[Evoncalabbalo]

I always wondered about this, why don't the teams which have vast amounts of empty space on their cars take a good cause under their wing?

For example, instead of the big white spaces on the Saubers, they could sport "Prevent Child Abuse", "Don't Drink And Drive", "Support Haiti", or something similar... you get the drift.

Now, there'll be some of you hardliners who'll say that F1 cars should feature Oil, Booze and Cigarettes as sponsors as part of the macho image of the sport, but I always felt that putting on a positive message and using their empty space would result in a lot of good additional publicity for the team, and pictures of that would also give their other sponsors (if any) more exposure in the media.

I have been wondering this since back in the days when cigarette companies had to take their names off cars at certain races. While there were some fairly clever attempts at hinting at their products ("East", "Buzzin & Hornets"), most of them just kept blank, or featured the drivers' names - instead they could have used that opportunity as well, to support a positive message (for good publicity... I would even go as far as to say if a cigarette company had put "Prevent Underage Smoking" on their cars, it would have garnered them more good publicity than their regular advertising?)

Your thoughts?

[boffincash]

One of the teams did something along these lines a few years back, but can't remember who... Jordan?

[Dreqsqse]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/formul...r-charity.html
Your photo could grace the bodywork of David Coulthard or Mark Webber's F1 car at Silverstone. We've reserved 5,000 spaces exclusively for Yahoo! Eurosport users to help raise $1million for charity.

[InvertPrete]

Why? Because F1 is a business and not some chump ass charity case.

[uncoodync]

I totally agree with maximilian on this one. It´s a win win situation. I like the way FC Barcelona is actually paying money to wear the Unicef logo and they don´t do it because they can´t get sponsors.

[dexterljohnthefinanceguy]

Good idea, max!

[uncoodync]

Why? Because F1 is a business and not some chump ass charity case.

Of course. And there are plenty of other tough guys who´s mommies didn´t love them enough to go with this side of things. Well, it´s part of a business to build a good image an this kind of things help a lot but why would I use reason to argue with people overwhelmed by anger?

[standaman]

Why? Because F1 is a business and not some chump ass charity case.

[MizzDaizzy]

They could have a raffle for the advertising space. Where organisations that usuually couldnt afford f1 sponsorship pay a nominal amount and then one gets drawn out and their logo put on the side of the car.

[Klissineopar]

a lot of professional sports teams around the world do this, I think Jordan in the past have done it as well, Barcelona football club is the most well known who run unicef on their front of their strips by choice, intentionally don't have a front of the **** sponsor

[Greapyjeory]

Why? Because F1 is a business and not some chump ass charity case.

Are you for real??

[cewIdeatovace]

Why? Because F1 is a business and not some chump ass charity case.

have some heart

[Hammaduersnes]

Minardi ran a "Peace" campaign on their engine cover for a few races, and what happened? It was deemed too political, and cameras were apparently instructed not to show the cars. I just failed to find any pictures of it at all.

One man's good cause is apparently sometimes an insult to another one.

Better then to stay blank and make it clear to any interested sponsor that the space could be theirs, right away.

[standaman]

One man's good cause is apparently sometimes an insult to another one.

Especially if the other one is the guy with the strange haircut who likes to take a walk on the grid before races.

[arreskslarlig]

I've thought about this as well and the teams should consider doing this not only to be a "good team" but also as a way to cut down on Tax responsibilities for donating to charity?
The teams should also find a way to entice potential sponsors somehow using this method. Maybe put a logo of a potential sponsors favorite charity? I never understood why Honda didn't find any charity when they had their Earth livery.

Don't drink [Johnny Walker] and drive? I'm sure mclaren will love that.

[zzarratusstra]

I've thought about this as well and the teams should consider doing this not only to be a "good team" but also as a way to cut down on Tax responsibilities for donating to charity?

It's a great idea. And what I underlined occured to me too. Why not take advantage of the tax benefits? How do those laws work in the UK (where most of the teams are based)???

[Soadiassy]

I might chalk up some ******* Points for this - but I was thinking why don't teams without sponsors on their rear wing endplates for instance try sticking some car numbers on there?

[Cucoulkrory]

Of course. And there are plenty of other tough guys who´s mommies didn´t love them enough to go with this side of things. Well, it´s part of a business to build a good image an this kind of things help a lot but why would I use reason to argue with people overwhelmed by anger?

well said

[Seerseraxlils]

There is a sporting regulation against this? - Surtees was once asked to remove a "keep Britain in Europe" slogan. I dont recall Jordan doing anything but they used to "redo" the Benson and Hedges lettering as a result of the ban on ciagrette advertising - it affects weak minded invividuals.

F1 is a business and cannot afford to be associated with social causes in terms of its image. What is a good cause to one person is offensive to another.

And in order to attract sponsorship - many companies do not want to be involuntarily associated with social causes.

And in both the above cases there is also the political associations that are always behind social causes and this too complicates things.

But also, teams that decide they do NOT want to give free exposure have the right to and it is the height of immorality to look down upon them as a result. Individuals have the RIGHT to choose.

Leave causes where they belong, and they do not belong in a professional sport - its bad enough that the climate change loonies have the political power to affect decisions in F1, such as the possible return of the dratted KERS curse.

[Evoncalabbalo]

I am not so sure that everything has to be always politicized, there ought to be plenty of causes that can be considered "universal" (Prevent Child Abuse, anyone?)...

Funny you should mention F1's image in connection with offensiveness, given the things that went down the past couple years (cheating, lying, spying, Nazi comments, etc.), the crowning achievement of which was Max Mosley's Spankgate. Talk about offensive!

Compared to that "Peace" or "Save the Rainforest" doesn't seem like SUCH a bad idea in terms of "image", does it?