Advertising firm WPP CEO Martin Sorrell, who is also a non-exec member of F1's board, said that friction in the sport and "ongoing negativity has created instability that affects companies pumping money into the sport," according to Rob Harris of the AP. But he said that "public disputes over the state of F1 could in fact help to make the sport more commercially attractive." Sorrell: "Obviously there will be changes that will help the sport. But I am looking at it from a marketing point of view. And just talking (at Silverstone) to one or two of our (WPP) clients, they are very interested in the sport, but obviously disturbed by some of the things that they read and hear." Despite the "gloomy prognosis for the future of F1 by some teams," Sorrell pointed to "ongoing interest from broadcasters and the 140,000-crowd at Silverstone as evidence of the vitality of the sport." He said, "What's interesting is when sports are under pressure, it's a reverse psychology, people start to get more interested. The more friction there is in the sport I think it actually in a perverse way becomes more interesting, rather than less interesting." F1 is currently a takeover target of Paris St. Germain's Qatari investors, who have linked up with the NFL Miami Dolphins' ownership to consider a bid. Sorrell: "F1 offers massive potential. Sport is becoming more and more important and with live events, the rights prices are actually increasing" (AP, 7/6).
