Missed Apex Formula 1 Podcast Missed Apex F1 Behind the Barriers Mark Hughes (Not That One) Interview
Apr 8, 2026
Mark Hughes, founder of MRK1 Consulting and circuit operations expert, reflects on a career from Brands Hatch to Bahrain, Yas Marina, Jeddah and Qiddiya. He recounts building year-round revenue at tracks, training local teams, tight-turnaround projects like Jeddah, safety and construction challenges, and memorable moments with drivers and celebs. Short, globe-trotting tales of motorsport logistics and track delivery.
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Train Locals To Run Circuits Independently
- Build local capability: recruit people with transferable skills and run a formal knowledge-transfer program so the venue becomes locally run.
- Mark 1 recruits ex-emergency services and trains them to shadow, perform under pressure, then hand over operations.
No Governing Body Means Standardize Internally
- There's no global regulator for track operations so MRK1 supplies job descriptions, KPIs and processes.
- They often retain periodic reviews to ensure standards remain after handover.
Bahrain's Glued Sand Myth And Turn Four Fix
- The glued-sand myth at Bahrain is false: only the verge between track and barriers used soil stabilization, which later degraded under F1 cars and was replaced with painted asphalt.
- Mark repaved and reprofiling Turn 4, then showed Michael Schumacher the change from a Hummer H2.