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Williams urges Liberty to protect F1's future

Published on 02 Mar 2018 17:58
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By: Fergal Walsh

Deputy team principal at Williams Claire Williams has called on Liberty Media to make sure they protect the future of Formula 1. The sport is heading into a year where plans for the coming years will be outlined and decided.

Last year, Liberty Media presented its plans for the new engine regulations, which are set to come into play in 2021. However, they received backlash from Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault, with Ferrari going as far to as to threaten to leave the sport.

At the start of the pre-season tests this week, Red Bull's Christian Horner said that Mercedes and Ferrari are working together to make sure the future of F1 suits them. And now Williams says Liberty must be in control of the situation going forward.

"I think that’s a responsibility of Liberty in order to manage that situation, trying to find a solution that works for everybody - which is a tough situation,” Williams said.

"I’m pleased I’m not in charge but I’m sure that everybody has what’s best for the sport at heart and not individual gain and benefit to look at the future of this sport and protect it for future generations.

“That’s everybody’s responsibility around the table. In order to do that we believe that financial restraints have to come into play for 2021 and beyond. I think the boundaries are somewhat blurred between the two [Liberty and the FIA], but I think that as long as people are working together then does it matter if it’s the FIA or Liberty’s responsibility? I think it’s everybody’s responsibility to come to the table and to talk about the future of the sport.”

ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475

It is at moments like this, before major regulation overhaul, that I rejoice that Bernie is completely gone. I don't know what Liberty would do, but I definitely trust them more to go in the right direction that Bernie. Furthermore, Liberty is much more in control than Bernie was, who only had a ... [Read more]

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Mar 2 2018 - 19:37

F1 News Williams Renault Ferrari Mercedes

Replies (5)

calle.itw

Posts: 8,527
"I’m sure that everybody has what’s best for the sport at heart and not individual gain and benefit to look at the future of this sport and protect it for future generations. " Thats very optimistic in a sport with lots of greed involved. I think 99% of the people think their goals are whats best for the sport. I will for once agree with Ecclestone: you cant make everybody happy. You cant reduce the anger, but you are bound to piss someone off no matter how carefully you tread in this world. The same goes for F1.
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- Mar 2 2018 - 19:18
ajpennypacker

Posts: 2,475
It is at moments like this, before major regulation overhaul, that I rejoice that Bernie is completely gone. I don't know what Liberty would do, but I definitely trust them more to go in the right direction that Bernie. Furthermore, Liberty is much more in control than Bernie was, who only had a few shares towards the end and was accountable to private equity for returns
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- Mar 2 2018 - 19:37
- Barron
  
  Posts: 625
  Why would you trust an entity (apart from Ross Brawn who is, after all, just an employee) with zero background in the sport over someone who started his life as an F1 mechanic, worked his way up to team owner and then steered the whole apparatus into the global phenomenon it is today? Bernie did that, single handedly, and with grid girls and screaming V10’s.
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  Mar 3 2018 - 12:27
boudy

Posts: 1,168
The main issue is that there is an fundamental change in the automobile industry. The electrification is happening and F1 is not on the forefront of that technology anymore. All the engine suppliers have an point of view on this. However it looks like FE has the early adopters and their race series is going from strength to strength. Liberty will want to stop that trend. Teams like Williams might actually to well to startup an separate team in FE. It will be interesting to see what happens but i can't see the current powerplant setup being relative over the next 10 years. F1 must evolve otherwise it might lose its appeal.
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- Mar 3 2018 - 08:46
- calle.itw
  
  Posts: 8,527
  True, but there is good reasons for F1 not joining the EV trend yet: its not ready for racing. Heck, judging from reports, it isnt really ready for mass production to boot, seeing as some Teslas are in fact less "eco-friendly" than some conventional cars in combined environmental footprint.
  
  Look at the state of FE, and look at interest in said series to boot. Had F1 done the same, I am very confident in that we'd see a far worse spectacle than what we've seen so far in F1. F1 will become fully electric, Im sure of this, but they will make the move when its ready. The engine manufacturers want to go that route, but even they arent confident in that F1 is ready for it. F1 is hybrio, and I'd argue that hybrid is still the way to go, so they arent wrong in staying hybrid, but they are bound to move to EV.
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  Mar 3 2018 - 10:03