Comments on: F1 sponsors hit by global recession

By: Dank

Dank — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:39:56 +0000

ING have reported loses of 585m euros (£478m;$737m) for the three months up until September: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7723956.stm

Surely the chances of them remaining in F1 after 2010 is very slim?

By: Dank

Dank — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:21:15 +0000

I thought Credit Suisse were no longer sponsoring BMW Sauber after 2008?

By: Dan Brunell

Dan Brunell — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:07:32 +0000

Good article as always Keith. A few more that I know of off the top of my head.

- Boeing: The currently have a technology partnership with Renault. Boeing has had a lot of problems with delays in the 787, slowdown in orders as the economy continues to go south, and labor strife at home. That said, they are not in half the trouble as these financial institutions are in.

- Denso is partnered with Toyota. Their second quarter results were U.G.L.Y. The car component manufacture’s sales were down almost 50%.

I think there is a clear difference between the teams who will weather this storm well and those who will sink. The key difference is the sectors which their sponsors come from. For example I would feel pretty safe if I were Ferrari or BMW with a major commodities (shell and Petronas respectively) rather than something in financial or retail as a prime sponsor (say like Renault or Williams.)

By: HounslowBusGarage

HounslowBusGarage — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:49:13 +0000

Milos is right about the sponsorship bit. Advertising is easier to defend in a recession as it can be centred on benefits and advantages of a specific product, whereas sponsorship is a far less focussed weapon. Great for creating a positive association with the brand, but hardly likely to motivate people to purchase.
I’d be amazed if ING stay with all the race sponsorships (6 this season?) as well as Renault. But maybe the contracts for 2009 have been signed already . . .

By: Milos

Milos — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:20:56 +0000

@ Pink Peril – last year they had Kiss right after the race and there were many people who were taking up the best places for the concert hours before the race start Kiss was more important than F1 to some

@ Lustigson – yes, when the sales are down that is the time to start pumping even more money into advertising, if you have the money of course. but, sponsorship is not always only about advertising but often also about saving up on the profit tax payments. that motivation may not be there for many now …

By: Oliver

Oliver — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:13:12 +0000

@Santi
Yes you can keep your views about a driver being worthy or not being. Something you fail to take into consideration is that Lewis was on the second race with that engine, and Mclaren had to turn the revs down to reduce the chances of blowing up the engine. Had the Brazilian GP been held early on in the year, the team would have had no reason to be too conservative.

By: Terry Fabulous

Terry Fabulous — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:14:24 +0000

@ Pink Peril

My generation, Substitute!

I’m there!!

By: Pink Peril

Pink Peril — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:58:40 +0000

The Oz GP has just advertised that “The Who” are playing after the race. Wonder if that will boost ticket sales?

By: Toby

Toby — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:51:37 +0000

ING’s Australian branch has been helped out by the taxpayer too. Not so good for the title sponsor of the Melbourne GP. And with a record loss for the GP this year, things might be looking bad again for Oz.

By: v8

v8 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:06:23 +0000

But the gripping climax left me with a couple of unanswered questions. One was following this commentator’s quote: “After the final bend it was all over and the Brazilian was beaten.”

Was it the technical phrases “bend”, “over” and “beaten” that drew Max Moseley to F1?

crazy quote i found somewhere….