Breaking news
Formula 1
F1 could boost revenues in post-Ecclestone era - Dennis
Formula 1 has the potential to deliver much bigger revenue streams in the long-term future, but it may take a hit in the immediate post-Bernie Ecclestone era, claims McLaren chairman Ron Dennis.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Jan 12, 2016, 12:49 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
There has been an increasing focus in recent months on whether F1 is maximising its commercial opportunities and whether or not too much money is going out of the sport to owners CVC.
But, as F1 ponders the potential impact of either CVC selling, or Ecclestone's time at the top coming to an end, Dennis believes there is great opportunity in the future.
"I cannot see anyone buying into F1 with the view that they are going to lose money," explained Dennis. "They are going to buy into F1 because they think they can make more money.
"But the real test is not so much who owns F1, but who leads F1. And, of course, Bernie is a very hard to follow, no question.
"Whatever follows on from Bernie will be entirely different because there is only one of Bernie - with his style, his experience, his knowledge, his recall, and his ability to aggressively negotiate.
"No skill set like that is going to be matched by one individual, so the model will change."
Rollercoaster ride
Speaking about where he sees F1's revenue going, he said: "Do I believe the number will go up? My prediction is it will probably go down for a while, and go back up again.
"Where it can go is hard to comprehend, but look at the generation of money off of football in the UK, or some of the sports in America. There are sports generating a great deal more revenue."
Spectacle still good
Dennis believes that the long-term health of F1, and ability to attract more income, comes from the fact that he thinks the show is still delivering.
"F1 still, as a spectacle, is pretty good. And when you have had the level of dominance that Mercedes has enjoyed, and we have enjoyed in the past, people tend to say that is an awful F1.
"But still there is more overtaking and at least there is a competitiveness between the two Mercedes driver that formulates itself in media attention, not all positive, but it is there.
"So I do think F1 can generate more income. But that is not in any shape critical of Bernie or CVC. I just think it can have a greater income in the future."
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Horner: More to Red Bull engine saga than "meets the eye"
Next article Motorsport.com Appoints Erwin Jaeggi Formula 1 Editor in Netherlands
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
McLaren
"We're just a step behind" - what McLaren is trying to solve with its final 2026 upgrades
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
23 h
"We're just a step behind" - what McLaren is trying to solve with its final 2026 upgrades
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026
Latest news
F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: United States GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
4 min
F1 2026 qualifying head-to-head: United States GP
F1 United States GP: Kimi Antonelli takes pole with George Russell sixth
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
12 min
F1 United States GP: Kimi Antonelli takes pole with George Russell sixth
Sammy Smith wins NASCAR O'Reilly Talladega race with last-lap pass
NASCAR O'Reilly
NOAP NASCAR O'Reilly
Talladega II
20 min
Sammy Smith wins NASCAR O'Reilly Talladega race with last-lap pass
NASCAR Cup title contenders living on a prayer at Talladega
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
1 h
NASCAR Cup title contenders living on a prayer at Talladega
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe