McLaren: Indy 500 presence increases appeal to sponsors

What they say

McLaren is running a car for Fernando Alonso in the race this May.

I think North American remains key growth market, biggest sporting market in the world, Formula 1 I think has lots of room for growth. I’m not surprised it’s taking some time to develop a second race there.

We know [in] Formula 1 various business models need addressing and one of those are it’s pretty hard to be a promoter and make money if you’re not government-subsidised. They’ve got a new television partner, I know that had some struggles on its debut, looks like they’re addressed those issues and I think that it’s a good television partner.

We’ve got the festivals that they’re doing in Miami, having had a look at their plans next year it looks like there’s another one or two in America and another big market. I think they’re spending a tremendous amount of time trying to get a second race there and so it is making progress but it is going to take some time.

And that’s one of the reasons why we’re competing in the Indy 500 is when we go to Indianapolis and the IndyCar series, for seven out of 10 sponsor partners North America is an important market for them and Formula 1 right now can’t quite ring that bell as loudly as a lot of partners would like and so we feel that IndyCar racing for a variety of reasons, that being one of them, helps round out a true global proposition for our partners.

Social media

Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:

Another great year on track.
2018, you have been amazing. Really looking forward to 2019, big challenges ahead.
Best wishes to all of you for the new year 🎊 pic.twitter.com/SPWtQfDXtx

— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) December 31, 2018

2018 is almost over. It has been a year full of emotions, good and bad ones. Most important is to learn from our experiences and try to improve ourselves. To my fans, friends, loved ones a very happy new year and all my best wishes for 2019 🥂🍾🎆
#2019 #HappyNewYear pic.twitter.com/1RHqtsEkew

— Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) December 31, 2018

Thanks 2018 for such great memories & adventures! 🙌
Time to celebrate the new year, wish you all the best to you & your loved ones. 😘 BRING ON 2019!! pic.twitter.com/Qxp2UKIx6I

— Pierre Gasly 🇫🇷 (@PierreGASLY) December 31, 2018

• Find more official F1 accounts to follow in the F1 Twitter Directory

Links

More motor racing links of interest:

Albon 'begged' DAMS for Formula 2 race seat (Autosport)

"The three poles in a row were really cool for me. It stood out to me, raw pace-wise we were really strong."

Schumacher’s son progresses to bring hope in tragic F1 tale (The Guardian)

Damon Hill: "We’ve never really brought up some of the things that went on and that might be interesting to know. But as you get older, you look back and it all seems mad."

Gordon Murray: A legend gets recognition (ESPN)

"Apart from a deep passion for music (particularly the work of Bob Dylan), Murray also possesses a sharp sense of fun and he will not have missed the irony in switching to the other end of the speed spectrum as he set up his own company in December 2004."

The Rise and Fall of Carlos Ghosn (The New York Times)

"Asked by the Financial Times that same month if he was overpaid, Mr Ghosn laughed. 'You won’t have any CEO say, ‘I’m overly compensated,’' he said. Such brazenness rankled employees and the public in Japan."

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Comment of the day

Will Williams miss Sergey Sirotkin next year?

I do understand why Paddy Lowe is so vocal about the fact that he was happy with Sirotkin. He was a decent driver, polite, quiet, brought ton of cash and was young so could still improve. He is a every team boss dream come true.

Now he has to work for his paycheck and make sure that Williams under his lead will build Russell and Kubica a midfield car. Kubica isn’t as quiet as Sirotkin so if Williams car will be garbage he will be the first to say it out loud then push everyone around hard to implement improvements. Fans also expect a lot from George and Robert given their potential and experience respectively – so now the pressure is on Paddy to put it all together this year. He can’t hope that fans will blame the drivers next year again.
Arrrang

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On this day in F1

• Born on this day in 1945: Future Le Mans 24 Hours winner and F1 championship runner-up Jacky Ickx