It costs them way too much money not to have greater participation in the revenue. They have to get a return on their investment. I don't think the return can be in just image. They have to have a hard return. Italian giant Fiat owns Ferrari, Ford Motor Co has Jaguar, and Renault has the Benetton team.
Car manufacturers use Formula One in a bid to boost the image of their cars in the marketplace.
A deal between the teams and Formula One chiefs about sharing revenue is due to expire at the end of 2006. The rules and things of that nature. The carmakers fear the purchase by Germany's Kirch group and EM.TV of 75 percent of Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone's holding company SLEC could lead to coverage of the sport being restricted to pay television. Speaking after addressing delegates at the business conference, Rahal said he believed terrestrial television should be the main voice of the sport although other channels could be used beside it. Terrestrial is an absolute must for the manufacturers and the sport.