'Liberty risks turning F1 into Mickey Mouse series'

  • Published on 21 Feb 2018 10:44
  • comments 13
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Michael Schumacher's former manager is worried Liberty Media risks turning formula one into "a Mickey Mouse series". Earlier this week, a rumour spread on the internet that Willi Weber, who was Schumacher's manager as he hit F1's dizzying heights, had died at the age of 75.

Kolner Express newspaper discovered that the rumour was false. "Luckily I'm in good health even if I am still recovering from a back operation," he laughed.

Weber said he would like to know more about the health condition of Schumacher, the seven time world champion who suffered a serious skiing crash in 2013. "Unfortunately I have not heard from Corinna," he said. "Michael's accident is four years ago now and we all know it was not a broken leg."

Weber said he hopes to attend the opening of a Schumacher car collection in Cologne in April, and "Maybe then we will learn if he is feeling better". As for the future of formula one itself, Weber admits he is worried. "This ugly roll bar (Halo) ruins the cars," he said. "Safety is important, but that was a mistake by Jean Todt."

"That there are no more grid girls is also a sin," Weber added. "They provided the necessary glamour. The new owners have to be careful not to turn formula one into a Mickey Mouse series." (GMM)

The halo had nothing to do with liberty. The removal,of gridgirls has no effect on the actual sbow itself. The significantly increased presence in social media, the weekly video compilations, the openness to explore new venues and have reasonable contracts, the proposal to pay revenue equally to ... [Read more]

  • 4
  • Feb 21 2018 - 15:47

Replies (13)

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  • kngrthr

    Posts: 203

    i think the risk is minimal. ..
    it Will happen

    • + 1
    • Feb 21 2018 - 13:02
  • reg

    Posts: 162

    Ah!!! that's why we have the halo this year - so Mickey Mouse's ears can stick out through the gaps at the side!

    • + 2
    • Feb 21 2018 - 13:23
  • f1dave

    Posts: 782

    The "grid kids " just love Mickey.

    • + 1
    • Feb 21 2018 - 14:35
  • Everyone wanted Bernie to go.. boy do they regret that now, Todt and Chase are turning F1 into a mockery.

    • + 1
    • Feb 21 2018 - 15:17
    • f1ski

      Posts: 726

      f1 was already a mockery before liberty. Rule that limited competitiveness and rules that favor old teams.

      • + 1
      • Feb 21 2018 - 15:19
    • Yes, because Bernie had some real brilliant stuff before he left...

      • + 0
      • Feb 21 2018 - 17:07
  • The halo had nothing to do with liberty. The removal,of gridgirls has no effect on the actual sbow itself. The significantly increased presence in social media, the weekly video compilations, the openness to explore new venues and have reasonable contracts, the proposal to pay revenue equally to everyone based upon performance and nothing else, the initiative to simplify the PU to improve sound and minimize costs.... yeah Liberty is so bad. It all comes down to a bunch of all farts who resent change.

    • + 4
    • Feb 21 2018 - 15:47
    • Kean

      Posts: 692

      hear, hear

      • + 1
      • Feb 21 2018 - 16:10
    • IT IS THE END OF THE WORLD! LIBERTY WILL CHANGE IT ALL! ITS OVER! AAAH AAAAAAH AAAAAAH!!!!!!

      • + 0
      • Feb 21 2018 - 17:06
    • WTH? this cant be, you are using too much logic and making way more common sense.

      • + 0
      • Feb 22 2018 - 04:47
  • just another sports circus from the states. they think we like their sportsculture but for sure I do not.

    • + 0
    • Feb 22 2018 - 07:42
    • Because NHL is so impopular... -.-

      • + 0
      • Feb 22 2018 - 18:53
  • Barron

    Posts: 625

    Well ok, there’s another giant irony here; Willi Weber (now that’s a really silly name) warning of F1 becoming a ‘Mickey Mouse’ series, completely missing the fact that Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse is the single most successful character ever invented in terms of hard cash ($Billions) and instant worldwide brand recognition. Liberty should go down on their knees and pray that they could be even a small percentage as successful. But to be fair, Willi isn’t the first to compare something that is perceived to be crap with ‘Mickey Mouse’ and that’s plainly not true. I wonder where/when it started? Poor Mickey.. Don’t worry mate, I’m still your friend..?

    • + 0
    • Feb 22 2018 - 19:53

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