FILE PHOTO McLaren CEO Zak Brown. REUTERS / Molly Darlington / File photo
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown told Reuters on Friday that Formula One does not need an American driver to fuel the sport’s rapid growth in the United States.
Brown’s comments follow the decision of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Formula 1 operator not to relax the super license regulations so that American IndyCar driver Colton Herta can race for the team. Red Bull’s AlphaTauri next year.
“I think the sport will continue to grow in the US with or without an American driver,” Brown, an American, said ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix.
“I think an American racer in the sport would be an additive, but I don’t think it’s necessary.”
The US is a burgeoning market for Formula One both in terms of viewership and money brought in by major sponsoring companies. Its commercial rights are owned by US-based Liberty Media.
The sport, which will have three races in the US next year, includes a new night-time Grand prix in Las Vegas, last featuring the American driver in 2015, with Alexander Rossi.
RETURN THE RULES?
Herta, who test-drives McLaren’s 2021 F1 car, lacks the necessary points for the super license needed to enter Formula One.
“I respect that the rules are the rules, so I don’t think we should be in the business of making exceptions,” Brown said, echoing similar remarks from other team bosses. Formula One includes Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Haas team captain Guenther Steiner. .
However, Brown added that amending the rules may be needed in the future to grant successful IndyCar drivers an easier path into Formula One.
“When you have someone like Herta, who clearly has the potential to be a Formula One driver, who has been in our Formula One car, who has won a lot of races in IndyCar and he If we don’t qualify, you have to look at the rules and question whether the rules should be reviewed again, and I think they should.”
Part of the reason why Brown doesn’t think an American driver is necessary for Formula One is that the sport has already attracted large US audiences thanks to the Netflix documentary “Drive to Survive”. ”, which is supposed to bring in new things and younger audiences.
The growing popularity of the United States has led to a host of new sponsors for McLaren, including Google and Goldman Sachs.
“Netflix and the growth of Formula One in the US is what put Formula One in their sights,” Brown said.
The McLaren boss added that he has received weekly calls from American groups and individuals who are “very serious” about investing in Formula One, but McLaren is not currently looking for any new investors. any.
“The hard thing for a futures investor is finding a team that is interested in investing because the teams are all very healthy. That will ultimately increase the value of the franchise because the demand is much greater than the supply. “
BUT RELATED STORY
Continue reading
Register INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer and more than 70 other titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to news, download as early as 4am and share media articles society. Call 896 6000.
For feedback, complaints or enquiries, Contact us.
