No Angel

A central subject is broadcasting. Bower describes how Ecclestone, as head of the teams' association, recognised the value of television rights early and negotiated arrangements, including the Concorde Agreements first signed in 1981, that gave him enormous influence over the sport's revenue.

The book follows the sale of stakes in Formula 1's commercial rights over the following decades, including the arrival of the private equity firm CVC Capital Partners in 2006, and the negotiations with teams, the governing body FIA and race promoters that came with each deal.

Bower also addresses controversies around Ecclestone's career, including the German banking case involving payments to Gerhard Gribkowsky, which was unfolding as the book was published.

The result is a study of power in a sport where commercial control and competitive governance became closely linked, and where one person sat between them for decades.

Bower also explores Ecclestone's relationships with the leaders of the governing body, including Max Mosley, who served as FIA president from 1993 to 2009 and had worked with Ecclestone since the early days of the teams' association. Their partnership shaped how regulation and commercial interests were balanced for years.

The book describes how Ecclestone expanded the calendar beyond Formula 1's European heartland into Asia and the Middle East, where governments were willing to pay large fees to host races.

For people working in motorsport, media rights or event promotion, No Angel shows how control of commercial rights can shape an entire sport, from the race calendar to the distribution of prize money among teams.

It also raises governance questions about separating commercial and regulatory roles. Many sports continue to debate how those functions should be divided between rights holders and governing bodies.

Anyone negotiating hosting fees will recognise the dynamics between rights holders and race promoters, including the leverage that comes from a limited number of places on a global calendar.

The shift toward government-backed races raised questions about sport, national image and human rights that continue today. For event bidding and government relations professionals, No Angel provides background on how hosting fees and state funding became central to Formula 1's business model.

Read No Angel if you work in motorsport, sport media or rights negotiation, or want to understand how Formula 1 became a commercial giant before its sale to Liberty Media in 2017.

It reflects Bower's critical perspective. This Shelf feature reflects the book's published account; it is not a chapter-by-chapter review.

Readers following Formula 1's growth since Liberty Media's takeover will find it useful context for how much the sport's commercial model has since changed.