95 replies to this topic

[Atreiu]

Horner's drivers doesn't listen him, how he would lead the whole circus, I'm so sure about him.

 

Yet Red Bull have kept him on their paycheck.

[sopa]

I think it is a bit long shot to expect the "new leader" to be someone without ties to F1 teams and hence impartial like some want. Ecclestone was Brabham team principal. Mosley was part-owner of the initial March team. There is more to that. I think the alternative option is someone, who is completely outside and then we would have complaints that the new leader isn't really into F1 with his heart, doesn't understand the core things, etc. In this case we can rather have a leader, who has a history with a team, BUT most importantly is competent in F1 matters and has experienced F1 through multiple experiences/angles to really understand, what's going on there. Having been a former team principal gives lots of valuable insight while being the new F1 supremo.

 

Anyway, Horner seems smart and adequate. I agree with someone, who says that Brawn is more into engineering. From that respect I think Horner can be a good candidate in any case, because most possibly dealing with the commercial side suits him.

[study]

I'm surprised no one on here or in the F1 world are not annoyed?

 

We had corruption and Ferrari favoritism all the way through the Max and Bernie years, this gained them bonus and vetoes, and favorable judgements

 

And now after several years of favourable Redbull decisions in terms of grey areas of design, the spending agreement breaking, and a very strange decision to award a £70 million bonus a year under very strange terms and not forgetting having two teams, we now get this.

 

Doesn't anyone go, hang on a minute, isn't this all a bit fishy.

 

Just the continuing story of F1 corruption.

[sopa]

He understands what it is to be a driver, 

 

Interestingly both BE and Horner tried to be racing drivers briefly too. Ecclestone's F1 career lasted for a few DNS events. Horner was a F3000 driver before realizing he had more talent to deal with other stuff.

[BRG]

Julia Gillard's available.

Jp

So's Rev Paul Flowers.  And Rob Ford should be up for a new job very soon.  Not to mention Silvio Berlusconi.

 

Maybe they're not sleazy enough though....

[sopa]

Horner's drivers doesn't listen him, how he would lead the whole circus, I'm so sure about him.

 

Fair enough.

 

Yet maybe this is a superficial thing, because Horner has managed the most important thing - kept the winning team together for a long period and have good relations with F1's leading powers, so that RBR has a strong political position.

 

I am sure some governments or sponsors won't listen to Horner too, but this may not stop F1 from doing well overall? You can't get everything.

[Tommay]

I was going to make a separate topic about Christian Horner growing power in F1, especially seeing the 72 million bonus that Red bull receive. 

[sopa]

I'm surprised no one on here or in the F1 world are not annoyed?

 

We had corruption and Ferrari favoritism all the way through the Max and Bernie years, this gained them bonus and vetoes, and favorable judgements

 

And now after several years of favourable Redbull decisions in terms of grey areas of design, the spending agreement breaking, and a very strange decision to award a £70 million bonus a year under very strange terms and not forgetting having two teams, we now get this.

 

Doesn't anyone go, hang on a minute, isn't this all a bit fishy.

 

Just the continuing story of F1 corruption.

 

Well, Ferrari got privileges from both BCE and FIA in Todt era, and now Todt is FIA president.

Red Bull got good bonuses from Bernie, and Horner will be next F1 supremo.

 

Looks fishy? Looks corrupt? Or this is actually logical - the men with best political skills succeed regardless of what they are doing.

[Nonesuch]

Horner can't even keep a 25 year old in line.

 

Anyway, it wouldn't surprise me if Ecclestone is purposefully naming someone that many will find disagreeable to make himself look important. His legal shenanigans have created a realistic chance that Ecclestone is going to end up fired, and I suspect he doesn't like that at all. The people that call the shots won't be fooled by such a dumb binary choice, though. Maybe it's time to start the rumours about the future of the British Grand Prix being in doubt again. That seems to be his favourite diversion.

Edited by Nonesuch, 22 November 2013 - 20:08.

[SpaMaster]

You need the successor to continue looking after Red Bull's interests.   Who else better for this?

 

Yeah, we need somebody to challenge Ferrari.
 

[redreni]

Can you imagine? "Come on Dietrich, this is silly!"

I know on the face of it he has an incredible record as a team principal but I don‘t believe he‘s much more than a middle manager in that organisation. I don‘t think, if it comes down to it, he can do anything that one or more of Newey, Vettel, Marko or Mateschitz don‘t approve of, but he appears to be too daft to realise that he shouldn‘t try. By the sounds of it he tried to sign Kimi earlier in the season, told Kimi he would go and see the big boss and then get back to him, then neither Kimi nor the Robertsons heard from him again.

He gets PR. He played the media quite well over the various tyre controversies this season, getting good press for the team despite the self-serving and hypocritical nature of his team‘s position on those issues. He could probably do some sort of public-facing role for the commercial rights holder, but I must say I find the idea that he would be left in charge of the commercial side of F1 quite fanciful.

Edited by redreni, 22 November 2013 - 20:37.

[study]

Well, Ferrari got privileges from both BCE and FIA in Todt era, and now Todt is FIA president.

Red Bull got good bonuses from Bernie, and Horner will be next F1 supremo.

 

Looks fishy? Looks corrupt? Or this is actually logical - the men with best political skills succeed regardless of what they are doing.

 

Logical, maybe if both times it didn't go hand in hand with outrageous bonus's and favorable decisions it stinks of corruption and Bernie bending the sport to help his chums.

[SealTheDiffuser]

lucid moment?

[Gorma]

And now after several years of favourable Redbull decisions in terms of grey areas of design, the spending agreement breaking, and a very strange decision to award a £70 million bonus a year under very strange terms and not forgetting having two teams, we now get this.

 

Doesn't anyone go, hang on a minute, isn't this all a bit fishy.

 

Just the continuing story of F1 corruption.

What are you talking about? Exhaust blown diffusor - banned, off throttle blowing - banned, coanda exhaust - banned for next year, double-drs - banned, flexible front wings - more stringent test... Sounds more like paranoia than conspiracy.

 

Horner would make a great follower for Bernie. He seems smart and is good with PR. Everyone in F1 has ties to a team. That shouldn't matter. 

[Kingshark]

Yeah, we need somebody to challenge Ferrari.
 

 

For P7 on the grid?

[study]

What are you talking about? Exhaust blown diffusor - banned, off throttle blowing - banned, coanda exhaust - banned for next year, double-drs - banned, flexible front wings - more stringent test... Sounds more like paranoia than conspiracy.

 

Horner would make a great follower for Bernie. He seems smart and is good with PR. Everyone in F1 has ties to a team. That shouldn't matter. 

 

What are you onabout? Most of the things you've mentioned are not Redbull only things except for the flexy wings that were allowed for well over a year before the rules were tightened and there has being many more grey areas they've exploited and given no penalty.

 

Ties don't matter they do when 70 million is given out for no good reason.

[Ferrari_F1_fan_2001]

Good, if he does maybe Horner will get his teeth fixed then.

 

Actually, scratch that, Bernie is very wealthy and must be the only billionaire alive who still uses a bowl on his head when getting his hair cut.

[metz]

CVC will pick someone that can negotiate the best Concord Agreement and stuff the most $ in their pockets.

Nothing else matters.

[Slartibartfast]

Does Bernard even get a say?

Not sure whether this utterance should be added to the sprinkler and medal pile of stuff we shouldn't take too seriously but even so I would agree that Horner appears to have some good political nous and clear organisational ability. His record speaks for itself and he's found success despite not being the only main main at Red Bull so that must take some doing. He's also been smart enough to sidle up to Bernie rather than fight with him.

There were a lot of arguments about Todt being a bad (or rather, partisan) choice for heading up the FIA but those seem to have been unfounded. I think the same would happen of Horner if he were to take this role.

I would guess that Ecclestone probably has informal influence rather than formal "voting rights" on the appointment of his successor. Although I can't rule out some very clever phrasing in his contract allowing him the power, Ecclestone doesn't really strike me as some one who cares much about what comes after him. Unless it affects Tamara' s inheritance, maybe.

Horner is ideal for the job - provided Dieter and Helmut are on hand to tell him what to do.

Replace "Dieter and Helmut" with "Bernie Ecclestone" and you may have hit the proverbial nail.

Julia Gillard's available.
Jp

So is Tony Blair, or Peter Mandelson or Andy Coulson (for now anyway) or John Prescott - oh, no, forget Prescott, he'd turn the track into a bloody bus-lane.

I'll start with the list:
1. Vision
2. ?

2. Ability to get blood out of a stone
3. Ability to get money out of aforesaid blood
4. Ability to make people think he's done the stone a favour

[Ricardo F1]

I think Horner's an excellent choice myself.  Super smart guy.

[Myrvold]

Eliminating guys with team experience takes a lot of candidates away. Who will be qualified and have zero team connections?

Paul Stoddart! ;P

[Kelateboy]

Flavio would be a better choice than Horner.

[wonk123]

Julia Gillard's available.

Jp

So Is Kevin Rudd, mmmm maybe they can work together 

[f1RacingForever]

I always knew Bernie was a big Horner fanboy. This just confirms it. No way would i want that hypocrite smug fake in a position of power. He really makes me sick with his smug grin, hypocritical comments, laughable excuses he uses when he plays the political game...Please Horner, stick to redbull.

[SpaMaster]

For P7 on the grid?

Read the post I replied to. Think. Do you get all worked by the mere mention of the name 'Ferrari'?

 

[Collombin]

Interestingly both BE and Horner tried to be racing drivers briefly too. Ecclestone's F1 career lasted for a few DNS events.

 

I think I've entered as many F1 events as Bernie did. He was certainly a fine F3 driver though.

[TriumphST]

Maybe as Horner's accomplishments with RB are being eulogised, a mention of the one thats actually responsible for RB's success over the last four years might be in order and provide a more realistic assessment of Horners as yet unproven capabilities in running what could be a $12b enterprise...

 

Even with this nothing more then Ecclestone hot air....Wouldn't CVC want some credibility in the FOM post in the run up to an IPO and is anyone other then Ecclestone suggesting Horner as the man?

 

Can anyone seriously see a makeweight like Horner being shoehorned in, when whats required is someone with proven management expertise and leadership skills in a similar role. .......With it should be stressed a normal attitude to probity and not the 'Ecclestone take' on honesty, ethics and integrity.

[metz]

Honesty, ethics and integrity would be misplaced in this job.

[BenettonB192]

I guess Horner makes sense from Bernie's pov because there are quite a few similarities in their biographies.

Edited by BenettonB192, 24 November 2013 - 14:48.

[Tenmantaylor]

I always knew Bernie was a big Horner fanboy. This just confirms it. No way would i want that hypocrite smug fake in a position of power. He really makes me sick with his smug grin, hypocritical comments, laughable excuses he uses when he plays the political game...Please Horner, stick to redbull.

 

Sorry, you think these qualities should count against someone wanting to be Bernie's successor? 

[Seano]

The idea that someone who is facing multiple and credible law suits for dishonesty, bribery and corruption, has their personal choice for their own successor taken seriously well, is just laughable.

 

Now that the rock has been lifted, it's time for the Sporting ethic to be re-established in F1 in an open and transparent way.

[TriumphST]

Honesty, ethics and integrity would be misplaced in this job.

 

Says it all really...wonder though if BE will see it any differently from behind bars 

[BRG]

Honesty, ethics and integrity would be misplaced in this job.

I don't know about that...after all, we've never seen any of them ever used in F1.

Edited by BRG, 24 November 2013 - 20:33.

[black magic]

another reason to find another sport.

 

 

why not give cycling to lance to run given his insiders knowledge while you are at it.

[vista]

Luca de Montezemolo:

 

"Ecclestone sees Horner as his successor? As the years go by, he more and more enjoys making jokes and I’m happy he still has the desire to do so…” 

 

Epic   

[goingthedistance]

I don't see a proper leader in Christian Horner. I see a man adept at stroking the egos of those he needs to to get as far ahead in the game as he can. That's a very useful skill, no doubt, but it's not enough for Bernie's role. I honestly think Helmut Marko has more authority in that team, as he has said himself "all decisions are made in Austria". 

 

I'm sure unlike most he has the ruthless ambition required to want the job, I'm just not convinced he'd be good in it. 

[Fatgadget]

....Tamara Ecclestone.Why not?..Keep it in the dynasty.

[D-Type]

....Tamara Ecclestone.Why not?..Keep it in the dynasty.

In the tradition of N. Korea, India, kenya, USA (Bushx2), Williams, Ferrari ...

 

Actually, in all seriousness, Ferrari is a good comparison. 

Edited by D-Type, 26 November 2013 - 22:14.

[dau]

another reason to find another sport.

 

 

why not give cycling to lance to run given his insiders knowledge while you are at it.

Huh?

[Brother Fox]

Its a somewhat sensible choice, which makes me realise how long it is till the opening round of 2014.

 

When Bernie starts talking his usual bollocks I'll get excited because you know its just about Gp time when he threatens the Oz Gp and suggests races be run at night with night vision goggles to drum up publicity

[f1RacingForever]

Sorry, you think these qualities should count against someone wanting to be Bernie's successor? 

yeah i am aware it doesn't affect his qualifications. I just can't stand the man, thus i don't want to see him at the top. Just being honest.

[Rinehart]

Who else thinks Martin Sorrell would be a good candidate/likely candidate?

 

He is already a non-executive director of Alpha Topco, the Formula 1 company, and whilst he has previously had a public pop at Ecclestone calling him "out of touch" and unpicking the myth that F1 is run "single handedly", he has excellent credentials having grown WPP to one of the largest advertising groups in the world and would therefore be an ideal leader to grow F1's entertainment footprint and therefore media revenues - something that the investors would be in strong favour of. Gets my shout, I think he'd steer F1 more towards the fans (hopefully not WWF style though) and I think he's a top chap to boot. 

Edited by Rinehart, 27 November 2013 - 09:55.

[jonpollak]

Hurricane Marty huh..?

Funny you should say that.

I reckon that's the one person Bernie would fight against getting the role.

 

Jp

[Romulan]

As a fan of Red Bull Racing, I would be disappointed if Horner moved on.  It occurred to me that Bernie may be helping Christian fatten his RBR salary.

[Rinehart]

Hurricane Marty huh..?

Funny you should say that.

I reckon that's the one person Bernie would fight against getting the role.

 

Jp

?

Rather depends on if the transition is on Bernie's terms or not!!!

When Bernie's time is over, it will be over, I reckon. 

I'm coming from the angle of who would the influencers want, not who would Bernie want. 

I think SMS would be high on the investors and teams lists simply because his pitch would be about growing the F1 brand and value.

[kenkip]

I wouldn't mind Horner really,

• First of all, to get in any position of power in F1 you must play the political game and play it ruthlessly.The moralists among us may not like it but sadly that is the world we live in.Horner may appear two faced and deeply calculating,but I am afraid that is part and parcel of getting ahead in this game.
• The people writing off Horner's achievements are frankly just jealous.Period.He is the one that has created the environment for Adrian Newey to flourish,he has brought together all aspects to make an F1 team successful (great design team,great driver and managing of resources) and guess what,he has done it four times in a row!Somebody like Martin Whitemarsh has the same capacity to do so but what has he done?But still he is treated like God in this streets.Horner has basically shown other team principals how to do their jobs but never gets the credit he deserves.
• On the other hand,in no way is he perfect.I can see in the interviews the smugness some posters are referring to and to be honest,even I find some radio messages of his and Seb at the end of some races to be cringe worthy.
• I get why some people may find his leadership style to be a bit soft,especially if you use Ron Dennis as a bench mark,but then again,I will point at his track record.Soft or not,it is working and he is doing all the right things,pushing the right buttons.I really don't see how Dommencali and Whitmarsh would have handled the Mark Webber-Seb Vettel partnership any better.For example,Multi 21,Vettel had already made up his mind on what he was going to do,what else could the pitwall do?get a rifle and shoot him?
• Christian loves motor racing genuinely and i agree with Bernie,I would rather a passionate F1 fan running the  sport rather than those corporate schmucks with a rod up their behinds ruining the sport i love!

So yes,I think Horner,with some grooming from bernie would do  a fabulous job.

P.S-Ross Brawn would be superb too but does he still have the same passion for F1?He looks a bit worn out.