Mosley: Silverstone worst track in Europe
Discussion
From Autosport.
FIA president Max Mosley has launched another verbal salvo at Silverstone, claiming that the home of the British Grand Prix is probably the worst Formula 1 track in Europe.
Mosley did praise improvements to the transport infrastructure around the track owned by the British Racing Drivers Club, but refused to guarantee the future of the race, insisting that there was still more work to be done on Silverstone's facilities.
"Silverstone is fairly well down the list of circuits worldwide and probably at the bottom of the list in Europe," Mosley told BBC Radio Five Live.
"That is absolutely wrong for the leading motorsport country in the world. As the people who rent the circuit [Octagon Motorsports, who own the rights to the British GP] are paying enough money to allow the investment to do the work, it should be done.
"The government, and to some extent Silverstone, have solved the problem of the roads. Now they've got to sort the circuit out and then we'll have a facility of which we can be proud."
When asked about Silverstone's status as an F1 circuit beyond this year, Mosley said: "It's too early to say. All I can say is that the problem is solvable. What I can't say is whether it will be solved."
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Well fcuk you, you irritatingly pompous failed F2 driver.
Silverstone the worst? At least there are still overtaking opportunities.
Granted anything can always be improved but why doesn't anyone ever mention Monaco as the worst? It's cramped for mechanics, dangerous for drivers and spectators, there's no overtaking, has boring processional races.
FIA president Max Mosley has launched another verbal salvo at Silverstone, claiming that the home of the British Grand Prix is probably the worst Formula 1 track in Europe.
Mosley did praise improvements to the transport infrastructure around the track owned by the British Racing Drivers Club, but refused to guarantee the future of the race, insisting that there was still more work to be done on Silverstone's facilities.
"Silverstone is fairly well down the list of circuits worldwide and probably at the bottom of the list in Europe," Mosley told BBC Radio Five Live.
"That is absolutely wrong for the leading motorsport country in the world. As the people who rent the circuit [Octagon Motorsports, who own the rights to the British GP] are paying enough money to allow the investment to do the work, it should be done.
"The government, and to some extent Silverstone, have solved the problem of the roads. Now they've got to sort the circuit out and then we'll have a facility of which we can be proud."
When asked about Silverstone's status as an F1 circuit beyond this year, Mosley said: "It's too early to say. All I can say is that the problem is solvable. What I can't say is whether it will be solved."
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Well fcuk you, you irritatingly pompous failed F2 driver.
Silverstone the worst? At least there are still overtaking opportunities.
Granted anything can always be improved but why doesn't anyone ever mention Monaco as the worst? It's cramped for mechanics, dangerous for drivers and spectators, there's no overtaking, has boring processional races.
But when were you last in the paddock at Silverstone? I've been twice this year (one trackday, one race):
- Pitlane and pits are old and tired (yes I realise they are coming down)
- Pit hospitality units not a patch on Monza.
- No sign posts! Both times I've left by driving through bollarded off zones. And it wasn't just me being thick (alternatively all the people following me were even thicker)
- Tannoy cannot be heard beyond the pits.
- No organisation of the paddock whatsoever
Throw in a lack of development of spectator facilities:
- Compare the stands to Malaysia of the Nurburgring)
- Oh, and those same stands are locked up on club races (unless you are willing to pay another fiver to get into the BRDC stand)
- Low banking. Where did all the hardcore from the new road go?
"Worst in Europe" is a bit extreme, but right now the faciities really aren't up to scratch for the premier venue in Britain
- Pitlane and pits are old and tired (yes I realise they are coming down)
- Pit hospitality units not a patch on Monza.
- No sign posts! Both times I've left by driving through bollarded off zones. And it wasn't just me being thick (alternatively all the people following me were even thicker)
- Tannoy cannot be heard beyond the pits.
- No organisation of the paddock whatsoever
Throw in a lack of development of spectator facilities:
- Compare the stands to Malaysia of the Nurburgring)
- Oh, and those same stands are locked up on club races (unless you are willing to pay another fiver to get into the BRDC stand)
- Low banking. Where did all the hardcore from the new road go?
"Worst in Europe" is a bit extreme, but right now the faciities really aren't up to scratch for the premier venue in Britain
HiRich said:
But when were you last in the paddock at Silverstone? I've been twice this year (one trackday, one race):
Since I live about 10 miles away I've been quite a few times over the years. F1 races, GT, Tourers, Bikes, testing, club racing both around the circiut in the paddock, pits and F1 corporate paddock club (as guest of Ferrari).
Agreed, the facilties could certainly be better but surely the FIA should be looking at quality of racing (after all if that drops, if it can drop any further) of which Silverstone does provide more than most each year.
Fans pay their money to get in I'm sure we would all prefer to see good racing than pay for the priviledge of eating in a nice airconditioned cafe. Why? get out and watch the races.....oh just realised since they changed the rules there's nothing to see on Sunday until 1pm
I think the FIA need to change their views on what makes a Formula One weekend entertaining.
never mind f1, i think for club racing ( certainly on the national circuit) silvertone is the worst circuit in the uk...
both for competitors and spectators.. the circuits boring, spectators carnt see, stands are locked and there are fences and gates everywhere....
I do think however max and bernies posturing is only to get cash out of the govenment, which in my view would be better spent on facilities at places like anglesey and saving Brands from the property developers
G
both for competitors and spectators.. the circuits boring, spectators carnt see, stands are locked and there are fences and gates everywhere....
I do think however max and bernies posturing is only to get cash out of the govenment, which in my view would be better spent on facilities at places like anglesey and saving Brands from the property developers
G
Hmmm Mosley speaks - but do we sense the presence of someone else's agenda?
It all stinks to high heaven. When is Autosport or any other publication other than the Economist going to stop being a tabloid fairy and actually do some proper reporting into F1's financial affairs?
As it stands Silverstone (Octagon) pays millions for the privilege of holding the British GP and gets back nothing more than the gate receipts and concession revenue. It doesn't take an MBA to work out this isn't a great deal..... The TV revenue, trackside advertising, hospitality, etc etc is all straight into the pockets of others - all of which goes nowhere near British Motorsport, just lines the pockets of people who are already multi-millionaires or billionaires.
Sorry for the rant, but I've had enough of these games played by the F1 powers that be - there's always a hidden agenda that has everything to do with power and money and absolutely Fcuk ALL about how good Silverstone and it's facilities are. IMHO it's all about others trying to find a way to gain ownership of the track and/or get one over the BRDC.
Time for those that have taken so much from the sport to stand down and give some of the enormous wealth that has been amassed from F1 back to the sport that has earnt it. They could start by allocating a larger proportion of trackside advertising revenue to the teams and handing over financial control of the sport to an independent body.
How many Billions do you need to live off? I have much more respect for east end dodgy second hand car salesmen....
Edited 'cause of my atrocious spelling....
>> Edited by Leithen on Sunday 13th July 00:41
It all stinks to high heaven. When is Autosport or any other publication other than the Economist going to stop being a tabloid fairy and actually do some proper reporting into F1's financial affairs?
As it stands Silverstone (Octagon) pays millions for the privilege of holding the British GP and gets back nothing more than the gate receipts and concession revenue. It doesn't take an MBA to work out this isn't a great deal..... The TV revenue, trackside advertising, hospitality, etc etc is all straight into the pockets of others - all of which goes nowhere near British Motorsport, just lines the pockets of people who are already multi-millionaires or billionaires.
Sorry for the rant, but I've had enough of these games played by the F1 powers that be - there's always a hidden agenda that has everything to do with power and money and absolutely Fcuk ALL about how good Silverstone and it's facilities are. IMHO it's all about others trying to find a way to gain ownership of the track and/or get one over the BRDC.
Time for those that have taken so much from the sport to stand down and give some of the enormous wealth that has been amassed from F1 back to the sport that has earnt it. They could start by allocating a larger proportion of trackside advertising revenue to the teams and handing over financial control of the sport to an independent body.
How many Billions do you need to live off? I have much more respect for east end dodgy second hand car salesmen....
Edited 'cause of my atrocious spelling....
>> Edited by Leithen on Sunday 13th July 00:41
Leithen said:
How many Billions do you need to live off? I have much more respect for east end dodgy second hand car salesmen....
As opposed to south-of-the-river dodgy second hand car salesmen, I assume you mean!
As I've mentioned in the Ecclestone thread, I'm reading the biography, and have just covered the Octagon debacle (company motto: "Yes, we're suckers!"). A couple of things are clear:
- Never take anything Mosley or Ecclestone say at face value. There is always a hidden meaning.
- Never, ever consider working for, with or even nearby Ecclestone. Sooner or later he WILL F*** you over.
There's a lot of errors in the book, but it has filled in some of the gaps about his tactics, and how different bits of the puzzle fit together. Be sure that somehow he will be behind the final Octagon/British GP deal
From memory,
it was a Ms. Fulstone that played party with Berni over the GP, the BRDC said that they would not pay more for it, so she (backed by Berni) out-bid them under the guise of running it at Brands, which was never remotely going to happen.
They then played chicken with the BRDC over renting Silverstone.
The outcome is that Berni get's his bigger fee, BRDC washed their hands of it, and Octagon (who were stupid enough to buy BHL) got their fingers burned.
What I can't understand is why they all fell for it, it was blatently obvious at the time what was on the cards.
it was a Ms. Fulstone that played party with Berni over the GP, the BRDC said that they would not pay more for it, so she (backed by Berni) out-bid them under the guise of running it at Brands, which was never remotely going to happen.
They then played chicken with the BRDC over renting Silverstone.
The outcome is that Berni get's his bigger fee, BRDC washed their hands of it, and Octagon (who were stupid enough to buy BHL) got their fingers burned.
What I can't understand is why they all fell for it, it was blatently obvious at the time what was on the cards.
Mosley is a politician, Ecclestone is a businessman. All the shennanigans surrounding the running of F1 mirror exactly what goes on in the City every day. It's just that because we all love F1 (even if we say we don't), and are deeply interested in it, that we pay closer attention to what's going on.
Bernie makes his money from the sport, Max is granted his power from the sport. Human nature dictates that niether will do anything to diminish these benefits, only work to enhance them. The only way in which this will happen is to improve the product (F1 racing) - which I do believe they are at least trying to do.
In politics and business, things are often said for a reason (and often not the obvious one). So, pinch of salt time and yes, lets see Autosport doing a bit of investigative journalism to establish the facts - not gossip.
And let us not forget that the people who have true power in the sport are the team owners themselves - pretty much all of whom or on "our" side. They're racers and if they wern't running an F1 team, they'd be putting out a couple of Formula Ford cars every weekend.
Bernie makes his money from the sport, Max is granted his power from the sport. Human nature dictates that niether will do anything to diminish these benefits, only work to enhance them. The only way in which this will happen is to improve the product (F1 racing) - which I do believe they are at least trying to do.
In politics and business, things are often said for a reason (and often not the obvious one). So, pinch of salt time and yes, lets see Autosport doing a bit of investigative journalism to establish the facts - not gossip.
And let us not forget that the people who have true power in the sport are the team owners themselves - pretty much all of whom or on "our" side. They're racers and if they wern't running an F1 team, they'd be putting out a couple of Formula Ford cars every weekend.
I raced at Silverstone in one of the BRSCC meets in a Caterham - National circuit.
It was about 3pm Sunday when I finished my second race, then tried to get a coffee or a soft drink. Or in fact any kind of drink. Or something, anything, to eat.
Only the cafe/bar hadn't opened at all, and even the burger van in the paddock had shut up shop. The paddock was full of people, racing was still going on, but there was no catering of any descrption available.
A week earlier at the F3/GT/Tuscan weekend, the Paddock Bar shut at 7pm on the Saturday evening! Extraordinary!!
Silverstone is not my favourite circuit from this experience!!
It was about 3pm Sunday when I finished my second race, then tried to get a coffee or a soft drink. Or in fact any kind of drink. Or something, anything, to eat.
Only the cafe/bar hadn't opened at all, and even the burger van in the paddock had shut up shop. The paddock was full of people, racing was still going on, but there was no catering of any descrption available.
A week earlier at the F3/GT/Tuscan weekend, the Paddock Bar shut at 7pm on the Saturday evening! Extraordinary!!
Silverstone is not my favourite circuit from this experience!!
Steviebee said:
So, pinch of salt time and yes, lets see Autosport doing a bit of investigative journalism to establish the facts - not gossip.
Don't hold your breath. To quote from Bernie's Game: "Mosley, incidentally, was not one to have the authority of the FIA easily challenged. At a more mundane level, when Britain's Motoring News dared to criticise the FIA for unfairly imposing a 12-month ban on Toyota Team Europe for using illegal turbochargers in the WRC, he telephoned the editor to say that he was withdrawing the FIA's co-operation with the paper until its standard of accuracy improved"
Also, when Business Age dared to tackle te Bernie & Max show, Bernie bought them out. Photographers who supplied images to out-of-favour organisations have been threatened with removal of their credentials. If Autosport lost the patronage of the FIA and FOPA, it would be out of business.
In those circumstances, do you really think Haymarket would risk stepping out of line?
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