Q & A with Eric Boullier on F1's future

AUTOSPORT was there to listen to the Frenchman explain why he believes the sport must take a mature approach to the discussions and maintain a unified perspective, while addressing the more global concerns of maintaining the sport's popularity amid growing threats from other sporting and entertainment sectors.

Boullier also gave the latest update on the recovery status of his superstar driver Robert Kubica, who was injured in an accident prior to the start of the season.

Q. What updates do you have on the car this weekend?

Eric Boullier: We have a new front wing, a couple some new parts around the floor, but to be honest I'm not sure what else to be exact. It's not a massive upgrade, but still significant.

Q. What are the lessons you've learnt out of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend?

EB: We had a wake-up call, which is good sometimes. It just allowed us to sit down properly with the team and review about how to handle our weekend. Basically what we did in China was very similar to what we did before. It was successful in some different track layouts, but we understood our mistakes and we won't repeat them.

Q. This weekend what are your expectations, it is good aero track?

EB: It looks like we had a good car over the first two weekends and actually the pace was also good in China. It's just frustrating that we couldn't convert it into points but I think it should be a good weekend for us.

Q. How much have you worked on tyre strategies?

EB: We did some work, obviously useful. Strategy is very important to understand the proper degradation of the tyres. Then obviously the strategy during the race, the live strategy, is very important as well.

Q. It seems that Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari are going to have a meeting to talk about Ferrari and the CVC situation. Renault doesn't appear to be in on the party, what's going on?

EB: I think everybody is a bit nervous now because some news like this in The Times and some other newspapers. But actually if it has been released, that means this is not secret anymore and maybe not going down that path. So yes there is a lot of talk around the new Concorde Agreement and obviously this news that has been released that some people could be interested in buying some share in F1. That makes a lot of stories I guess.

Q. Would you expect Renault to be a central part of those discussions?

EB: The information that I got was that we weren't on the list, so why not? But if it becomes public I don't believe it is entirely true.

Q. Is this all about engines? Renault is clearly in favour of the 1.6-litre, four cylinder engine, whereas the others are maybe not?

EB: I need to find out more to be honest. Because I know there are a lot of discussions regarding the engine. We all know there is some difference of interests of FOM and the FIA. It is the usual game. We have to sit down this weekend, we have a lot of meetings together and we have a FOTA meeting as well so we will see.

Q. Are we going back to where we were in 2009 with endless talk of a breakaway series?

EB: To be honest I was not there in 2009, I just read through the media what was going on. It's always tricky for everybody to sit around one table and discuss about common points of interest when you speak about sharing some revenues and stuff like this. So we expect it not to be an easy job, but we will see how it goes. I don't think we are at the point to speak about there being a breakaway series and stuff like that, I think we need to first focus on being FOTA, all teams together, and then we will see.

Q. Do you think the teams can and will stick together during this period?

EB: I think there are different debates. The engine is one debate definitely, and for me the main debate is that we need to think about F1. In the 90s it had one business model, F1 in the 2000s was full of manufacturers which was another business model. Now we don't have any more manufacturers and we have to compete against sports like football and the Olympic Games and others which have developed drastically in terms of business, and I speak about business and sponsors - and that's the key you know. I think this little war inside the paddock is maybe fun for some journalists and some people, but to be honest for me it's not because we need to think a little more globally. As F1 we need to realise that the rest of the world has changed, and if you want to be successful as a show and a sport and a competition we need to think a little bit differently.

Q. Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has said that whoever runs F1 needs to invest more in promotion and marketing and embracing a younger audience too.

EB: Again we need to think differently if we want to promote F1, and not being only a little war between a couple of people.

Q. Is that the general feeling among FOTA that CVC has to start investing in F1?

EB: I will be more generalist. The owner needs to think about how they could maybe spend some money to promote the business they are running or owning. And maybe to make sure that the value, which does interest a company like CVC, is better. But for that you need to have some future and you need to see the strategy for the future of the series. And with the Concorde Agreement ending in two years, it certainly needs to be resolved and discussed now because it is the only way to build the future of the series.

But the teams have a responsibility as well. They are part of the show and they need to promote it as well. But obviously you need to have a balance. Everybody needs to sit down and make the same job. The teams cannot promote F1 on behalf of CVC.

Q. So would it mean that it would be a good thing if News Corp got involved, because they have done it before with football?

EB: To be honest I don't know. I just read in the press that they were interested, but I don't know what their plans are, or if it is good or not. I have no idea. The only thing I know is that F1, as a global brand, and all its players, have to cleverly prepare the future.

Q. Whenever the Concorde Agreement is up for renewal you always get this kind of talk in the paddock, is this just part of that or is it more serious than that?

EB: For me it will be different you know. As I said before, the 90s were different, the 00s were different and manufacturers discussing the Concorde Agreement have different interests that we do have today as private companies. CVC as well I guess. In some ways we have the same interests, they want to have a better show and a better value for their company. We want to have a better show and a better value and everything better. So if we have the same wish, we should in theory be able to sit down and have some common points of discussion. There will be some different points of interest obviously but the debate will be different that... threatening to do a breakaway series or... I think not at this stage, and I hope we don't come to this kind of discussion. I think this would be more destructive for F1 than helpful.

Q. Robert Kubica is now out of hospital. Is there is any news beyond that?

EB: Not yet. I spent an hour on the phone this week with him. He is obviously very relieved to be back home and relieved to get back to a normal life - even if he has to work every day on his rehabilitation. He is working six or seven hours per day, and I think we should know more by mid-June about what and when to expect.

His injuries were quite bad you know. Bones and muscles are quite easy to fix, if I may say this, but nerves... it's a different story. You need to be cautious in the development of this, which is why they need to take time, they need to do it properly and they need to monitor and handle it properly.

Q. So it's all about developing the feeling again in his right hand?

EB: Exactly.

Q. Has he got any plans to attend a race this year?

EB: I don't know. I think he will come to a race when he feels he is ready to come.