Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsFormula 1

Formula 1 more productive than FIFA World Cup

According to financial news publication Forbes, Formula 1 has generated more revenue than FIFA's World Cup tournament in the last 15 years.

Motorsport's pinnacle racked in $16.2 billion since 1999 compared to FIFA's $ 14.5 billion in the same period, although it must be reminded that the World Cup takes place every four years.

On the back of his recent downfall, Sepp Blatter was labeled as the most powerful individual in sport, but Ecclestone's F1 track record clearly gives the 84-year-old the upper hand against the fallen FIFA President.

Paradoxically, in a recent interview with F1 Racing, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone pinpointed football as one reason Grand Prix racing has struggled to attract a new fan base.

"Maybe other forms of entertainment, because of television, have taken away a big chunk of people, who would have watched F1 and are now watching something else," said Bernie. "These other things are now accessible; before, they weren't. Football is big, big, big. Thousands of games. We have 20 'games' per year."

Since he took over the management and running of F1 over thirty years ago, Ecclestone has signed deals worth an estimated $ 23.4 billion according to research conducted by the Express newspaper.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.