Ironically, the few million pounds that of Williams sponsorship could be lost as an accounting error, a tiny fractional sum in the £350 billion of toxic debt “held” by RBS.

“We’ve suspected for some time that there wasn’t much chance of the sponsorship continuing beyond its term, ” — Williams CEO Adam Par}

“SUSPECTED!!!!” Unless he was on a different planet for the last 6 months he should be surprised that he has ANY money from RBS at all for the next ten minutes, never mind the whole of this season and next. Quite why the sponsorship was not totally withdrawn INSTANTLY by RBS is only answerable by looking at the quality of the RBS board’s previous decisions. There must have been a “force majeur” clause in the contract.

Ok. I have played devil’s advocate here, but F1 has to live in the real world, it cannot live in isolation. Do you think any of the motor manufacturers, whose own very existence is in now the balance, can bear the burden? In the US, the majors are waiting on the result of their request for more bailout money. In the UK? Well here most of the motor manufacturing will probably be wiped out in the next year or two taking with it many parts and components suppliers who may also be current motor sports sponsors.

The most probable survivor sponsors are those associated with F1’s glamour. Those who project the affluent lifestyle, the daily essentials of the millionaire. Camera makers of course are a traditional sponsor, casinos, jewellers, champagne brands. Walk around the streets of Monte in the electric atmosphere of the night before the race and you see money in many exotic forms, there is plenty of money, its just a matter of extracting it.

Then there are the successful grocers, Coca Cola, Pepsi etc they could be persuaded to divert some of their vast Christmas tv ad expenditure to F1 but only IF the worldwide TV coverage gave better OTS. Thus what Bernie does, very directly affects the possible sponsorship deals and survival of the teams in many more ways than may be seen to be apparent.