Afrigather Within the wake of Liberty’s takeover from CVC in 2017, F1 has loved a large uplift in recognition.
Its opening up of social media channels, and the success of Netflix’s Drive to Survive sequence, has delivered a youthful and extra numerous viewers to the game.
And whereas some parts of Liberty’s actions, just like the introduction of dash races, haven’t been universally standard with hardcore followers, F1 seems to be in as wholesome a form because it has ever been.
Brawn, who’s stepping down as F1’s managing director of motorsport, believes that grand prix racing’s present power must be credited on Liberty adopting an strategy that earlier homeowners ignored.
“I believe Liberty have achieved an incredible job,” Brawn advised Motorsport.com. “I might say this, however they employed me! And whereas I say that, they recognised that they needed to enhance the game. They didn’t simply are available and say ‘how can we enhance the margins?’
“Their mindset was: ‘There’s this nice sport, how can we take the game forwards? As a result of the rewards will come after we take the game forwards, not by squeezing extra juice out of the lemon.’ And Greg [Maffei] and Chase [Carey] had that imaginative and prescient. And, fortunately, I had the chance to be concerned.
“Due to this fact I believe Liberty have taken an incredible strategy. Definitely, should you take a look at the historical past of homeowners in Formulation 1, they’re the one ones that I’ve seen do it – and I’ve been right here fairly a very long time.
“In case you look again, I can’t consider many house owners that put that type of funding into the game. I gained’t let you know my finances, nevertheless it was a considerable finances to try this work we did. And that’s a dedication, which is paying off now.”
Ross Brawn, Managing Director of Motorsports, FOM
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Brawn was clear although that regardless of issues showing very optimistic, there was no complacency on the sport’s senior stage that issues will keep this manner ceaselessly.
“I believe it’s fairly good,” he advised Motorsport.com concerning the well being of F1. “I imply, we are able to’t be complacent, however we’ve obtained big curiosity in Formulation 1.
“What’s pleasing is there’s a brand new demographic coming via with an incredible steadiness of variety – significantly gender variety in that new demographic. And that’s actually encouraging.
“We’ve obtained to verify we retain our type of core, long-term followers – we don’t need to alienate them. And that’s why I say I believe the integrity of the racing is vital.”
Whereas some followers nonetheless don’t just like the dash idea, Brawn thinks the Saturday races have delivered one thing further for the game.
He’s additionally not completely in opposition to the thought of reserve grid races, however thinks that could possibly be a step too far.
“There’s all the time this debate about reverse grids,” he stated. “Reverse grids could be fairly entertaining. I believe most of us would like to see what would occur.
“However there is a component of our followers who suppose that’s getting too artificial, too World Wrestling type of factor, and that it is best to reward the perfect guys and so forth. I get that as nicely and I believe we’ve obtained to be very cautious on that aspect of issues.
“You might have a dash race [now]. And, for me, a dash race can solely add as a result of it’s a contest, it’s a contest, greatest man wins, smartest man wins – it’s a meritocracy. It’s simply a further demonstration of the drivers’ skills throughout a race weekend. I believe the dash is nice.
“I can’t see why anybody would actually have an issue with that. That ought to, in the event that they’ve obtained an open thoughts, attraction to all our followers. I can see why a reverse grid could possibly be divisive and will unsettle a few of our followers and that’s one thing we’ve obtained to [keep in mind].”
Brawn believes that F1 presently has the proper steadiness between the product it’s delivering and what followers need to see.
“I believe we’re in an incredible place,” he added. “We appear to have engaged nicely with our current followers. We’ve obtained this new group of followers that we have to proceed to interact with, and I believe we’ve taken the chance of giving our followers a a lot deeper perception into the game than they’d earlier than.
“I can see why personalities are interesting. And, as , we’ve opened up social media, which has its downsides and we’re by no means gonna cease that, however I believe for followers who interact within the sport and feed their ardour, that’s [good].”
