Rubens Slams Bahrain-Brazil Comparisons

[cosworth151]

In another thread, we were joking about Rubens Barrichello responding to our posts. It sounds like he's been reading our Jeri's posts comparing the situation in Bahrain to Brazil. 

"I think it is horrible to compare [Bahrain] to Brazil," he told Brazil's TotalRace website. "It is completely different. There is no war."

http://www.racer.com/barrichello-slams-bahrain-brazil-comparisons/article/237225/?DCMP=EMC-RACER_DAILY&spMailingID=4077865&spUserID=MjMyNjk2NjU2MQS2&spJobID=41915415&spReportId=NDE5MTU0MTUS1

[John S]

So if Rubens got the call, he says he is waiting for, to drive an F1 car, possibly a Ferrari, in the Bahrain GP he'd turn it down?    

Nah  - just does not compute. 

     

[Andy B]

Unfortunately with Jenson's car nearly hijacked and having to to have guards on the pit lane at night there are similarities.

[cosworth151]

I still don't see the comparison between a few thieves and a full blow revolution.

So if Rubens got the call, he says he is waiting for, to drive an F1 car, possibly a Ferrari, in the Bahrain GP he'd turn it down?    

Nah  - just does not compute. 

     

I don't think I'd question Rubens' morality quite so quickly. I wouldn't accuse him of being just another ethics-free Bernie without cause.

[Jericoke]

The situation in Bahrain is about a few rich people controlling the poorer majority.

The situation in Brazil is that there are a few rich people who don't control the poorer majority.

I agree with Rubens that the big picture is entirely different.  Organised street crime is idealistically different from revolutionaries. 

However, as far as the F1 teams are concerned with regards to danger to the personnel, I don't see the the difference.

Brazail is a democratic country facing the same issues that most Western countries are facing right now:  the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the desperate will do what they can.  I don't think that's a reason to stay away from Brazil.  I think it's a reason to be careful, and I think F1 teams do take precautions.  If I had to choose between the two countries, I'd pick Brazil as a place to visit, a place to do business and a place to race F1. 

I think that F1 was wrong to do business with Bahrain in the first place, but tearing up contracts just because some thugs show up at the door doesn't send a great message.  I can appreciate that some people are scared in Bahrain, and it's easy to judge from Canadian Surbubia.  Racing in Bahrain grants their leaders a legitimacy they may not deserve.  Not racing in Bahrain grants the revolutionaries a legitmacy they may not deserve.  (I'm hardly impartial.  How can I support a regime that loathes F1 racing?)

F1 is right to 'stay out of it' and hounour their committments, and take precautions.

[Scott]

F1 is a sport for the fans.  Without the fans, nothing else would exist. 

Bernie has lost sight of that, and decided to take F1 to countries that have few fans, but a lot of money.  F1 should stay apolitical, however by taking this route (following the money without paying attention to who's back it was made off of), they are becoming anything but.  F1 is 'just' a pawn, but the FIA and FOM knew this going in.  They should take heat from what is going on this weekend as much as anyone else.

Brasil has millions of F1 fans.  Bahrain has a few.

[Jericoke]

F1 is a sport for the fans.  Without the fans, nothing else would exist. 

Bernie has lost sight of that, and decided to take F1 to countries that have few fans, but a lot of money.  F1 should stay apolitical, however by taking this route (following the money without paying attention to who's back it was made off of), they are becoming anything but.  F1 is 'just' a pawn, but the FIA and FOM knew this going in.  They should take heat from what is going on this weekend as much as anyone else.

Brasil has millions of F1 fans.  Bahrain has a few.

Major professional sports, including F1 have fallen into a trap.  You are correct to say it is about 'fans' (and how much you can charge them for tickets, tv rights and tshirts).  However, most sports are run by businessmen.  Buinesses (not just sports!) have gotten into a pattern where revenues must INCREASE year over year.

It's not enough that F1 has x million fans.  It's important that next season there are x + y fans, and the year after x + y + z fans.  Bernie needs to grow the sport.  You can't do that by racing where the fans are.  You race where the fans aren't, and hope that the locals become fans.

I don't know that's 'right', however, CVC bought F1 on the promise of growth.  If it doesn't grow, then their money goes 'poof'.

The alternative is to switch formerly free broadcasts to that of a PayTV provider.  How's that working out for the 'fans'?  (Rhetorically speaking.  Let's keep the focus on Bahrain here!)

So, Bahrain has money.  Bahrain is trying to become a cross roads of the world.  They promise Bernie that people will come from far and wide to support F1 and become fans who will buy tickets, pay TV royalties and buy tshirts.  It's Bernie's job to make sure they're not lying... but if you want to consider him a fool, you have to expect that he might be fooled! 

I expect that the contract will run out, and Bahrain will have to do a lot of work to get back on the calander.  Meanwhile, any 'new' tracks will have to work extra hard to prove they can provide what CVC needs.

[lkjohnson1950]

The teams have some influence; it wasn't the fans who brought F1 back to America, it was pressure from the teams to be in an important market. CVC is positioning itself for a stock offering that will actually recover a large part of their initial investment while maintaining control of the business. They don't car about the fans, the teams or the races as long as they get their fees. It's bad for the sport, but good for business.