Liberty must be bold and restore fast, scary F1 - Brundle

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Martin Brundle wants a tough, no-compromise approach from Liberty Media on Formula 1's future regulations, for the purpose of making Grand Prix racing great again.

Formula 1's new owners are wrapping up their first year at the helm of the sport, and while F1 has only seen minor changes to date, Liberty is hard at work defining the future beyond 2021, when the current regulation agreements expire.

Sky F1's popular pundit, whose opinion is often valued, believes the only path to success for the pinnacle of motorpsort is a regulation platform which prioritizes 'fast and scary' cars raced by the greatest drivers in the world.

"They have got to be bold," Brundle said of Liberty Media, speaking to Sky F1.

"They have got to say 'this is the future of Formula 1, this is the direction we're going in, join up or depart'. And they've got to be really clear on that."

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A veteran of 158 Grand Prix starts, the former F1 driver says Liberty needs to pull out all the stops, but admits the sport's owners are walking on a risky political tightrope.

"We have to be the fastest, the scariest, the best racing cars with the finest drivers wheel to wheel," adds Brundle.

"The objective is very easy, and I actually think getting there is relatively easy, but there's just an awful lot of politics and self-interest in the way. So I don't know where it is going to end up."

Case in point: Ferrari's toughened stance on the future as expressed in no uncertain terms by chairman Sergio Marchionne, who simply threatened to quit F1 if it at some point it no longer caters to the Scuderia's best interests.

Brundle however is willing to call Marchionne's bluff.

"I think they're bluffing," he said.

"For example, where would Ferrari go? Go and get their backsides handed to them on a plate by Mahindra in Formula E?

"They are already in Le Mans, they won the GT world championship - nobody knows about that.

"They do no advertising around the world, not a penny, because Formula 1 does it for them. So I believe Liberty have to be super tough."

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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.