154 replies to this topic

[Fastcake]

But why all of the *advertisers* have no problem with it is beyond the pale. Red Bull doesn't matter the association with a sharia law state? Mercedes? CNN, Santander?

Of course, the big sponsors are oil affiliates - there isn't a lot outside of that. Where are the McDonald's, Microsofts, Apples, Coca-Colas...?

Maybe they *don't* want to be associated with a show in a country like Bahrain....

The tobacco era should provide a lesson on this. Were there companies interested in F1 but did not want to have their logo next to Benson and Hedges? Of course there were, and the association with tobacco was enough to keep some people out.

A similar discussion over entering F1 while it continues to be associated with certain countries will be taking place in boardrooms. Some companies and organisations have much higher ethical standards than others.

[midgrid]

Amnesty International has just published its annual report on Bahrain.

[redreni]

The second and third options in the poll are effectively the same for our purposes on this board, surely? I mean, I suppose there may be some members who do like it if countries violate human rights, but frankly, if that's the case, I'm not sure I want to know.

 

If F1 is going to a country for the right reasons, and that country happens to be one of the many countries around the world that violates human rights, that doesn't bother me. So I don't have a problem with, for example, races in the United States or Russia because, even if the events are subsidised to some extent (by way of tax breaks or whatever), arguably the events attract enough footfall to offset the cost of (if not justify) the tax breaks, and there are sound reasons from F1's point of view to be there. I was slightly uncomfortable with some of the staged interaction between the Russian President and the top 3 drivers after the race last year, which smacked a bit of self-promotion and is not something we've seen when F1 has gone to the USA, but it was the inaugural event and I'm sure it will settle down.

 

If F1 is going to a country for no good reason other than they're willing to pay a ridiculously high hosting fee, which is rendered possible purely by massive public subsidy, which in turn is provided by the government in part to try to re-gain international credibility despite a very poor human rights record, I have a problem with that on a number of levels. I don't approve of entering into a commercial arrangement with the Crown Prince of Bahrain whereby the public is compelled to subsidise an event in which they're not particularly interested and to which they cannot afford to go, and for him to then run adverts with "unif1ed" on them only serves to make the situation worse. I think F1 should steer clear of that sort of thing, in accordance with its own rules.

[MaxScelerate]

Bahrain's next...  It's the one event that had me turn off my tv a few years ago and I never really came back to F1 after that.  I still follow it in the news, sorta, and I've watched bits of races here and there, but I'm an F1 fan no more.  There's plenty other opportunities for me to satisfy my racing needs.

 

Edit: I don't care so much for F1 going into countries that violate human rights, but I care a lot about F1 going into countries that violate human rights *in the process of getting an F1 race*. Bahrain's foreigner "slaves" dying during construction of the track? No thanks, no.  It already pisses me off when the Montreal coppers start "cleaning" downtown of the homeless in the week prior to GP week, but that...  **** that.

Edited by MaxScelerate, 16 April 2015 - 16:04.

[Kristian]

http://in.reuters.co...0150419?rpc=401

 

 

 

Formula One has no qualms about holding a grand prix in Azerbaijan next year despite concerns raised by rights activists, the sport's commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone said on Sunday.

"Baku? No problem. That's going to be another good race," the 84-year-old told reporters at the Bahrain Grand Prix, another controversial fixture that follows on from China in a crowded calendar.

This year is the 11th Bahrain Grand Prix, with the 2011 race cancelled after an uprising by the Shi'ite Muslim majority to demand reforms in the strategic Gulf kingdom triggered a subsequent crackdown.

Formula One, heavily criticised by campaigners over the years, this week quietly published a statement of respect for human rights in which it agreed to carry out due diligence on future hosts.

Asked whether he would now "check out the human rights record in Baku", Ecclestone responded: "We have. I think everybody seems to be happy. Doesn't seem to be any big problem there."

Azerbaijan, governed by President Ilham Aliyev since he succeeded his father in 2003, has been courted by the West as an alternative to Russia in supplying oil and gas to Europe.

Rights groups accuse the government of muzzling dissent and jailing opponents, charges it denies.

Formula One signed a contract with Azerbaijan last year for a 2016 Grand Prix of Europe around the streets of Baku.

Azerbaijan is also due to host the inaugural European Games this year after failed bids for the 2016 and 2020 Summer Olympics.

While Baku stands to become the latest addition to the calendar, after Russia last year and the return of Mexico this season, the future of some of the sport's most historic venues remains in doubt.

Germany has been removed from this year's calendar due to financial reasons, but is due to return next year, while Monza's contract to host the Italian Grand Prix expires in 2016.

"We have to wait and see. They don't have an agreement. Bit like Germany really," said Ecclestone when asked about the situation in Italy.

The prospect of Monza, a temple of Italian motorsport since the 1920s, dropping off the calendar would be unthinkable for most F1 fans but Ecclestone gave no indication that he was prepared to soften his stance.

"I tell you something. I was told that when we didn't have a race in France actually. And Germany now," he said. "We've got some good replacements, haven't we?"

 

After reading some of his quotes there, I really wish someone would commit him to a secure retirement home. 

Edited by Kristian, 19 April 2015 - 12:36.