Stoddart Blames Government For Wilson's Predicament

PaulSands · 23 Dec 2003, 11:36 (Ref:818860)

Apparently Paul Stoddart is accusing the British Government of not back aspiring sports stars at grass roots level thus creating Justin Wilson's predicament...hmmmmm call me old fashioned but personally I'd like to see the tax money that's squeezed out of me paying for things like hospitals and roads that are safe and kids getting a good education..hell even going to uni without fees...but maybe that's naive

**Stephen Green** · 23 Dec 2003, 11:43 (Ref:818868)

I agree Paul, it is up to indsutry or commerce to support or sponsor our young talent. But even then, it has to be a commercial decision otherwise shareholders will ask questions.

Wrex · 23 Dec 2003, 11:59 (Ref:818876)

Got a link to this Paul?

PaulSands · 23 Dec 2003, 12:01 (Ref:818878)

http://www.pitpass.com/news2/news.cfm?newsid=8231

**Aysedasi** · 23 Dec 2003, 13:06 (Ref:818934)

Ridiculous. Why the hell should the taxpayer subsidise a driver's career? I detest F1 seat buying, but sadly that's what its come to over a number of years now. If team owners have no alternative but to allow their sponsors to choose their drivers for them, this sort of thing will continue to happen. Very sad.

climb · 23 Dec 2003, 13:14 (Ref:818946)

Another missed occasio to shut up, by Mr Stoddart

Mr V · 23 Dec 2003, 13:27 (Ref:818959)

Maybe Pauls just annoyed that the British Government hasn't got the money to give him, so that he can have the driver he really wants?

The problem is of course, there are so many good drivers in Britian, where does the government draw the line?

Oh, and btw, Mr Sands....let the uni students pay their own way

TuscanR · 23 Dec 2003, 13:37 (Ref:818970)

I don't think it should be called Formula 1 for very much longer, it should be called Formula Corporate Puppet, that should please the Share Holders and justify where all there money is going, and just think of how many cheesie tie-in adverts there could be on TV! (how do you get those little winks up there should be one here!!!)

**Stephen Green** · 23 Dec 2003, 13:58 (Ref:818999)

:wink:

Mr V · 23 Dec 2003, 14:02 (Ref:819002)

Quote:

Originally posted by TuscanR
(how do you get those little winks up there should be one here!!!)

you mean

? put ; ) together

(if i put them together i get a

and then you won't see what to use

)

**Stephen Green** · 23 Dec 2003, 14:14 (Ref:819019)

thank you Andy, I didn't know that either as you may have guessed by my abysmal effort above

PaulSands · 23 Dec 2003, 15:21 (Ref:819062)

Hey the British Government has got plenty to give..they take it all off me so I know

I wont get into the uni student thing further than to say if we are to expect a civilised and educated workforce maybe we should do a little more to encourage that.
Don't get me wrong I'm not in favour of hand outs for the sake of them, my elder kids are actually working to pay their fees and seem to be doing fine I just don't subscribe to the Thatcherite view that there is no such thing as society...and with that not another political word shall pass my lips and I will wish everybody a Very Merry Chrimbo

(Oh Tennenbaum Oh Tennenbaum, we'll keep the red fl....ooops

)

PaulSands · 23 Dec 2003, 15:23 (Ref:819066)

and yes..if it happened for one driver where would it end??
potential argument for the lottery fund I suppose but the values being spoken of would cause a real sh*t storm when compared to how many local footy/rugby/cricket/ping pong clubs could be built

TuscanR · 23 Dec 2003, 15:28 (Ref:819068)

cheers guys

frostblade · 23 Dec 2003, 15:29 (Ref:819069)

Quote:

No one rates Justin higher than I do

There is a reason for this...

Super Tourer · 23 Dec 2003, 17:49 (Ref:819197)

My views on this.

How many people in government regard F1 or even motor racing in general as a sport? I would guess it is very few, the perception of most people is that F1 is a multi billion dollar business, in which virtually every organisation and many individuals are multi-millionaires.

Convincing a sports minister to unlock his cheque book to add to those millions is a nigh on impossible task. Governments like to fund 'initiatives', which might be improving regional sports facilities,etc.

Even though you could argue that premier league football is as much of a business as F1, it has still maintained it's point of contact with it's audience, and would still be described by most people as a sport.

If we want to apportion blame, we have to consider some F1 teams commercial awareness and abilities. If you run a mid-grid Formula Ford team you fund this with 'pay drivers', usually a driver's father handing over the £70K or so. This you would expect at this level, the team does not have the platform or skills to attract heavy, independent commercial backing.

However, it's plainly ridiculous to apply this same funding method to a Formula One team, which has a world wide marketing platform with X Billion LIVE TV viewers at it's finger tips, let alone the acres of global print coverage.

To use the football parallel, you couldn't buy a place in Man Utd's team, similarly if they 'wanted you' and considered you good enough to make their team, they wouldn't expect you to pay to play either.

This is where F1 falls at the first hurdle, you cannot on one hand, be the premier motor racing series that all aspire too, whilst choosing money over talent. You either need to cut the costs or raise more commercial sponsorship in order to choose the best talent for your team - or cut the cloth you have elsewhere to more effect.

However the new GPWC/SLEC agreement looks like teams will receive much more of the overall cake and make pure pay drivers less of a factor in the future.

In Justin's case, he only had one hand of cards to play, he never had two seasons worth of funding so his situation, whilst unfortunate, was always very likely.

ensign14 · 23 Dec 2003, 19:42 (Ref:819308)

How is Justin Wilson an aspiring star at grass roots level?

Smokey 6 litre · 23 Dec 2003, 22:59 (Ref:819479)

the government needs to support ALL sports at grassroots, but they wont.

i think we need a revolution, i nominate myself for El Presidente.

Mr V · 24 Dec 2003, 00:25 (Ref:819549)

Quote:

Originally posted by Super Tourer

How many people in government regard F1 or even motor racing in general as a sport? I would guess it is very few, the perception of most people is that F1 is a multi billion dollar business, in which virtually every organisation and many individuals are multi-millionaires.

Agreed on that, F1 is seen as an "elitest" sport, and such, played by "rich boys".

However, i personally would rather see the government spending money, if it's going to, on helping to improve Silverstone than sponsering (or subsidising) driver.

mansellmania · 24 Dec 2003, 00:45 (Ref:819567)

I think it is not so corporate as you might suspect.
Kimi came from lowly if any financial background and is at mclaren pure for his skill.
The same goes for alonso, schuey, webber, rubens, trulli.. guys with no background but made the top.

Roebuck had an interesting article a while back about how he thought rich kids never make it and that pure talent will shine through and will be recognised by topteams.
His historic F1 knowledge goes back to almost at the start of F1 and he said no guys with with money ever got to be top of the line drivers.

Imo these days its not just money or skill, its also being somewhere at the right time, having the right manager and have a good dose of luck.

Wilson got a chance at jag and if he wouldv showed webber all corners of the track i seriously doubt he wouldnt be in the green car next season.
But he didnt, perhaps even by causes beyond his influence like stalling cars or partfailures but still.. he took that chance.

If i was him id go for a testdrive in a topteam. wurz, gene, pizzonia, panis all got respectable reputations from doing that.

**Woolley** · 24 Dec 2003, 00:51 (Ref:819572)

If these people wish our government to fund up and coming drivers, perhaps they could assist by paying their taxes here instead of Monaco or Dublin. If you're not willing to contribute to the pot don't expect to take anything out.

Mr V · 24 Dec 2003, 00:51 (Ref:819573)

Quote:

Originally posted by mansellmania

Roebuck had an interesting article a while back about how he thought rich kids never make it and that pure talent will shine through and will be recognised by topteams.

Senna's talent shined through, but he was to all intents and purposes, a rich kid

mansellmania · 24 Dec 2003, 00:59 (Ref:819581)

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr V
Senna's talent shined through, but he was to all intents and purposes, a rich kid

yea i wasnt sure about senna, but he did kinda throw his whole life upside down and left brasil to spend time alone in the UK.
Berger once said he could never be as good as ayrton because of the hard regime and discipline the brasilian was putting himself under.
err, berger was a rich kid as well

good racer though.

**GTRMagic** · 24 Dec 2003, 01:36 (Ref:819600)

Isnt Stoddart taking US$4m from the Hungarian government to give Zsolt Baumgartner a gig?

Perhaps he is hoping to be gazumped by the British government to get Wilson a seat

Mr V · 24 Dec 2003, 01:40 (Ref:819601)

There in lies the problem, Zolst is hungarys only hope, Britian have a few more

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