F1′s single launch is dead

During a convivial lunch yesterday, conversation turned to the matter of January’s single launch for all the F1 teams. It was going to save the teams a packet because the local government was going to underwrite the whole shindig, reckoning on a big payday for the local facilities.

But there were several problems, not least of which was that some of the teams won’t have cars ready in time. Others – well, pretty much everyone except Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren – were unhappy that they would be swept off the news agenda. There was no PR value in it for the smaller teams.

Since they couldn’t even agree on a single catering supplier to dish out the bacon sarnies, it’s hardly surprising that the single launch has now been cancelled. Expect an official announcement in the Friday evening graveyard slot.

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  • Comments (12)
  1. yipppppeee!

  2. It’s shame because had they done it correctly it would have been impressive.

    • Stuart C
    • December 18th, 2009

    Mind you, they couldn’t even agree on who was going to serve the biscuits…

  3. @Stuart C

    Well surely that’s Bernie’s job? And maybe Max could haand out the programmes.

    • Steven Roy
    • December 18th, 2009

    They need to do individual launches then a season launch with all the teams involved. Do that as an additional event that gives the sport more coverage instead of taking coverage away from it.

  4. It would’ve been interesting to see whether they could cope with this challenge. Since I’m a bit (well, maybe even very) selfish, I hope there’ll be at least a couple of team launches at Algarve Motor Park. They normally sell paddock tickets, really nice. You can hang out on top of the garage complex, no insider help to get you a paddock pass needed.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/zelion/sets/72157612708816628/

  5. I don’t understand why the teams didn’t see the PR problem coming earlier. Though it was a surprise that the nouveaux concordance didn’t extend as far as being able to organise such an event.

  6. I’d be keen to see them put their liveries on go-carts and have a race between team principals.

    • 4mula1
    • December 19th, 2009

    i LOVE f1 to much to complain. (lol) go to f1.com & click the in car video for monaco. ps, i wish they would do in car video for a full race distance!

    • Stuart C
    • December 19th, 2009

    Alianora La Canta :

    I don’t understand why the teams didn’t see the PR problem coming earlier. Though it was a surprise that the nouveaux concordance didn’t extend as far as being able to organise such an event.

    Surprising though it may seem, PR isn’t at the top of the agenda. Many racing types still see it as a pesky chore…

    • Steven Roy
    • December 19th, 2009

    I’d be keen to see them put their liveries on go-carts and have a race between team principals

    Somehow I don’t see that being very entertaining. Horner and Campos are the only team principals with remotely successful racing records so they would win by a mile. The only other team principal with any kind of racing career is John Booth.

    Messrs Brawn and Mallya would have a slight weight disadvantage.

    • Antoine
    • December 19th, 2009

    When you say ‘convivial’ do you mean ‘boozy’?

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