Bojan Vrbnjak
Lately, it is becoming more and more known and visible that they have some Arab states great influence in Formula 1, but when does it become too much? A question asked by many experts and also Formula 1 fans. Let's see how the impact goes far these Middle Eastern countries in the royal class of motorsport.
The great influence of Saudi Arabia in Formula 1
The decisionto be racing weekend GP of Saudi Arabia he continues - despite the fact that it happened about ten kilometers away from the racetrack rocket attack - has sparked criticism from experts and even more fans around the world. Many team chiefs they moved around the paddock very quietly, but where they looked at the situation with business position and advocated the continuation of the event, they had theirs racers have a different opinion. With a very long meeting that followed, the racers caused the Formula 1 dignitaries to sweat profusely. Only at 2.30:XNUMX p.m. in the morning they announced that they would race despite their previous objections. Also with help covert threats Saudi areas.
Saudi Arabia is contributing $ 1 million per season to the Formula 100 box office with a fee and sponsorship from Aramco!
Factthat it was continued by racing so important for the head of Formula 1 Stefano Domenicali, Ross Brown, Formula 1 sports boss and Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA, only illuminates great impact, which he has Saudi Arabia to this sport. If we add to this an unprecedented deal in amount $ 55 million per year to secure a Formula 1 race for the next ten years is starting to take shape nice picture. And the concept of "sportwashing”Could not find a more suitable place for his own advertising.
Aramco is very present in Formula 1
However, the impact Saudi Arabia in Formula 1 it also extends beyond the races themselves. The most famous example is sponsorship agreements with the Saudi Petroleum Company Aramco, which was also concluded for ten years. It will be for this purpose Aramco Formula 1 paid about 450 million dollars, which is $ 45 million a year. This arrangement was also the basis for the race GP of Saudi Arabia. And if we go a little elementary math, we get the amount that Formula 1 gets per year from Saudi Arabia and this amounts to: 55 million race fees + 45 million from Aramca for sponsorship = $ 100 million per year!
In addition to financial ties to Formula 1, it is Aramco as of this year also a named sponsor of the team Aston Martin, which is now called Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula One Team. With this, the Saudi oil giant continues to expand its presence in Formula 1. But Aston Martin it is not the only royal-class motorsport team closely associated with Saudi Arabia. Named sponsor of the Mercedes team Petronas for example, he has two collaborations with Aramcom. And co-owner of the Silver Arrows team Ineos has also entered into a partnership with the oil company for the purpose of building factories in Saudi Arabia. To that end, Ineos would have invested about $ XNUMX billion in the country.
The influence of Saudi Arabia on other teams as well
But Saudi presence in Formula 1 is not limited to Aramco. For example, a Ferrari sponsor Shell is closely related to the company Aljomaih Holding Company, which has its own lubricant mixing plant. Saudi influence is also close McLaren. The royal family Mumtalactate from Bahrain, a country with very close ties to Saudi Arabia, has a majority stake in the team. The family investment company owns 56 percent McLaren Group.
DP World, a major sponsor of the French team Alpine, which is the main port operator based in Dubai, has a long - term agreement with Saudi Arabia to update the port in Jedi, right where the Formula 1 race has taken place in the last two years and right where they are during this year's race falling rockets to Aramco oil depots. This business DP World would be worth it 500 million dollars. And here it is PKN Orlen, team sponsor Alfa Romeo, which also has a contract with the subsidiary Aramca.
Races in the Middle East are squandering money
V Formulas 1 it is thus increasingly visible or present Saudi Arabia, but they are also slowly expanding their influence other countries Middle East. It started with GP Bahrain, which has been on the Formula 1 calendar since 2004. Fee in the amount of $ 45 million, deducted by Bahrain for the race, is twice the average European race fee. In Saudi Arabia adds another $ 10 million to that, as we mentioned. Also Abu Dhabi with the amount 40 million dollars and Qatar with the amount 55 million dollars for a Formula 1 location that cannot be avoided. The latter two venues will also run for the next ten years.
But let's go a little again mathematics? Saudi Arabia with fee + Aramco = 100 million dollars. Bahrain with fee = 45 million dollars. Abu Dhabi with fee = 40 million dollars and Qatar with a fee = 55 million dollars. All four Middle Eastern countries a year in the Formula 1 box office respectively Liberty Media - and consequently also teams and last but not least racer in the form of wages - they contribute amazingly $ 240 million!! Pa “Sportwashing” up or down “
Four Formula One race organizers from the Middle East - Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Qatar - pay an incredible $ 1 million a year to Formula 1! Or rather they pay for Sportwashing….
Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone he may have given cause by adding to the race calendar Bahrain in Abu Dhabi, but he is also British stressedto seem to him two races in the Middle East enough. New owners Liberty Medium however, they obviously see things differently and look only at them eyes of money, although they use different phrases in public. In the end, it is now justified raises the question, or they will the influence of the Middle East in Formula 1 stabilized or it will be even more so expanded. This is how the latter feels…
