Bob Barnard Track Engineering

Jensen Button looks set to reap the rewards of his strong driving and good team spirit with a renewed contract for more money and better terms. This comes after a bit of a dance between him and McLaren, Ferrari and his management. A few weeks ago Martin Whitmarsh is praising Button and saying he wants him to stay for as long as he wants to keep driving. Button had been making noises about how happy he was there, and it all seemed set for a quick long term deal. The Jensen comes out and says he wants to keep his options open, a short term deal will be fine with him. In come Ferrari looking to replace Massa, and who's on the short list, Jensen. A smart choice, but who approached who? Did Jensen's management approach Ferrari? I don't see Jensen as one of those "I always wanted to drive for Ferrari" guys. So was it a negotiating ploy? If so it worked as all of a sudden here's Whitmarsh with a better contract for him to sign, and Jensen seems happy to sign it. And why not? The way Lewis is talking and driving Jensen could end up the number one driver there.

Then we have Silverstone, who went from a profit in 2009 to a loss in 2010. Silverstone was unusual in that it made a profit. It is only one of two non-government backed races on the calendar, so this is a major feat. Chris Pook told me a long time ago when he ran Long Beach that if Bernie thought you were making money he increase the fee, and lo and behold Silverstone's fee for the renewed 17 year contract is it's highest ever fee at around 11.6 million pounds. Bernie did cut them a break though as the escalator is only 5% and not the usual 10%. This still means that in the next ten years the fee is going to top 20 million pounds. Admission fees are now 195 pounds for the cheapest tickets to 475 pounds. $1000 to see a GP! You'd better not take the family. Does anyone think this is sustainable?

Lastly the poor old BBC, the State owned broadcasting service in the UK, is reportedly going to relinquish the rights to F1 as part of the British Governments austerity package. Bernie and the boys are up in arms as they want the races to remain "free to air." Well who is charging the BBC an exorbitant fee for showing them? Bernie, so you would think the answer is simple, if it is that important then just drop the fee. Now I have not lived in the UK for 40 years, so feel free to correct me, but ITV is also free to air is it not? Just those pesky ads to interrupt the broadcast like the rest of us have to put up with, and that is after we pay the cable fee, so what's free? I fail to see what is in it for the BBC anyway? Who cares if your ratings go up, you're not selling the airtime. So it is all "prestige", just another way for a Government to subsidize Bernie to feel good, but without any actual benefit such as hotel and restaurant income for race fans.