McLaren Executive Director Zak Brown has backed the focus on bringing Formula 1 back to the fans by new owners Liberty Media, claiming they have been unfairly criticised by some in recent weeks.
The new bosses, led by CEO Chase Carey, stated they wanted to make each Grand Prix like a “SuperBowl” for the fans when they first arrived after completing their takeover at the start of the year and have proceeded to do that by expanding the experience at the racetrack and by embracing new media which Bernie Ecclestone was staunchly against.
Yet some, notably Mercedes and Ferrari, have suggested there is little value to what they have done so far, from the pre-race show in Austin to the recent revelation that the use of grid girls are now under review, and all it has done is reduce profits and therefore the revenue which is distributed to the teams.
Brown, who as an American with vast commercial experience, would be expected to understand Liberty’s vision better than most, played down those concerns insisting they are on a path to success.
“I think they’re doing those things,” he told Sky Sports. “They’re not even a year into it, I think they’ve had some unfair criticism by the teams. We’ve complained for so many years that there’s no investment in the sport. Now that they’re investing in the sport we’re complaining that they’re investing in the sport.”
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Along with improving the F1 product, Liberty is tasking itself with vastly overhauling the business structure with the aim of leveling the playing field through budget caps and an equal distribution of revenue, though the McLaren boss has backed those ideas, he does suggest increasing the fanbase would be the most important goal.
“I think if they stayed centred on focusing on the fans then everything else will take care of itself,” he said. “The more fans we have, the more sponsors we’ll have, the more race teams we’ll have. So I think that’s the centre of gravity for us.
“Who consumes our sport and why do we go racing? It’s for the fans. That’s what they’re focusing on, they’re trying live events in London, a lot of digital, they’re giving the race teams a lot more freedom to engage with the fans at racetracks.”
There’s also been criticism of a perceived lack of urgency by Liberty to make changes but again Brown backed a step-by-step approach, while also calling for greater cooperation.
“I don’t think there’s a silver bullet, I think it’s doing a lot of little things right and moving the ball up the field and I think that’s exactly what they’re doing,” he commented. “I think the teams need to support them, we need to be vocal as we are but maybe at times we need to be more constructive.”
