SPECIAL REPORTF1'S CIRCUIT PROMOTERS

FINDING THERIGHT FORMULAHILTON HAS FOUND

A HAPPY HOME

AT MCLAREN

THE REAL VALUEOF F1'S DRIVERSWHY LEWIS HAMILTON

WILL BE THE SPORT'S

BIGGEST EARNER

ABU DHABI YACHT SHOW PREVIEWTHE YACHTING WORLD

HEADS TO YAS MARINA

BERNIE'S THOUGHTS ON THE FUTUREF1'S SUPREMO REVEALS

WHAT'S IN STORE IN 2010

BACK IN BUSINESSFlavio Briatore talks about taking on the Fia in court

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JanUary/FeBrUary 2010

MOTORSPORT BUSINESS AND LIFESTYLE

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MOTORSPORT BUSINESS AND LIFESTYLE

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MOTORSPORT BUSINESS AND LIFESTYLE

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CONTENTS vOlumE 4 NO 1

Platform

10 Is f1 on the right track?The Formula 1 grid has expanded, but should the sport have focused on polishing its existing product rather than expanding it?

News revIew

12 Return of the ‘silver arrows’ with Mercedes GP… McLaren forgets sponsor defections and focuses on its two World Champions… Santander is Ferrari title sponsor in everything but name… The oddly named new Suaber entry tests in sponsor-free livery…Force India has three months to file details of its accounts or it could face closure…

featUres & INtervIews

22 muscling Into f1Stefan GP has already made quite an impact upon the world of Formula 1. It could yet make history in 2010, however, as the team that tested without a grid placement.

26 virgin territoryWho actually owns Virgin Racing? Team Principal Alex Tai has stepped down to be replaced by Manor’s John Booth. After months of hiding F1’s ‘worst kept secret’ Virgin’s involvement was finally confirmed by the FIA… not Virgin.

30 on the fast track to the right formulaRobin Fenwick has thus far enjoyed a highly successful sports marketing career. He tells The Paddock about the relationship between Hilton and McLaren and his new agency Right Formula.

36 Checking out the returnIn a world where return on investment is King, you have to admire the performance of the Hilton-McLaren partnership. We take a closer look at the numbers involved in this deal.

38 King of the worldBernie Ecclestone talks to The Paddock about Formula 1 and the future of the sport. The teams, circuits and personnel keep changing but Bernie remains as a totemic figure.

42 ecclestone and Genii motor onAlthough the joint bid by Genni Capital and Bernie Ecclestone to take over the Swedish car manufacturer Saab failed, Formula 1’s ringmaster still wants to become a car manufacturer…

44 the car makers’ f1 numbers gameHow many cars does a car manufacturer need to sell in order to justify the running of an F1 team? With tumbling car sales most have not made the grade.

47 the Us$13.7bn cost of the world’sfastest showroomThe Paddock takes a look at some of the costs that have been ploughed into running a Formula 1 team by the teams and reveals some jaw-dropping figures.

The money making race. Why Lewis is ahead of the rest. P. 644 January/February 2010

seapearls boasts one of the most memorable yachting experiences in the business. The Paddock finds out what the company has to offer the discerning customer

luxury on the wavesBy John Breen

Seapearls Yachting and Lifestyle speci-alises in providing a luxury experience at sea. The company tells The Paddock how it meets clients’ needs:

Building on ten years experience in the yachting industry, Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle was established in 2006 with one goal – to offer our discerning clientele exclusive ‘Haute Couture’ services for the most unforgettable and immaculate pri-vate or corporate cruises and VIP lifestyle vacations. Anticipating our clients’ every need is what gives Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle the competitive edge over others in the industry.

We possess extensive experience in luxu-ry mega-yachts and super-yachts through a worldwide network of owners and cli-ents in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Red Sea, Arabian Gulf and the Caribbean. A very selective range is available for char-ter. Our mega-yachts range from 180 feet to 400 feet and our super-yachts from 75 feet to 180 feet and we pay the highest at-

tention to crewing. Our experiences also include breathtaking villas, private VIP aircraft, limousines and helicopters.

Our objectives and top principals are:

• Attention to every detail• Strict selection of yachts and crews• Top quality and discretion

Seapearls’ managing director and founder, Esther Mitsis, spent three years in charge of two of the largest and most legendary mega-yachts in the world, the MV Alex-ander and MV Turama, and has managed many super-yachts in the west and east Mediterranean, Adriatic, Red Sea and the unique breathtaking Greek Isles. Today, it makes us happy to organise and coordi-nate any cruise, private or corporate, hav-ing dealt with major car corporations and Formula One executives during the Mona-co Grand Prix, the Film Festival in Cannes and many other international events. Ty-coons and royal families are among our owners and charter clientele.

Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle’s services also include limousines, helicopters, and deluxe villas all over the Mediterranean, and we are expanding into providing de-luxe villas in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf. Additionally, we provide yacht char-ter-management, crewing, marketing and brochure creation services, including inte-rior/exterior and aerial photography. Last but certainly not least, we can arrange your private limousine, security, or even for your private jet to fly you quickly and in comfort, security and luxury to your destination.

YaCHt CHarterING & BroKeraGe

Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle has ex-tensive experience in selling, purchasing and chartering luxury yachts and provides brokerage services to our worldwide net-work of owners and charter clients.

Charter central agency

Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle is spe-

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lifestyle

cialized in the sector of large yachts. Let Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle worry about everything while you en-joy your cruise.

Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle will do all the work for making your yacht profit-able. Rather than having your yacht doing nothing berthed at the marina, we will bring in clients and charters once your yacht is commercially licensed and, if she is not, we will undertake all the work and have everything done for our client.

As your Charter Central Agent, the charter management and promotion of your yacht is our primary role as well as booking and administration on your behalf. In addition, with non-exclusive central agency agreements for several additional yachts, a full line of mega-yachts is available for charter anywhere and at any time.

Purchaser/seller representative

We often act as sellers and buyers for our clients who often prefer to remain anon-ymous during the purchasing or selling process, not letting their prominence influence price negotiations. Confidenti-ality, discretion and professionalism are the trademarks of these negotiations.

marketing and brochure creation

Being in a competitive and difficult market we will undertake concerted marketing of the boat that will include full photography if required, a new brochure if necessary, and exposure at various boat shows.

Yacht management

Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle can pro-vide management of some of the largest and most prestigious yachts in the world.

The company undertakes and organises every aspect of the yacht’s operations and maintenance so that the boat is ready for her owner’s use at a moment’s notice. We provide recruitment of international-ly qualified officers and crew, necessary maintenance and repair works, upgrad-ing of electronic systems according to the latest technology, appropriate berth-ing, provisioning needs, travel arrange-ments for owners and their guests, and marine insurance.

At Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle owners are assured that their asset will be main-tained to the highest standards and with the strictest adherence to regulation. Our maintenance programs and yacht manage-ment are of the highest order.

The primary characteristic of Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle is the belief that all things are possible and service is offered with a smile and the understanding that ful-filling a request is a matter of great pride.

exclusive prestige properties

Whether you are looking for only a pres-tigious villa or would like to combine it with a luxury yacht, Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle will find the best for you with full staff.

Intimate residences, an array of five star

properties, a timeless backdrop to create your own memories in Greece, Sardinia, the South of France and Spain.

Private VIP aircraft – charters and pur-chasing

Charters:

Seapearls Yachting & Lifestyle has access to a number of high-end, luxurious aircraft to provide safe and efficient first-class exec-utive travel services for Fortune 500 com-panies, private and public organisations, television networks and movie studios.

Guests can not only enjoy comfort in spa-cious reclinable seats but also privacy in the onboard meeting rooms depending on the size of the aircraft. A deluxe catering service will provide gourmet food and beverages individually tailored at the cus-tomer’s request.

With VIP treatment, personalised service, the finest aircraft and crews, your experi-ence will far surpass your expectations.

Purchasing – interior modification

Interior modification capabilities seam-lessly transform regional airliners into VIP or corporate shuttle aircraft in coop-eration with the leading factory/builders in the world. With a leading-edge avionics modification we keep your aircraft pro-ductive, profitable and technologically ad-vanced and a world-renowned engineering team designs, analyzes, tests and certifies your aircraft, with excellence gained from decades of experience.

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106 January/February 2010

Jenson Button and Ross Brawn

The 2009 FIA trophy winners

Andy Soucek

Carlos SainzSebastien loeb

Gabriele Tarquini, right, FIA World Touring Car Champion and Jaime Puig Seat motorsport Boss

His Excellency Abdulla Khouri collects the promoters trophy on behalf og the Abu Dhabi GP

2009 fia Gala

motorsport business forum

www.thepaddockmagazine.com 107

Tony Fernandes

Razlan Razali

Richard Cregan and Philippe

Gurdjian

Talal Al Zain, CEO of mumtalakat

Gerard lopez Richard Bracewell

Peter Harrismarissa PacePaolo Flammini

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this year’s new car launches have been full of optimism for the coming season and this is nothing new in formula one. The Paddock takes a look at the predictions from the past decade that didn’t quite come off.

2009What they said:We communicated our target 2009 four years ago. We set out a plan aiming at the first points in 2006, the first podium in 2007, to win in 2008, and we then stated that we want to fight for the cham-pionship from this year onwards. So far all targets have been met, so there is no reason to abandon the final and most im-portant target.”- Mario Theissen, BMW motorsport di-rector

What they did:A 10th place finish at the season opener in Melbourne was a sign of things to come. By August BMW had announced that it would quit F1 at the end of the year.

2008What they said:“I think that Honda has to be the team to be with in the future, it has everything now. It is the first time that I can truly say that in every area we are strong and we know which direction we are going.”- Jenson Button, Honda driver

What they did:Sadly for Honda, that direction was out of F1. It all turned out quite well for Button though who, after being embarrassed by a three-point tally in 2008, went on to win the title in the following year with Honda’s successor, Brawn.

2007What they said:“It is truly an honour for me to be given this opportunity to work alongside Fer-nando in my first year as a Formula One driver. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what he has achieved.”- Lewis Hamilton, McLaren driver

“We have what we believe to be the most exciting driver line-up in Formula One for many years. Fernando is obviously a very proven product and an extraordinary dou-ble world champion.”- Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren chief ex-ecutive

What they did:Whitmarsh’s description of his driver line-up as “exciting” may have been an understatement. By the end of the year Hamilton’s respect for Alonso had van-ished and the Spaniard quit the team un-der a storm.

2006What they said:“Michael decides by himself. As far as motivation, concentration, strength, and determination are concerned, I consider him able to do at least two more years in Formula One.”- Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari president

What they did:Little did di Montezemolo know, but those further years would be with Mercedes.

2005What they said:“With this year’s tyres in the first ten laps there’s a progressive degradation, noth-ing sudden. But then they remain with the same level of grip and don’t deteriorate any more. It’s really incredible.”- Fernando Alonso, Renault driver

What they did:“Incredible” was one of the more polite descriptions of Michelin’s 2005 season, which saw all but three teams miss the US Grand Prix due to tyre problems.

2004What they said:“Michael is a fantastic driver ... [but] I don’t think he’ll be driving in 2005. That’s what I think.”- Ron Dennis, McLaren team principal

What they did:Michael Schumacher not only drove in 2005, and 2006, but is even returning to the track in 2010 as well.

2003What they said:“If we can have any advantage, even if it’s little, then Rubens should be the one who is going to be the most dangerous because he has improved his game quite a lot. I rate him very highly and he’s going to be a big threat to me.”- Michael Schumacher, Ferrari driver

What they did:Whether Schumacher ever believed in the potential challenge from his renowned

number two remains open to question, but Barrichello finished the season with 65 points to Schumacher’s 93 and never re-ally recovered from the infamous team orders incidents in Austria and India-napolis the previous year.

2002What they said:“I expect it to be quite a tough season.”- Michael Schumacher, Ferrari driver

What they did:Ferrari won 15 races and Schumacher won the driver’s title at the earliest stage in the history of the sport.

2001What they said:“Unfortunately the F1 Commission doesn’t always do as I tell them, despite speculation to the contrary. I do not be-lieve that they adopted a defensible po-sition in giving an inexperienced driver like Räikkönen a licence.”- Max Mosley, FIA president

What they did:Despite his lack of experience, Räikkönen scored points on his debut and led his Sau-ber team to an unprecedented fourth place in the championship. The rest is history.

2000What they said:“Jaguar is a natural and logical challeng-er in Formula One. For over fifty years we have been consistent winners in mo-tor sport. We have won Le Mans seven times. We have won at Daytona. We have won world Sportscar Championships and we have won the Monte Carlo Rally and the Coupe des Alpes. Our entry into For-mula One though, clearly signals Jaguar’s direction for the future.”- Dr Wolfgang Reitzle, Jaguar chairman

What they did:Less than five years later Jaguar had quit the sport, without a single victory to its name.

and one prediction that Was spot on...

“All I can confirm is that it is a good car, that it is a good engine, it is a good group and I think we will be the surprise of the year.”- Rubens Barrichello, ahead of Brawn’s stunning championship year in 2009

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