From the article: This article was taken down shortly after it was published, so I linked to an archive. Here is the Washington Post article about it, which also links to the archive: A socialist...
From the article:
[…] my entire experience of journalism is that of a fraught game of cat and mouse, adhering to an ironclad book of ethics where even accepting a pair of socks from a team is considered a faux pas. The relationship of the journalist to the cycling team is one of mutual wariness couched with pleasantries because cycling still needs journalists to make guys going around Europe on bipedal machines interesting to the broader public. The relationship between journalists to the riders is usually distant but pleasant. Hence, when Road & Track forwarded me the opportunity on behalf of a sponsor to go to the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, I didn't quite know what to do. Within the framework of a sport like cycling, this was an absolute no-go. Within the framework of motorsport, because it is tied so intimately to the automotive industry as a whole, these paid press trips are pretty normal. Meanwhile, as a writer, a.k.a. someone who decidedly does not make pro sportsman money, this was probably the only opportunity I'd ever get to see F1 this up close and personal.
This article was taken down shortly after it was published, so I linked to an archive.
Here is the Washington Post article about it, which also links to the archive:
As good as the article is (and it’s very good), the fact that this article was unceremoniously pulled from Road & Track is the real story. F1 has so many powerful people within its sphere of...
As good as the article is (and it’s very good), the fact that this article was unceremoniously pulled from Road & Track is the real story. F1 has so many powerful people within its sphere of influence that anyone could have made a phone call and had it removed (also, I can’t help but draw the connection between the Saudi royal family’s influence on F1 and their history with critical journalists).
All that to say, the fact that someone pulled this mildly critical story about F1, which controls its brand image extremely well, vindicates everything Wagner was saying in the actual article. It’s the perfect bookend to an interesting take on the sport.
I think it's ambiguous. Here's what we know: Anything beyond that is speculation. But perhaps more will leak?
I think it's ambiguous. Here's what we know:
A person familiar with editorial deliberations at Road & Track said the story, which had been in the works for months, was pulled after its publication at the order of Editor in Chief Daniel Pund on the grounds that it didn’t fit with the site’s editorial goals.
Anything beyond that is speculation. But perhaps more will leak?
It's entirely possible, and maybe even likely, that someone at Ineos or F1 made a call and the article was pulled. That said as a longtime reader of Road & Track (along with many other physical...
It's entirely possible, and maybe even likely, that someone at Ineos or F1 made a call and the article was pulled. That said as a longtime reader of Road & Track (along with many other physical magazines) the statement " it didn’t fit with the site’s editorial goals" isn't exactly far off. R&T doesn't have a political leaning and an article that generally amounts to an opinion piece of "rich people bad" doesn't fit with the publication.
It's not wrong, but that doesn't mean it's the place for it either.
I assume she got paid. Also, we got to read the story, which got more attention than it would otherwise due to the controversy. So I suppose everyone got what they wanted?
I assume she got paid. Also, we got to read the story, which got more attention than it would otherwise due to the controversy. So I suppose everyone got what they wanted?
I posted this in the thread for the opening race because it was so boring this article was a significantly more interesting use of my time. I think the parts that stand out to me is both that she...
I posted this in the thread for the opening race because it was so boring this article was a significantly more interesting use of my time.
I think the parts that stand out to me is both that she (correctly) loves Lewis and that she really deeply understands what makes F1 a fun sport to follow. I think it's because she likes cycle racing so the 'go fast' instinct is already there. Probably the best sports article I've read this year, definitely one of the best I've ever read. Highly recommend.
What a great article. It gave me David Foster Wallace vibes. In the modern milquetoast version of journalism it is refreshing to read an essay written with some depth and true outsider's...
What a great article. It gave me David Foster Wallace vibes. In the modern milquetoast version of journalism it is refreshing to read an essay written with some depth and true outsider's perspective. Fascinating to see Road and Track Streisand themselves.
I think a lot of what is discussed in the article is what keeps me interested in F1. We see the same distorted decision making in business. But in this sport the 0.01% is so over represented I find it a fascinating petri dish to observe how the rich are just as likely to eat themselves.
I thought most of the interest in the article was from the writer's perspective and the background she added. It doesn't sound like all that much happened during her visit to the track? I probably...
I thought most of the interest in the article was from the writer's perspective and the background she added. It doesn't sound like all that much happened during her visit to the track?
I probably would have been oblivious to some class signifiers since I often don't recognize fancy clothes or know what anything like that costs.
I suppose I'm applying external context with what is happening currently in F1. New US races focusing on this expensive experience rather than quality of racing. New teams unable to enter because...
I suppose I'm applying external context with what is happening currently in F1. New US races focusing on this expensive experience rather than quality of racing. New teams unable to enter because current teams want to maintain their walled garden. Large investor infusions into Alpine while it's also crumbling. Single team/driver dominance making the championship boring.
Likewise I wouldn't have known the cost of the handbags or shoes someone is wearing. But my job does have me working with/socializing with extremely wealthy people. Day-to-day they keep up more approachable appearances but being at dinner or visiting their homes I've felt that same "skin crawling" that she discusses. A thin veneer of hospitality and polite conversation but a unspoken chasm of life experience.
From the article:
This article was taken down shortly after it was published, so I linked to an archive.
Here is the Washington Post article about it, which also links to the archive:
A socialist writer skewered the Formula One scene. Then her article vanished.
As good as the article is (and it’s very good), the fact that this article was unceremoniously pulled from Road & Track is the real story. F1 has so many powerful people within its sphere of influence that anyone could have made a phone call and had it removed (also, I can’t help but draw the connection between the Saudi royal family’s influence on F1 and their history with critical journalists).
All that to say, the fact that someone pulled this mildly critical story about F1, which controls its brand image extremely well, vindicates everything Wagner was saying in the actual article. It’s the perfect bookend to an interesting take on the sport.
I think it's ambiguous. Here's what we know:
Anything beyond that is speculation. But perhaps more will leak?
It's entirely possible, and maybe even likely, that someone at Ineos or F1 made a call and the article was pulled. That said as a longtime reader of Road & Track (along with many other physical magazines) the statement " it didn’t fit with the site’s editorial goals" isn't exactly far off. R&T doesn't have a political leaning and an article that generally amounts to an opinion piece of "rich people bad" doesn't fit with the publication.
It's not wrong, but that doesn't mean it's the place for it either.
I assume she got paid. Also, we got to read the story, which got more attention than it would otherwise due to the controversy. So I suppose everyone got what they wanted?
I posted this in the thread for the opening race because it was so boring this article was a significantly more interesting use of my time.
I think the parts that stand out to me is both that she (correctly) loves Lewis and that she really deeply understands what makes F1 a fun sport to follow. I think it's because she likes cycle racing so the 'go fast' instinct is already there. Probably the best sports article I've read this year, definitely one of the best I've ever read. Highly recommend.
What a great article. It gave me David Foster Wallace vibes. In the modern milquetoast version of journalism it is refreshing to read an essay written with some depth and true outsider's perspective. Fascinating to see Road and Track Streisand themselves.
I think a lot of what is discussed in the article is what keeps me interested in F1. We see the same distorted decision making in business. But in this sport the 0.01% is so over represented I find it a fascinating petri dish to observe how the rich are just as likely to eat themselves.
I thought most of the interest in the article was from the writer's perspective and the background she added. It doesn't sound like all that much happened during her visit to the track?
I probably would have been oblivious to some class signifiers since I often don't recognize fancy clothes or know what anything like that costs.
I suppose I'm applying external context with what is happening currently in F1. New US races focusing on this expensive experience rather than quality of racing. New teams unable to enter because current teams want to maintain their walled garden. Large investor infusions into Alpine while it's also crumbling. Single team/driver dominance making the championship boring.
Likewise I wouldn't have known the cost of the handbags or shoes someone is wearing. But my job does have me working with/socializing with extremely wealthy people. Day-to-day they keep up more approachable appearances but being at dinner or visiting their homes I've felt that same "skin crawling" that she discusses. A thin veneer of hospitality and polite conversation but a unspoken chasm of life experience.