Qatar and Miami Dolphin owner to buy F!

[Derek Smith]

Reportedly, at least

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formul...

It might explain Masterchitz' threat to leave the sport at the A1-Ring. Rumour had it that he wanted a bit of F1.

It seems, on the face of it, to secure the long term future of the sport but then they are coming into F1 for their own reasons, all of which are to make money.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

I always thought Red Bull would buy the series too.

[Eric Mc]

God knows where this would lead F1.

[RobGT81]

Maybe they should wait and see what happens in the FIFA case first.

[Derek Smith]

RobGT81 said:

Maybe they should wait and see what happens in the FIFA case first.

I'm not sure that has much in the way of relevance but I would assume the other 'pressures' on the sport the price might well be lower. Not that I understand these things.

The suggestion is that they will buy out Ecclestone in the first instance.

If they are in it for the long haul then I would assume there will be plans, the most important of these being to reduce costs as a way of getting more teams in. The way they do this will define the sport.

If Masterchitz does pull out, then I would assume he'll sell the teams, so there would be no drop from its current level.

Whether this consortium is the best option for F1 remains to be seen, but there has been a certain 'drift' as the article puts it over recent years.

We'll see.

I noted a few weeks ago that there was an article on the Red Bull motorsport site (someone has to read it) to the effect that WEC is a challenge to the supremacy of F1. Makes you wonder where their loyalties lie. If there was competition between to two disciplines then I would guess that it would be good for spectators and for motorsport in genera.

[suffolk009]

I just read a similar summary on James Allen's site.

My hope is that if Ross buys it, he adopts the "teams as franchise" model that has served NFL so well (not that I follow the sport).

I've long thought that manufacturers should be engine suppliers and title sponsors but not actual teams. Manufacturers are fickle, and are not race teams. Proper F1 teams are in the business of going racing.

[Penguinracer]

I agree - the franchise model has served American sport well ...two generations ago they recognised that to attract investment & to provide a sustainable business model - there had to be a level playing field with capped expenditure.

European sports invariably turn into a cheque-book war rendering only about 25% of the competitors serious contenders for overall victory with the other 75% trading talent in an effort to balance the books. In the U.S. they recognised these problems 50 years ago & did something about it.

The franchise model has some atteractive features for investors & fans alike:

(1) Equal division of commercial revenues;
(2) An independent "Commissioner" voted for by the franchisees to adjudicate on disputes;
(3) Salary caps;
(4) Exit & entry only by sale of a franchise to a buyer approved by the other franchisees;
(5) Competitor endorsement revenue unlimited;
(6) Gate takings remain revenue of venue holder (but venues must meet franchise standards).
(5) A Fixed & immutable number of franchisees