Plus on the long run, with the cost cuts coming next year, the F1 team will be a good long term investment for Branson, and great as a part of expanding the Vrigin brand. Who knows, with Virgin involvement, he just might buy some car factory in China start selling cars!

Banging wheels like Villeneuve and Arnoux at Dijon in 1979 – Yes
Villeneuve and Peterson Fuji 1977 – No!

my f1­ friends i tell you again, the f1 is meant to be about­ fun. there more to it than a procession. sometimes it­ like the dogs circling each other sniffing each others­ backside. they go round and round till they give up and­ sleep.

i want to­ see the the cars banging wheels at­ 200mph before one of the car­ cart wheels over and over­ down the main straight before it land in the crowd,­ while the other car smash into the wall and explode. i­ want to see the car lose a wheel whilst cornering at­ massive speeds. i want to see cars leaving the track­ like the aeroplane. i want the action,action, action.­ this how it were 30-40 years ago.
back then drivers­ like the stuntman.
they the real heros. they lay their­ life on the line every week. it so dangerous then the­ preist give them their last rites before they even­ start the race. but these men so brave they only wear­ the welding goggles and skateboard helmet. they not­ even wear the seat belt.
these days were the golden era­ of f1. then it like the feature film. the drivers like­ the movie stars.
now our only sense of entertainment is­ wondering into whose house next will the mclaren men­ burgle to steal the f1 secrets.

He needs to have some way to show returns for his sponsoring investments.

Of course he’ll hire people who DO want to make the fastest cars possible.