At long last TV has transformed motor racing from sport into entertainment.
Bernie Arnault, 75, of Paris, France has just put a lazy $150m a year into sponsoring F1 for 10 years. Bernie and his family more or less own LVMH which is worth about $535bn, makes $138bn in a bad year and whose shares are down to just over $1k each at the moment. A buying opportunity?
Now, his company doesn't make disc brakes, tyres, automotive chemicals or wheels. But it does make upmarket drinks like Moet and Hennessy, schmutter like Chris Dior, Gucci, perfumes, Tag Heuer watches, Tiffany jewellery and trains, hotels, shops, yachts and newspapers and mags.
Does this mean Rolex, Ferrari sparkling wine and Puma will get the flick from the paddock? Yes. If Danny Ricciardo were still driving his podium caper of drinking sparkling from his shoe would mean a switch from Italian to French.
Bernie is on a winner. Next year is the 75th birthday of F1. Trivia time: Who won the first GP at Silverstone in SDL? Nino Farina, 118, of Turin. Unfortunately, in an Alfa.
Then this weekend the boundary between sport and Hollywood blurs even further when Canadian actor Keanu Reeves drives a Toyota GR at Indianapolis in the Toyota Gazoo series.
Look no matter what the Red Bull bosses say, they have treated Dan Ricciardo (35) badly. Late this week, Horner said "some older drivers struggle for adaptability as they age – perhaps contributing to Ricciardo's struggles". Tell that to Ferdie Alonso 43, Hamo 39 and Hulkenberg 37. Danny deserved a better send off. Over the last 74 years, only 773 persons have raced in F1. Over the last 72 years 18 Australians have raced. Five of them have won races. Jack Brabham won 14; Alan Jones 12; Mark Webber 9; Daniel Riccardi 8 and Oscar Piastri 2 (so far).
Rumours of Danny running in Supercars for millions are rife but there's been a huge offer, backed by the LVMH of Australia, Coopers and luxury hotel group the Kensi for the honey badger to join the Weekend Australian Rally team (WART) for this November's Adelaide Rally.
Warning! Chrysler has recalled more than 154,000 2020-24 Jeep Wrangler and 2022-24 Jeep Grand Cherokee plug-in hybrid electric vehicles due to fire risk. The US government says: "Owners should park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles until their vehicle has been remedied."
Car of the day is the 2020 McLaren Speedtail, number 46 of only 106 examples ever produced, all of which were hand-assembled by McLaren Automotive at their world-leading Technology Centre. Offered by Tom Hartley Jr in SDL. Broad Arrow sold one a few months back for about $3.5m.
jc@jcp.com.au