53 replies to this topic

[T-Mobile]

With the Silly Season in full swing I figured I'd get some perspective on something that has puzzled me for quite some time. F1 driver managers - how good are they for a driver? Obviously drivers need contacts so that they can get their foot in the door. A well known manager would seem like a good person to do this for you. However, I constantly see people suggesting that some manages are actually managing multiple drivers each with their own ambitions. How can a manager possibly be impartial and fair to their clients in that situation?

When a manager manages multiple drivers, all in or wanting to get to F1, how does he do his job equally well for all of them? Say there is one seat available, and he has two drivers who want the job. How can he possibly make a good decision for both of them? Lewis Hamilton's Dad is a freaking manager of his competitors, does that make sense?

In any other situation this is what I would call a conflict of interest. At some point the managers' interests are going to be opposed to one of his clients. I could never understand how Briatore managed multiple drivers - they must have known he wouldn't always have their interests at heart?

Or is it just a fact that as bad as it is, they are better off with a known manager than without one?

[NissanGTR]

With the Silly Season in full swing I figured I'd get some perspective on something that has puzzled me for quite some time. F1 driver managers - how good are they for a driver? Obviously drivers need contacts so that they can get their foot in the door. A well known manager would seem like a good person to do this for you. However, I constantly see people suggesting that some manages are actually managing multiple drivers each with their own ambitions. How can a manager possibly be impartial and fair to their clients in that situation?

When a manager manages multiple drivers, all in or wanting to get to F1, how does he do his job equally well for all of them? Say there is one seat available, and he has two drivers who want the job. How can he possibly make a good decision for both of them? Lewis Hamilton's Dad is a freaking manager of his competitors, does that make sense?

In any other situation this is what I would call a conflict of interest. At some point the managers' interests are going to be opposed to one of his clients. I could never understand how Briatore managed multiple drivers - they must have known he wouldn't always have their interests at heart?

Or is it just a fact that as bad as it is, they are better off with a known manager than without one?

Briatore got Kovalainen into McLaren which was way beyond his driving ability
He also got Webber into Red Bull which was beyond his driving ability
He got Alonso into 3 successive top teams
He got Piquet jnr into Renault which was way beyond Nelsinho's ability

So managing 4 drivers at the same time did not mean that Briatore did not look after their interests

And how is the father of a McLaren driver managing a Force India driver a conflict of interest ?

[jonnoj]

A manager does a lot more than get the driver a seat in F1. If that was all he did, why did MS need a manager?

[NissanGTR]

A manager does a lot more than get the driver a seat in F1. If that was all he did, why did MS need a manager?

A driver does not really need a manager, Vettel manages his own affairs, he is his manager

[T-Mobile]

I didn't want to go through all the permutations, and your post pointed out some obvious benefits, but it seems like there are constantly times when a manager may have to overlook one to help the other.

Isn't it possible that one day Paul Di Resta and Lewis Hamilton are both competing for the same seat? Might seem unlikely today, but in 3-4 years?

So yes we all agree that sometimes a driver would not be there if not for a very well connected manager. Having said that, down the road isn't it possible that the relationship with their manager could actually hurt them? I just see this whole situation as a bit odd. It's seems different from a baseball manager with clients on different teams. In Briatore's case it'd be like Brian Cashman (Yankees GM) managing players on the Boston Red Sox.

Edited by T-Mobile, 31 October 2011 - 19:50.

[garoidb]

With the Silly Season in full swing I figured I'd get some perspective on something that has puzzled me for quite some time. F1 driver managers - how good are they for a driver? Obviously drivers need contacts so that they can get their foot in the door. A well known manager would seem like a good person to do this for you. However, I constantly see people suggesting that some manages are actually managing multiple drivers each with their own ambitions. How can a manager possibly be impartial and fair to their clients in that situation?

When a manager manages multiple drivers, all in or wanting to get to F1, how does he do his job equally well for all of them? Say there is one seat available, and he has two drivers who want the job. How can he possibly make a good decision for both of them? Lewis Hamilton's Dad is a freaking manager of his competitors, does that make sense?

In any other situation this is what I would call a conflict of interest. At some point the managers' interests are going to be opposed to one of his clients. I could never understand how Briatore managed multiple drivers - they must have known he wouldn't always have their interests at heart?

Or is it just a fact that as bad as it is, they are better off with a known manager than without one?

Lewis's father does not represent Lewis, though. It is only Paul DiResta, as far as I know.

Flavio Briatore, as you say, and Eddie Jordan combined being team principals with driver management. Both of them have had several drivers on their books who would have been pursuing the same drives, including at their teams.

[NissanGTR]

I didn't want to go through all the permutations, and your post pointed out some obvious benefits, but it seems like there are constantly times when a manager may have to overlook one to help the other.

Isn't it possible that one day Paul Di Resta and Lewis Hamilton are both competing for the same seat? Might seem unlikely today, but in 3-4 years?

There is no room for sentiment in business, Anthony Hamilton manages Di Resta so will do his job to secure the best seat for him as that is what he is contractually obliged to do, even at the expense of his own son, and rightly so. Anthony does not get any money off Lewis whereas he would get a % of Di Resta's earnings.

[T-Mobile]

Flavio Briatore, as you say, and Eddie Jordan combined being team principals with driver management. Both of them have had several drivers on their books who would have been pursuing the same drives, including at their teams.

That is exactly what I'm referring to. How could this be a good situation?

There is no room for sentiment in business, Anthony Hamilton manages Di Resta so will do his job to secure the best seat for him as that is what he is contractually obliged to do, even at the expense of his own son, and rightly so. Anthony does not get any money off Lewis whereas he would get a % of Di Resta's earnings.

...says who? I may be young but I sure as hell know one's position on paper doesn't always reflect their actions.

[NissanGTR]

That is exactly what I'm referring to. How could this be a good situation?




...says who? I may be young but I sure as hell know one's position on paper doesn't always reflect their actions.

Lewis Hamilton sacked Anthony so if Di Resta takes a seat in the future that Lewis felt he deserved then that is the fault of Simon Fuller for not doing his job properly and Lewis for sacking Anthony as his manager.

[T-Mobile]

My father isn't my manager either, but that wouldn't stop him from beneficially influencing my life if he could. We are splitting hairs here, but perhaps thats my fault.

Am I really the only one who sees this conflict of interest as a problem? Forgetting Anythony Hamilton for a second and looking at Jordan/Briatore, doesn't working for an F1 team as well as managing drivers in other teams seem like a bad practice?

[NissanGTR]

My father isn't my manager either, but that wouldn't stop him from beneficially influencing my life if he could. We are splitting hairs here, but perhaps thats my fault.

Am I really the only one who sees this conflict of interest as a problem? Forgetting Anythony Hamilton for a second and looking at Jordan/Briatore, doesn't working for an F1 team as well as managing drivers in other teams seem like a bad practice?

I really don't see what difference it makes as outlined by my first post, Briatore got some very average drivers some very good F1 gigs that they probably would not have got otherwise.

[Fastcake]

Lewis Hamilton sacked Anthony so if Di Resta takes a seat in the future that Lewis felt he deserved then that is the fault of Simon Fuller for not doing his job properly and Lewis for sacking Anthony as his manager.

In any other case maybe, but Anthony will always be Lewis' father, and no matter who you have a contract with going against your own son would be a virtually impossible for him to manage.

Am I really the only one who sees this conflict of interest as a problem? Forgetting Anythony Hamilton for a second and looking at Jordan/Briatore, doesn't working for an F1 team as well as managing drivers in other teams seem like a bad practice?

Not really much of a problem, on the drivers side they're not going to have a problem with their manager sitting on both sides of the table.

[NissanGTR]

In any other case maybe, but Anthony will always be Lewis' father, and no matter who you have a contract with going against your own son would be a virtually impossible for him to manage.



Not really much of a problem, on the drivers side they're not going to have a problem with their manager sitting on both sides of the table.

Disagree

After their tensions they seem close again and Lewis Hamilton knows that he manages Di Resta and knows Di Resta's level of talent so would be very aware that one day they might be competing for the same seat or in the same team, I don't think he sees it as an issue.

[T-Mobile]

Well, I was always pretty surprised that Briatore had as many drivers as he did. However, I completely understand that without his help they wouldn't have gotten the drive anyway.

It still doesn't alleviate the possibility of some bad deals being done at one clients expense. Like many things, drivers are forced into undesirable situations for short term benefit. Then again, the short term benefit of having your ass in an F1 car is more than enough for many people.

[T-Mobile]

Ok, so lets do it: in 2015 a seat opens up at Red Bull. They need a top tier driver and both Hamilton and Di Resta are available. How is this a desirable situation for Di Resta? It is totally possible that Anythony Hamilton purposely does a poor job with Di Resta's negotiations in order to benefit his son. Whatever he loses in his deal with Di Resta could be made up by his son.

You can say all you want about it not happening, but I've seen it outside of motorsport so it really doesn't seem that far fetched. Now of course why would Anythony Hamilton want to manage a driver and do it poorly, of course that doesn't make sense. But the fact that he manages a competitor of his son automatically puts him in an adversarial position.

Edited by T-Mobile, 31 October 2011 - 20:19.

[Dolph]

Briatore got Kovalainen into McLaren which was way beyond his driving ability
He also got Webber into Red Bull which was beyond his driving ability
He got Alonso into 3 successive top teams
He got Piquet jnr into Renault which was way beyond Nelsinho's ability

So managing 4 drivers at the same time did not mean that Briatore did not look after their interests

And how is the father of a McLaren driver managing a Force India driver a conflict of interest ?

what are you on about. Webber beat dc ibn red bull.

and, briatore sacked trulli when trulli sacked briatore.

Briatore extorted Nelsinho using his position as emloyer and manager at the same time.

[Tim C 27]

Simple scenario :

An up-and-coming driver has the offer of a competitive seat which pays £X Million or the option of a less competitive seat paying double the salary. The manager is on a % - there could easily be a conflict of interest here, especially if the manager had several drivers on his books. (or in the case of Hamilton's manager, clients from the entertainment industry) He might want to take the higher cut and then walk away when it goes wrong for the driver as his star begins to wane.

Also, NissanGTR said Anthony H isn't being paid by Lewis H - I imagine he's probably correct in saying this, but what if, in sacking AH, LH agreed to a severence agreement paying AH a % for the next few years? We'll never know, but it just crossed my mind.

Interesting thread.

Edited by Tim C 27, 31 October 2011 - 20:19.

[garoidb]

That is exactly what I'm referring to. How could this be a good situation?

It isn't. There are conflicts of interest all over the place. The FIA should not allow it.

I don't think it really applies to Anthony Hamilton though, as he is not involved in Lewis's negotiations anymore. It would also be unfair to constrict him from this kind of work just because his son wanted to have a different manager. Also, Paul DiResta is not in a vulnerable position, as he is now somewhat established in F1, and Anthony H is not a powerful figure at Mercedes or Force India.

Edit: Also, Paul DiResta, and everyone else, is aware of his relationship to Lewis so if a conflict did arise on any one deal he could step aside temporarily.

Edited by garoidb, 31 October 2011 - 20:22.

[NissanGTR]

Ok, so lets do it: in 2015 a seat opens up at Red Bull. They need a top tier driver and both Hamilton and Di Resta are available. How is this a desirable situation for Di Resta? It is totally possible that Anythony Hamilton purposely does a poor job with Di Resta's negotiations in order to benefit his son. Whatever he loses in his deal with Di Resta could be made up by his son.

You can say all you want about it not happening, but I've seen it outside of motorsport so it really doesn't seem that far fetched. Now of course why would Anythony Hamilton want to manage a driver and do it poorly, of course that doesn't make sense. But the fact that he manages a competitor of his son automatically puts him in an adversarial position.

Highly unlikely, Anthony Hamilton is a business professional, I believe he would do his best for his paid client even if it meant his own son missing out

[NissanGTR]

what are you on about. Webber beat dc ibn red bull.

and, briatore sacked trulli when trulli sacked briatore.

Briatore extorted Nelsinho using his position as emloyer and manager at the same time.

DC was heavily past it at the time

Webber is an ok driver but in talent not deserving of the position of Red Bull driver, I doubt if he was managed by a mere mortal that he would have got near the Red Bull seat

[T-Mobile]

Highly unlikely, Anthony Hamilton is a business professional, I believe he would do his best for his paid client even if it meant his own son missing out

Bah...do you have a son? I don't yet, but I have a father that did everything he could possibly do to make my life better. That's what a lot of parents do, they do whats best for their child instead of themselves.

[garoidb]

Bah...do you have a son? I don't yet, but I have a father that did everything he could possibly do to make my life better. That's what a lot of parents do, they do whats best for their child instead of themselves.

Yes, but everyone knows this and the situation could be side-stepped if it looked like arising (i.e. Anthony steps aside). Right now, it is not a problem as they are not pursuing the same deals.

[NissanGTR]

Bah...do you have a son? I don't yet, but I have a father that did everything he could possibly do to make my life better. That's what a lot of parents do, they do whats best for their child instead of themselves.

I don't have a son but if I did I would seperate family life from business life and do my job 100%, if my job was to manage a driver against my own son then so be it.

[NissanGTR]

Plus Hamilton Jnr is well aware of Di Resta's talent and the fact that Di Resta is a Merecedes golden boy, he knows full well having observed Di Resta's talent that one day they may be serious competition for each other so the fact that him and Anthony seem a lot closer shows to me that Hamilton Jnr does not see it as an issue and will understand his father has to do his job.

[trogggy]

It would be absolutely outrageous if Anthony Hamilton hid the fact that his son was an F1 driver, so that PDR was unaware of a potential conflict of interest when he signed with him.
Other than that I can't see the problem.
A rule to separate roles - so, for instance, you can't be a team principal and driver manager - sounds reasonable. A 'fit-and-proper person' rule, same. That's about as far as it should go though.

[Fastcake]

I don't have a son but if I did I would seperate family life from business life and do my job 100%, if my job was to manage a driver against my own son then so be it.

I must say you may well do that, but I seriously doubt many others would.

[NissanGTR]

I must say you may well do that, but I seriously doubt many others would.

I was watching TV at the weekend when the 2 Hamilton's embraced with a massive hug, now it could have just been show for the cameras but Lewis Hamilton is fully aware that Di Resta is a huge talent, many people's including mine rookie of the year, Lewis Hamilton will know that Di Resta has a massive future, he does not appear to have issues with his father managing Di Resta.

[g1n]

I doubt driver managers role is all about "connections" that is veroverhyped. Like Kovaleinen to Mclaren or Piquet to Renault (in piquets case his manager was team manager), nobody would just hire someone in F1 based on what bs their driver "manager" tells the team, this is utter nonsense. Driver managers are there to take care of a lot of boring stuff, like a personal assistant/secretary if you will, but on a bit higher level of course but still representing [insertname] will and interests on other behalf.

Briatore got Kovalainen into McLaren which was way beyond his driving ability
He also got Webber into Red Bull which was beyond his driving ability
He got Alonso into 3 successive top teams
He got Piquet jnr into Renault which was way beyond Nelsinho's ability

So managing 4 drivers at the same time did not mean that Briatore did not look after their interests

And how is the father of a McLaren driver managing a Force India driver a conflict of interest ?

1-Nonsense, they took Kovi based on promise of speed, judged from previous career results
2-Webber joined Redbull when they were **** and he didn't really join, he just continued as he was at jaguar before, same team really.
3-Alonso he put in to a Minardi, then in to his own team, then Alonso became 2 time world champ so from that point on ANY door was open to him, so again you are wrong.
4-Piquet, well he put him into the same team he was managing as a number 2.

again you are overplaying importance of such driver managers. As someone has said, look at Vettel.
The only thing that can be taken from the above is that if you are going to have a manager make sure he runs his own F1 team, because you never know

Edited by g1n, 31 October 2011 - 20:54.

[garoidb]

I was watching TV at the weekend when the 2 Hamilton's embraced with a massive hug, now it could have just been show for the cameras but Lewis Hamilton is fully aware that Di Resta is a huge talent, many people's including mine rookie of the year, Lewis Hamilton will know that Di Resta has a massive future, he does not appear to have issues with his father managing Di Resta.

Well, Lewis is in no position to complain!

[pingu666]

all the managers want there pound of flesh. im sure vettel has some people that look after various things for him.

britorea was/is someone who could get you a drive somehow

[joshb]

Do drivers even need managers. Surely they know what team they want to drive for and how to squeeze the most money from a contract. Why pay someone else to do it for you?

[Jejking]

Do drivers even need managers. Surely they know what team they want to drive for and how to squeeze the most money from a contract. Why pay someone else to do it for you?

That said, is SebVet still managing himself outside the cockpit? Last year he already/still was doing his own job at contracts etc.

[FTATRWeSaluteYou]

DC was heavily past it at the time

Webber is an ok driver but in talent not deserving of the position of Red Bull driver, I doubt if he was managed by a mere mortal that he would have got near the Red Bull seat

You do realise that Red Bull was very much a midfield team when Webber joined? How long have you been around. Red Bull was not very sought after when Webber joined.

Webber also built that team with Vettel into the force it is today. 2wdc's and 2wcc's in which Mark played his part and certainly was no pushover in 2009, 2010.

Webber was also in a top seat before Red Bull when he got the Williams drive in 2005, and he had a choice between williams and Renault. Renault went onto win in 05 and 06.

So As you can see Webbers talent did deserve a top seat, which is certainly backed up by people with more credentials than you. Red Bull have had plenty of oppurtunity to get rid of him but havent.



You sound like a Ham fanboy who is angry that Ham is not driving with the best car week in week out(which he is some of the time anyway, not that you would know it by his performances) and feel that he deserves the seat that is most likely to get him a wdc(he wouldnt beat vettel anyway). And Red Bull is now that. Well where was Ham in 2007 2008 when Red Bull was an emerging team. He wouldnt be seen dead in a red bull(A monkey at the back).

Hes made his bed now he has to lie in it. With a straight back if he can.


Briatore was a master. Webber still stands by him even after singapore, and you have to admire that. A sign of thanks for the service to his career.

[karne]

Do drivers even need managers. Surely they know what team they want to drive for and how to squeeze the most money from a contract. Why pay someone else to do it for you?

As Gerhard Berger once said:

"When you are negotating a contract, there are only two figures you need to know: What you want, and what you are prepared to accept. Why do you need a manager for that?"

[goldenboy]

Flav definately has some loyal drivers out there. Webber has been quoted as saying he would sign anything flavio puts in front of him without reading it, such is the trust he has in his advice, knowing full well that he also manages alonso of course.

The only time webber went against flavs advice was a disaster that nearly cost him his career (williams)

[karne]

Flav definately has some loyal drivers out there. Webber has been quoted as saying he would sign anything flavio puts in front of him without reading it, such is the trust he has in his advice, knowing full well that he also manages alonso of course.

The only time webber went against flavs advice was a disaster that nearly cost him his career (williams)

Webber said after that he'd never ignore Flavio again. Ann wanted him at Renault too as I understand it. Big whoopsie from Mark there.

[goldenboy]

hulkenberg fired weber didn't he? what was the story behind that apart from him not getting a drive obviously (if there is more to the story than that)

[FigJam]

Pollock, Villeneuve and BAR is an interesting discussion for this thread.

Briatore has always been brilliant for his drivers

[DanardiF1]

A driver does not really need a manager, Vettel manages his own affairs, he is his manager

What does he have to manage anyway? Red Bull just give him whatever he wants....

[Shevek]

Briatore got Kovalainen into McLaren which was way beyond his driving ability
He also got Webber into Red Bull which was beyond his driving ability
He got Alonso into 3 successive top teams

Briatore stopped being Alonso's manager before 2007. Alonsos' manager is Luis García Abad since 2007.

So, unless you consider Minardi a top team, Briatore didn't get Alonso in three top teams (just one, in fact).

[Bunchies]

As Gerhard Berger once said:

"When you are negotating a contract, there are only two figures you need to know: What you want, and what you are prepared to accept. Why do you need a manager for that?"

Simple. A driver who is constantly training and focusing on his racing may not necessarily have time to focus on that aspect of his career. That's why he hires a manager. It requires a certain type of acumen that the driver may not have or may not be willing to dedicate time to.

[NissanGTR]

What does he have to manage anyway? Red Bull just give him whatever he wants....

Racing contracts make up a tiny bit of the overall thing

A world champion would get offers in daily from credit card companies, aftershave companies, clothing companies and so on to advertise their brand, Vettel's mailbox must be full daily with commercial offers so the advertising and marketing offers is a big reason why drivers have managers, the driving contracts only have to be dealt with once every couple of years the offers from Nike, Gilette, America Express blah blah blah that arrive daily and the request for an appearance to launch a new store is the regular part of a managers responsibility.

[NissanGTR]

You do realise that Red Bull was very much a midfield team when Webber joined? How long have you been around. Red Bull was not very sought after when Webber joined.

Webber also built that team with Vettel into the force it is today. 2wdc's and 2wcc's in which Mark played his part and certainly was no pushover in 2009, 2010.

Webber was also in a top seat before Red Bull when he got the Williams drive in 2005, and he had a choice between williams and Renault. Renault went onto win in 05 and 06.

So As you can see Webbers talent did deserve a top seat, which is certainly backed up by people with more credentials than you. Red Bull have had plenty of oppurtunity to get rid of him but havent.



You sound like a Ham fanboy who is angry that Ham is not driving with the best car week in week out(which he is some of the time anyway, not that you would know it by his performances) and feel that he deserves the seat that is most likely to get him a wdc(he wouldnt beat vettel anyway). And Red Bull is now that. Well where was Ham in 2007 2008 when Red Bull was an emerging team. He wouldnt be seen dead in a red bull(A monkey at the back).

Hes made his bed now he has to lie in it. With a straight back if he can.


Briatore was a master. Webber still stands by him even after singapore, and you have to admire that. A sign of thanks for the service to his career.

Webber has had contracts twice since Red Bull became a good team and even in a year where he has shown he is not really good enough for a top seat Briatore has got him another contract, Briatore would have had to fight off some top drivers (Hamilton/Raikkonen and others) to get Webber the drive for next season so Briatore is an excellent manager.

Webber is an ok driver but come on 221 and no wins is pathetic compared with 374 and 11 wins, Webber has not justified keeping the seat for next year but Briatore still got him it.

[Fastcake]

What does he have to manage anyway? Red Bull just give him whatever he wants....

Plus he's best mates with Bernie. That's gotta help.

[Talisman]

Webber is an ok driver but come on 221 and no wins is pathetic compared with 374 and 11 wins, Webber has not justified keeping the seat for next year but Briatore still got him it.

Webber is a good illustration of what role a manager plays.

Back when he joined Williams Webber acknowledged that Briatore had advised him to join Renault instead as they had the better future ahead of them. Webber went with Williams' history and wasted a couple of precious seasons in the midfield. Managers often have a better idea of trends within the sport as they network and see the flow of resources in and out of each team.

Button's previous manager (Byfield IIRC but I might be wrong) who got him into the BAR/Williams affair is a case of a manager who did not have his driver's best interest at heart. Button's manager lied to SFW and mislead Button jr and snr into thinking there was a get out clause in his BAR contract. There wasn't and the CRB ripped Jenson and his manager to pieces costing the driver millions a year in compensation that he had to pay to Williams.

[T-Mobile]

It isn't. There are conflicts of interest all over the place. The FIA should not allow it.

I don't think it really applies to Anthony Hamilton though, as he is not involved in Lewis's negotiations anymore. It would also be unfair to constrict him from this kind of work just because his son wanted to have a different manager. Also, Paul DiResta is not in a vulnerable position, as he is now somewhat established in F1, and Anthony H is not a powerful figure at Mercedes or Force India.

Edit: Also, Paul DiResta, and everyone else, is aware of his relationship to Lewis so if a conflict did arise on any one deal he could step aside temporarily.

While the situation may be rare, I think its possible enough that its worth discussing. As for Hamilton, you have a valid point. He was more of a minor concern because as others pointed out if a problem arose, he would probably deal with it in a suitable manner. Flavio on the other hand, I bet that could get messy.

OT: I just gotta say that is the best avatar on the forums. I crack up every time I see it.

"Relax, Heisenberg says relax" -Tuco

---

OK, I know that managers can do great things with drivers, even those who have a conflict of interest. But the whole thing with a conflict of interest is that it is like a car accident, it's not a problem until it happens. I'd think someone would have a problem with this. Perhaps it is similar to government, they are already so entrenched in their ways that its the only way things will work.

[Amphicar]

As Gerhard Berger once said:

"When you are negotating a contract, there are only two figures you need to know: What you want, and what you are prepared to accept. Why do you need a manager for that?"

That may have worked for Gerhard - but I'm pretty certain the Robinsons got Kimi a lot more than he could have negotiated on his own.

[T-Mobile]

That may have worked for Gerhard - but I'm pretty certain the Robinsons got Kimi a lot more than he could have negotiated on his own.

I don't doubt that for a second, BUT does that mean acceptable conflicts of interest with driver managers is itself acceptable? I am curious how this is handled in other industries...

[Ross Stonefeld]

I like to think Red Bull are the reason Webber's contract gets renewed, not his manager.

[arknor]

A manager does a lot more than get the driver a seat in F1. If that was all he did, why did MS need a manager?

personal sponsor deals , interviews, probably organises hotels etc to or provides someone to do this for you.

its not exactly a small cut they take