Formula One (F1) Racing is considered one of the most popular sports in the world. It’s viewership in 2017 exceeded 340 million unique viewers, which surpasses the highly popular National Football League (NFL). F1, which represents the pinnacle of the vehicle racing world, showcases multi-million dollar open air rocket ships made possible from teams of multinational enthusiasts doing their part to ensure the continued existence of the sport. The vehicles are the result of hundreds of millions of dollars in research and development and decades of manufacturer involvement. The sound of a 1.6 liter four-stroke turbocharged 90-degree V6 reciprocating engine revving up to 15,000 rpm ignites an excitement in fans that very few in the world will ever experience first-hand, but hopefully that is changing. The thrill of watching the wave of Ferrari Fans (dubbed “Tifosi”), Mercedes, and McLaren wave their banner and flags in a sea of yellow, red, silver, and orange, as their teams fly across the front straight at speeds often exceeding 220 mph (354kph). Miracles of automotive engineering aside, F1 excels in highlighting the advancement of International Relations.
For months leading up to a race (and from the week of to the week after), thousands of people from different cultures, languages, and backgrounds come together to put on a spectacle highlighting achievements of the human spirit. Given that each race is in a different country, global coordination occurs between people of different languages and time zones. Moreover, the in-country support needed must blend with the overall culture and goals of the F1 corporation. This is no easy feat, and ensuring that races are conducted consistently with previous experiences is vital. Another feat that many racers on the international scene exhibit are language capabilities. It is common for a top tier racer to give an interview in multiple languages. Many aspects of F1 present a model showcasing diplomacy and efforts united around a common cause.
The history of internal politics within F1 are riddled with stories of opaque business deals, highly secretive projects, and various corporate intelligence efforts played out on a global stage with the goal to gain milliseconds of an advantage. These often-clandestine efforts are not only a means by which various automotive manufacturers and race teams seek to gain an advantage, it is also represents the amalgamation of millions in corporate sponsorship deals, thousands of hours not slept by the business development and team engineers living out their passion, and the corporate culture and financial realities that add layers of stress on the people involved in these programs. More so, a single team entering a formula one race represents the dreams, hopes, and livelihoods of thousands of people who rely on a positive brand image for their jobs. Without recognition and growth, businesses would fail and people would be out of jobs. The second and tertiary effects of a poor race performance, a broken part, or a breakdown in the supply chain could make or break an individual company involved. All of these competing priorities are brought together in a common cause on race day, and played out long after the checkered flag is dropped in terms of automotive sales, merchandising, sponsorship deals, training programs, etc.
F1 teams compete in countries all over the world. Regional disputes, politics, and religions all play a part and are very real concerns to any business venture. These goals are championed by government representatives and non-profits. However, F1 instead offers the average person a chance to see what dreams and aspiration can achieve. Regardless of the price of admission to a race or to purchase a vehicle brand going around the track, each and every person involved is a championing progress. Do you think a U.S. and China trade dispute is at the forefront of the Chinese fan vs. the U.S. fan sitting next to each other in the stands in Shanghai or Houston? One can argue that the cost of entrance is reserved for only a select few. That may be, but for one weekend a year, thousands of people are provided jobs, hotels fill up, restaurants sell out, investors see growth, mutual funds earn, and retirement accounts can benefit. This is not always a profitable endeavor and often a logistical nightmare for the host country. However, like a public works program, the goal is to keep racing and keep people engaged. F1, like many other international sports, provide an outlet for different nationalities to engage in a unique experience that brings them joy. Although the methodology to get there can often be controversial, governments and practitioners can look at this storied racing series as a model for how people from different places can work together.
F1 demands that teams come back to the same table day in and day out, rain or shine. This model is no different than what we see being played out on BBC, Fox News, CNN, and Xinhua networks between governments. Competing priorities are intertwined to grow their respective economies and place in the world, while at the same time maintaining a delicate balance mirrors the corporate decisions being made. While the specific purposes may be different, the methodology and decision making often emulates each other. What makes Formula 1 unique is that the decided goal is to keep racing. Conversely, the goal of constant engagement is often vilified by different governments and/or politicians who posture, drop talks, sanction, and cut off aid to other countries if their goals are not met. From a government standpoint, these types of hard actions are warranted for a variety of reasons, but often solutions overlook the average person. Still, the goal is to move forward in both government, business, and F1. The delicate game of diplomacy is still being played out by unknown diplomats, exchange students, foreign tourists, and multinational organizations. Although, the rhetoric of a minority can cloud the voices of the majority, the simple fact is that the majority of the world just wants to live a life. We cannot live in a bubble, and if we are not making progress we are not growing. Like F1, progress is made through extensive trial and error and is only undertook because everyone involved knows there will be a tomorrow. In essence, the race must go on.
About the Author: FAO Global Founder Brandon Hughes, is an avid motor racing enthusiast and has attended various racing events on multiple continents. One of his inspirations to start a career in International Business was due to his experience observing multilingual teams of fellow car enthusiasts come together for a common cause. He regularly uses mutual interests to bring together diverse groups of individuals and teams across countries by focusing on similarities rather than differences. He continues to see the evolution of motorsports as a incredible opportunity to build international engagement between brands and customers.
