Post by QPR Report on Jan 21, 2009 7:53:53 GMT
Formula 1 Briatore Q&A www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/1/8861.html
The only possibly slightly-relevant item: Not clear he's leaving the racing world1
!: Flavio, not so long ago there were reports in some Italian publications that you intend to leave Formula One racing in a year or two. What are your plans?
Flavio Briatore: My plan is - well I don’t know really - and I never said that to the Italian newspapers. We are living in a very crucial moment in Formula One. I believe with this crisis we have something that makes everybody tick, and what I want is to make sure we give Formula One the possibility to survive this crisis - and to change the business. I think that we have a responsibility to the people working for us to give them a future. We have never had a moment like this in history and I want to be part of this change in Formula One. This is what I want to do, whatever it takes. It is a unique opportunity. After that we will see.
Q: So we could see you around for quite some time?
FB: I hope. We as a team work very well together with (Formula One Teams Association) FOTA, we are working well with Max (Mosley) and we are working well with Bernie (Ecclestone). You remember that we have been talking about costs and now finally we are there, and finally we are trying to structure Formula One in a different way, and I want to be part of that. I hope it doesn’t take 10 years, but I hope as well that we all live up to our responsibility and do the best possible. "
And his view re Finances (If Stretch, can try and draw analogies to football views)
Q: How do you think manufacturers can justify competing in Formula One racing if car sales drop further and the companies have to lay off staff?
FB: If you sell apples or you sell T-shirts, if the store is not working it’s the same economic situation. This is the reason why for me Formula One has to be a centre of profit and not a centre of costs. Whatever company you have, if you make a profit you stay in the market, you’re surviving, but it is very difficult to survive if your goal is to lose money.
Q: The profit depends on the revenue coming in too…
FB: First, let’s do something about the costs. Now it is the rules that determine the costs. If you have no rules, I promise you that whatever money you give to our engineers it will be burned. I know because after that the car goes one second quicker. But fortunately it’s not only the money that makes the performance. We don’t need extra money from the owner of the team or from the manufacturer. Basically we need to survive from what we have to sell. You don’t need extra money every year. If you have a situation like that, the moment you face a crisis you are finished - like with Honda. Honda has put in a lot of money, but there was no future. .."
www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/1/8861.html
The only possibly slightly-relevant item: Not clear he's leaving the racing world1
!: Flavio, not so long ago there were reports in some Italian publications that you intend to leave Formula One racing in a year or two. What are your plans?
Flavio Briatore: My plan is - well I don’t know really - and I never said that to the Italian newspapers. We are living in a very crucial moment in Formula One. I believe with this crisis we have something that makes everybody tick, and what I want is to make sure we give Formula One the possibility to survive this crisis - and to change the business. I think that we have a responsibility to the people working for us to give them a future. We have never had a moment like this in history and I want to be part of this change in Formula One. This is what I want to do, whatever it takes. It is a unique opportunity. After that we will see.
Q: So we could see you around for quite some time?
FB: I hope. We as a team work very well together with (Formula One Teams Association) FOTA, we are working well with Max (Mosley) and we are working well with Bernie (Ecclestone). You remember that we have been talking about costs and now finally we are there, and finally we are trying to structure Formula One in a different way, and I want to be part of that. I hope it doesn’t take 10 years, but I hope as well that we all live up to our responsibility and do the best possible. "
And his view re Finances (If Stretch, can try and draw analogies to football views)
Q: How do you think manufacturers can justify competing in Formula One racing if car sales drop further and the companies have to lay off staff?
FB: If you sell apples or you sell T-shirts, if the store is not working it’s the same economic situation. This is the reason why for me Formula One has to be a centre of profit and not a centre of costs. Whatever company you have, if you make a profit you stay in the market, you’re surviving, but it is very difficult to survive if your goal is to lose money.
Q: The profit depends on the revenue coming in too…
FB: First, let’s do something about the costs. Now it is the rules that determine the costs. If you have no rules, I promise you that whatever money you give to our engineers it will be burned. I know because after that the car goes one second quicker. But fortunately it’s not only the money that makes the performance. We don’t need extra money from the owner of the team or from the manufacturer. Basically we need to survive from what we have to sell. You don’t need extra money every year. If you have a situation like that, the moment you face a crisis you are finished - like with Honda. Honda has put in a lot of money, but there was no future. .."
www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2009/1/8861.html