F1 Kicks Off Season Entering New Era Without Ecclestone At Helm

From left, Bratches, Carey and Brawn

The '17 F1 season officially kicked off today with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel winning the Australian GP in Melbourne. The race marked the "first time in 43 years that Bernie Ecclestone will not be running the racing series."

It is "unclear what changes" new owners Liberty Media will make, but over the last few weeks, F1 Chair Chase Carey, Managing Dir of Motorsports Ross Brawn and Managing Dir of Commercial Operations Sean Bratches have been "canvassing opinions, taking stock."

A big crowd was on hand, to see the sport Bernie built

Bratches described it as "a listening tour."

F1 team Red Bull Principal Christian Horner said, "They're credible people, they're marketers, they're accustomed to putting on big events." N.Y. Times