A glimpse of the future
The fact is that from purely technical perspectives the changes outlined in the draft regulations are minor in the bigger scheme of things
That F1 faced paradigm technological and sporting shifts – potentially the largest in its 70-year history – was clear immediately Liberty Media completed its purchase of the sport’s commercial rights in January 2017. Over time, the sport had become bogged down in the antiquated ways of its out-of-touch tsar Bernie Ecclestone – who, it was said, could not send a text message, let alone fathom social media.
Not only did the American company immediately boot Bernie, who had ruled F1 with an iron-clad glove since the mid-70s, ‘upstairs’ as chairman emeritus – saliently, without executive powers – but it also employed technical legend Ross Brawn as managing director of motorsport, to lead its $8bn acquisition into a new era.
Brawn in turn recruited a number of specialist from within Formula 1’s ranks with Pat Symonds, the former Renault and Williams technical director, overseeing the technical overhaul. Steve Nielsen, who draws on a career stretching back to the 1990s with organisations such as Lotus, Tyrrell, Benetton and Williams, was appointed sporting director, while former Brawn/Mercedes financial manager Nigel Kerr was charged with devising a budget cap.
Who calls the shots?
A veritable roll-call then, and indicative of Liberty’s ultra-serious intentions of sending F1 kicking and screaming into the next decade. However, regardless of Liberty’s commercial interests in Formula 1, motor racing’s ‘Formula Number One’ is contested under the ‘FIA Formula One
