Veteran F1 drivers welcome new American ownership
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Veteran F1 drivers have expressed their support for an increased U.S. involvement in the sport through new owners Liberty Media.
The addition of American sports marketing expertise is widely seen as a positive, as Liberty attempts to increase interest and generate more revenue.
"Bernie and his partners who have run the business all these years have done a great job, as we can see in the price tag of $8.5 billion," said Nico Rosberg. "Someone must have done an amazing job to get that price tag on our sport, and just on the commercial rights. It's pretty impressive.
"But I think the world is changing a lot, and it's cool sometimes to get a breath of fresh air in it, a new competent group of people who may bring some new ideas. Especially coming from America, because the Americans are often a step ahead, especially in technology and things like that. In TV they're really doing a good job.
"So I think it could be promising, and I look forward to seeing what they come up with, and hopefully maybe it can make us stronger in America, that could be awesome, I'm sure there are so many people there that could be passionate about out sport if bring it to them in a good way."
McLaren drivers Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button also stressed that the American involvement would be good.
"I think it's good," said Alonso. "They have good experience, they are American, I think the sport there is quite popular. They seem to give to the spectators on television and also the fans close to the sport quite a good coverage, and everything that comes from America in terms of sport is quite attractive. So I think their point of view and ideas will be very welcome in our sport. I see a good future, a good thing for F1."
"I think them being American is probably a positive, bringing the sport more to the States, and getting people there more interested in the sport," said Button. "I think from what I've seen they are interested in getting a much younger audience interested in the sport. The average age is much too high for where it should be, considering we have an 18-year-old on the grid. I think the average age is high-30s, maybe early 40s.
"So that needs to change, we need to target youngsters, the younger generation. And from what they say they are very interested in still keeping the historic tracks that we have on the calendar. It's very important to them, and it should be, as that's the heart and soul of F1."
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