Just_a_fan wrote: ↑14 Jul 2017, 08:47
Liberty have bought themselves a problem. If they agree reduced fees with Silverstone, every other track will want a reduction too. Liberty aren't going to want to go down that road so they might just sacrifice Silverstone in order to make a point.
I disagree, from a purely commercial standpoint you can argue the merits of sacrificing a GP to avoid reducing the rates for others, but the fact is Silverstone is just too important symbolically.
The site of the first race, the home of not just the majority of teams and their employees but also the vast majority of F1 staff, including the majority of "traveling marshalls", and the best attended race every year, holding the record for spectators (and home of one of the largest TV audiences). Plus a bloody good race track that's actually exciting to drive and to watch.
If you're the owner of another barely attended Tike-drome who has only been in the sport a few years there's no way you can reasonably expect to sit down and negotiate your own fee reduction based on Silverstone getting a better deal.
Liberty will (or at least should) take a hit to have their TV screens filled with an historic venue packed with cheering fans, with advertisers knowing they're reaching a big domestic audience. They wouldn't for a track with empty stadiums, zero racing heritage and a tiny domestic fanbase.
Those countries are paying to buy into the prestige, European countries make the prestige.