Changes to Formula 1 — Under Further Review with Burke and Gen

Note: This isn't a typical post for Under Further Review since it isn't really about anything legal (aside from a corporate law point of view, which I do not get into here), but this was something that I wanted to talk about.

Liberty Media has purchased a controlling interest in Formula 1 for $4.4 billion. Formula 1 (F1) features the fastest road racing cars on some of the world's best tracks and it generates a sick amount of revenues. It has been run by Bernie Ecclestone, a highly controversial figure (take your pick as to the reason), for the last four decades. He will continue to run F1 for the next three years, which will maintain continuity for F1 while Liberty Media takes over.

I had no idea what Liberty Media was until news of its purchase of F1 started circulating, but they own a large stake in Live Nation, are involved with the Atlanta Braves organization and have European media interests.

I am an F1 fan. But it is getting harder and harder for me to stay engaged. It is due mostly to Red Bull and Mercedes’ years of dominance and the fact that races don’t appear to be super competitive. It’s always been about strategy and tire preservation and not about flat out racing, but even the strategy has lost a bit of its luster for me. It isn’t too much fun when the World Champion (either the Driver or Constructors) is determined fairly early on in the season and it becomes about who comes in second or third or how the middling or back marker teams fare. I haven’t been a huge fan of F1’s newest bright star, Max Verstappen, because of his risky and aggressive moves, but I do appreciate the fact that he is trying those things and is racing.

Also, it’s been difficult to watch my team – McLaren – and its drivers struggle. Jenson Button, my favorite driver, is taking a sabbatical from F1 next season and may return in 2018. He will be spending his sabbatical taking a break from the rigorous schedule of F1 by participating in several triathlons and taking 100 km bike rides up Mount Ventoux. You know, the usual rest break.