours. They seem to be smart people and they also seem to have some respect for the sport. They don't want to make change for the sake of change.
The key thing now is to avoid being trapped in the structures that were created by Ecclestone. These walls must be knocked down and systems need to be changed. Calendars need to be made years ahead to allow people to plan and build. A lot of folk, including the fans, seem to have forgotten all the good things there are about Formula 1.
They can say this is wrong, that is wrong. The cars are wrong, the drivers muted, the federation is not governing as much as it should, the decision-making structures are wrong, and the biggest brand in the sport (Ferrari) seems to have lost the ability to communicate. Ferrari is always popular but the Italian team does not seem to understand that there are times when you need friends and one of these defining moments is coming soon.
Liberty people are smart and know that if you want peace, stability, and growth, you need to have a fair system. Equality of finance and of political power may not be easy to achieve but they will be demanded. Ferrari will have to be prepared to fight a battle on its own. No-one is going to fight for them. The team has been so unhelpful, so greedy and so arrogant that it has few friends.
It is so cynical in its approach that the moment it wins a race it rushes out a statement from its chairman Sergio Marchionne, expecting everyone to use it instantly.
But should we?
Ferrari is not helping the press or the sport by refusing to be helpful, refusing to use social media channels, refusing to budge. Why should we promote Marchionne and his toys when they are not helping anyone? Ferrari needs to get with the programme or go off and do something else. We all know that Ferrari won't do that, because F1 is its biggest marketing tool. Sports cars, IndyCars, and all the rest of it are not much use.
When a big manufacturer wins Le Mans, it has to advertise to tell the world of its success. F1 simply delivers the message. The other day Chase Carey said that: “We’ve a product that captivates anyone who sees it. We've drivers who are incredible stars. We've machines that combine power and technology in a way that cannot help but awe you. We've got fabulous brands. We've got a tremendous brand ourselves, which is identified with stars, glamour, and excitement. Everything that people want – and gravitate to – today."
Growing to be bigger and better does not mean that everything has to get bigger. Just maybe sometimes one can grow by getting smaller and being more efficient. The automobile industry is filled with lean and mean companies. F1 needs manufacturers, but we must give them what they want, without making it impossible for others. One needs to keep all the balances right!
