Bernie troubles

[dj_bytedisaster]

And justice was truly assasinated today. The State of Bavaria accepted a 100M bribe to end the trial against Ecclestone for bribery. Someone know a good asylum country for a disillusioned German

[henners88]

A bribery case settled with a bribe, you couldn't write it.

Everybody has a price, even the legal system in some countries! lol

[BDunnell]

F1 has a rich history with Fangio, Brabham, Stewart and Lauda being worthily joined by Schumacher, Alonso, Hakkinen and Vettel. All are synonymous with F1.

Mr Ecclestone's ultimate legacy may very well be that the F1 drivers champion of today is, at worst, the equal of the champion of yesteryear.

F1, under Mr Ecclestone's watch, has managed to change as the times dictate whilst remaining the ultimate career destination for the best drivers on the planet.

That is what building on history means to me.

Sorry, but I still think it's a completely meaningless phrase. None of what you describe is at all exceptional. All you're saying is, basically, that the sport has carried on — no more than that.

[BDunnell]

If anything I think the sport has been held back in recent years by not embracing modern trends, especially where fans are concerned. They are so wrapped up in making content unavailable and making sure the F1 website is as basic as possible that they have missed a trick. F1 is at least a decade behind other major sports and its been held back to maximise profit rather than appeal.

Exactly. This is one reason why having an 80-something year-old man in charge is so damaging.

[dj_bytedisaster]

Exactly. This is one reason why having an 80-something year-old man in charge is so damaging.

The age has nothing to do with it. Having a career criminal in charge - that's what damages the sport.

[BDunnell]

The age has nothing to do with it.

It does, surely. How in touch is he with newer generations of viewers? The answer seems to be 'not very', judging by how backward F1 has been in embracing the internet.

[dj_bytedisaster]

It does, surely. How in touch is he with newer generations of viewers? The answer seems to be 'not very', judging by how backward F1 has been in embracing the internet.

The only reason why he hasn't embraced faceborg and twatter is, because it cannot be monetized. That is the sole reason. If he could make money with the new media, he would have embraced the raw stuffing out of them.

[henners88]

It does, surely. How in touch is he with newer generations of viewers? The answer seems to be 'not very', judging by how backward F1 has been in embracing the internet.

Indeed. He said the sport didn't need viewers, and then he said it did once the viewing figures plummeted lol. The official F1 website is shockingly awful for content with the odd race edit and interview heavily edited. You would think in this day and age the sport would embrace social media, and have a regularly updated YouTube channel etc. They could even offer a subscription service through YouTube like other channels have done. When you consider they pump so much money into closing down video's that contravene copyright, they could accept the exposure and concentrate on delivering something themselves.

The whole of F1 is guilty of this too. The teams are starting to offer better content on websites and at least interact with fans on social media, but they are guilty of failing to embrace the merchandise market and opening themselves up to fans. You can't get near them at GP weekends unless you have a paddock pass and this exclusiveness has crept in, not just because of secrecy, but because its all part of keeping the perceived image of the sport as a playground for the rich and famous. I understand they can't have anybody wandering around the paddock, but as it stands 99% of fans haven't got a hope of getting close to the sport they love. I've been lucky enough to have been in the paddock on a couple of occasions and its so cut off from its public image. The drivers think popping over to the pit wall and giving the grandstand a wave is really giving something back and giving them that energy to keep them humble, yeah right lol.

The whole sport needs an overhaul and one of the biggest problems has been Bernie. He is old skool and out of touch. He's making money for his investors and bunging judges and everything is rosy, but I fear its contributing to the sports decline and being left behind by an era (public) they don't fully understand.

[mmbmz3]

This is a pure and simple case of "Affluenza"...

[BDunnell]

The only reason why he hasn't embraced faceborg and twatter is, because it cannot be monetized. That is the sole reason. If he could make money with the new media, he would have embraced the raw stuffing out of them.

Which demonstrates exactly how out of touch he is.