More Teetering on the Edge 12/06/2009 I am guessing that, by now, everyone has seen the list of teams accepted by the FIA for 2010. The inclusion of Ferrari, Red Bull and Toro Rosso as unconditional entrants is evidence that Max Mosley has still not realized the seriousness of Ferrari's intent not to race until FOTA's conditions have been met. All three teams have issued immediate reiterations of their solidarity with FOTA and it is clear that Mosley is just delaying his inevitable capitulation another week.To be seeking to split FOTA ranks at this stage is an indication of Mosley's complete lack of concern for the future of the sport he is supposed to run for the benefit of all. If his public statements are to be believed, nothing remains of his intended rule changes, including the two-tier system and the budget cap (now increased to 100 million Euros) and there is no point in continuing to hold on desperately to contracts that he has broken several times already. The veiled threat of legal proceedings now is pure irresponsibility stemming from petty concern for Mosley's own power above the interests of the sport.He is, of course, gambling on the thought that Ferrari will back down in the end, abandoning FOTA and the need for good government of F1. Yet the determination of the Italian team is demonstrated by their willingness to risk exclusion from the series in the FIA's list published today. Mosley's inclusion of the team as an unconditional entrant is merely a refusal to face the facts, a vain hope that FOTA will split if given enough time. It is not going to happen and next week we will see the same scenario again, with a resulting deadlock that can only end in defeat for Mosley or withdrawal of all the FOTA teams.Either way, it hardly matters that the FIA has chosen some unexpected new teams as acceptable to F1. Without the FOTA teams, F1 will be a series on a par with GP2 and its audience will melt away accordingly.It is difficult to find a voice of reason in F1 these days but, in this instance, we need look no further than John Howett's interview with Radio 5 Live. I quote one sentence that cuts through the propaganda of both sides:It is not about power and FOTA running the sport, we are saying we want a proper and balanced governance process.What a shame it is that F1 has been ruled by the diktats of one man for far too long and that he still refuses to set aside his own perceived importance to reach a sensible compromise with those who actually compete in the sport. It really is time that Bernie brought him back to heel.
Clive
donwatters It sure sounds like Ferrari and the other 7 are going to hold true to their threats to leave F1 unless Max caves in. I really must applaud them for having the cajones to do it. I've got to beleive that if a compromise is found before next Friday, part of it will be Max not standing for reelection...and that undoubtably be the best reslt of this mess. We shall see. Date Added: 12/06/2009
donwatters It looks like the planets are starting to align in FOTA's favor. The Europeon Manufacturers are pretty clear in their support of FOTA. Check this out: http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpass_news_item.php?fes_art_id=38169 Date Added: 12/06/2009
David Mad Max’s troubled personality negates any possibility of bringing him to heel, for no matter how this revolt plays out, he still dominates the FIA and will continue to do so for an indeterminate time to come. Win, lose or draw - from either sides perspective - will matter little as the mad one’s vindictiveness sets about punishing those who even thought about challenging his absolute authority. It is widely recognized that the real problem is not Max’s irrational actions, but more specifically the mad one himself. Perhaps FOTA - who’s ‘loyal’ members have gained a great deal of respect, so far - should have included his removal as FIA president in their demands. No, I’m not particularly impressed by him supposedly having been democratically elected to that position, for unfit to govern is good enough reason to remove anyone from office, and the responsibility to do that does not lie with the incumbent - who in all likelihood is incapable of recognizing his own incompetence. Date Added: 12/06/2009
Clive Don: I forgot to mention that FOTA have written to the WMSC in the hope that it can bring some sanity to the situation. It is worth trying, I suppose. But the support of the European Manufacturers is very telling - The situation is bad when they feel they must make their position clear.Apparently, FOTA will also be detailing for our (the fans) benefit exactly what points they fell Max is getting wrong and why his proposals will be so damaging to F1. That is important too because so many commentators have been saying that FOTA wants to write the rules - they don't. All that concerns them is that they should have some say in the framing of the rules and that obviously bad rules can be deleted before they come into force.Like you, I am impressed with the way FOTA has held together through all this. Date Added: 12/06/2009
RON F1 has had no geniune racing for long enough now... the real talents of F1 have been surpressed for long enough. It's no fluke that failed drivers like Button are performing well, under Max's watch... Max is giving BrawnGP a free ride.F1 is a disaster under Max, and I'd be far happier to see a new breakaway series emerge with a substantially less corrupt goverance system - lets face it - it's always going to be corrupt to some level. But anything that replaces the vile system that exists now, has to be substantially better... Date Added: 12/06/2009
Clive David: I agree completely with what you say. Unless Bernie can talk some sense into Max, he will proceed in his destructive intent to the bitter end. The teams have tried to keep personalities out of it but, increasingly, it becomes apparent that the real problem is Max himself and nothing will be truly solved until he has gone.Save F1 - Max out! Date Added: 12/06/2009
Clive Ron: Whilst I disagree with you on Button, you are certainly correct on the bad influence Max has been on F1. I don't know whether FOTA will go as far as setting up an alternative series (I suspect they won't) and, at the moment, we must just hope that they succeed in getting Max out and returning F1 to its former glory. Date Added: 12/06/2009
RON BrawnGP's sudden success is nothing to do with good solid steady development, or a driver tuning up his skill set. It's all to do with Max's need for a cheaper and more controllable Ferrari... given how poor Max's behaviour is on the surface, we can only imagine how ugly the iceberg is, that lies beneath... the level of corruption must run extremely deep, as it does with all dictators.Max's father sure raised a fine son... Date Added: 12/06/2009
Clive Ron: I've had this argument before and am basically tired of it. The Brawn's success is built on the solid foundation of Honda's money and Ross Brawn's hard work and design skills throughout 2008. There is nothing suspicious or illegal about the car - it is merely an illustration that, given unlimited funds and a head start, a brilliant engineer can design a championship-winning car. Max has nothing to do with it. Date Added: 12/06/2009
Becken Clive – did you noticed that Brawn GP was announced without any engine supplier attached at his name on the 2010 list? Do you have a clue about the engine they will use next year or regard the deal they have with Mercedes? Date Added: 12/06/2009
Clive Becken: Yes, I noticed that - and the same applies to Toro Rosso and Red Bull. Presuming that the present crisis is resolved and F1 continues with the FOTA teams, I would say that Brawn's deal with Mercedes would continue. They are happy with each other, that is pretty clear, and there seems no reason to change.The Red Bull teams may be in a slightly more difficult position. Of all the manufacturers, Renault is looking like the most likely to pull out regardless of what happens and they may not wish to supply engines to F1 as part of that. If so, Red Bull would be looking for an engine and might have to take STR's Ferrari lumps. Toyota have been mentioned as possible engine suppliers to USF1, in spite of the deal with Cosworth, so they might be interested in supplying any team that finds itself without an engine. But it's all guesswork at the moment. Date Added: 12/06/2009
aracerdude I'm not surprised the US F1 team was accepted. F1 desperately needs some sort of presence in North America seeing how they no longer race on this continent.I am surprised Lola and Aston Martin(Prodrive) were excluded....at least for now. Date Added: 12/06/2009
Clive Aracer: It's all political maneuvering. Mosley reckons some of the FOTA teams will break ranks and be accepted into F1, the rest he can dump and fill the spaces with the better teams he has rejected for the moment. He has it wrong this time, however - FOTA is holding together well. Date Added: 12/06/2009
Nick Goodspeed I wonder if it'll take a white car and straight jacket to take Mosley away. He is obviously not fit mentally for much. If he is not removed soon he will sink the whole FIA ship, though this may not be a bad thing since it is rife with crooked dealings. I expect Ecclestone will soon be in FOTA's corner, realizing that a smaller share of cash is better than none at all. The great fear of an F1 breakaway series going the same way as Cart / Indy, I believe is somewhat unfounded. A breakaway series will have the vast majority of the drawing cards that F1 has now plus sanity in the rules and applying of them. I believe there are teams that would apply to a new series without Mosley's inane rule shuffling and Ecclestone about, leaching off all the profits. Paul Stoddard, ex Minardi owner has stated he could be interested in a return once the creeps are gone. You can bet a breakaway series would quickly sign up venues in Canada, USA, France and other countries who have been snubbed. I think we've come to a place where the distaste for what is known far outweighs the fear of the unknown. Date Added: 12/06/2009
Nick Goodspeed I think the present formula does nothing for the drivers. I'm not trying to take anything away from Button or Brawn, but that Button can go for ten years and win one race, then become an overnight sensation that virtually nobody can touch doesn't say much for the drivers input as opposed to the car and the rest of the team. Somewhere in the tech specs there must be room to adjust a variable or two to up the value of driver input. If the a rule was passed to limit the effect the aerodynamics have on the air behind the car I'm sure the designers and engineers would have fun finding other ways to generate speed, perhaps needing more of an artist's touch to tap into. I wonder if it wouldn't be good to go back to when Mosley began to lose his marbles, and reevaluate all the rule changes since. It would be nice to see Mosley out in shame and Ron Dennis back at McLaren. Date Added: 12/06/2009
Clive Nick: The way things are going, it may well be that a breakaway series becomes the only possible route for the manufacturers. That is what is so interesting about the European Manufacturers' announced support for FOTA - there is implied support for a breakaway within the statement.As you say, it would be a great relief to get back to a series with real competition and racing without the politics and maneuvering that Max and Bernie have made so much a part of F1. I am beginning to believe that it could actually happen.Interesting too what set of rules the teams could devise to create good racing. i have no doubt they would do a better job than Max has done. Date Added: 12/06/2009
Steve Ellis Will the FIA let F1 crumble into chaos due to the intransegance of one man? The apple didn't fall far from the tree as far as Mosley is concerned. I'm very happy FOTA is sticking together and should they break away, count me as a fan of their series. I certainly won't watch an ersatz F1. I hope it doesn't come to it but enough is enough. Date Added: 13/06/2009
Nick Goodspeed I wonder if the question isn't how deep to Mosley's tentacles go? There is obviously a great deal going on below the surface as we saw in the sex scandal and various McLaren and Ferrari dealings. The fact that there is this extreme intransigence and cloud of secrecy over the Concorde agreement is jot coincidental, I'm sure. How many people does Mosley own in the FIA?? He is obviously a sick and desperate man. Date Added: 13/06/2009
Journeyer "How many people does Mosley own in the FIA?."To put it simply, A LOT. He got voted through post-Spankgate because of these people.The big question is if FOTA/ACEA can convince someone in the FIA to declare a coup, for that is what they're trying to do. If no one bites, then Max stays on. Date Added: 13/06/2009
Scarlet Pimpernel Gentlemen - the time has come to communicate to all your contacts, partners, family and friends and spread the word: "BOYCOTT F1 in 2010". If we tell every sponsor, team, TV network and news agency that we will not be a party to a TYRANT's warped vision of what F1 should be: a watered down procession of odd teams who do not represent quality and longevity of the sport. Every action Mosley makes is based on saving face - he does not care about the sport or about fair play. According to FIA they have all passed their due dilligence but just watch them fail to show up at the end of next year. There is an F1 sport because WE create the audience ... F1 IS OURS!!! To your battle stations lads...boycott F1 and you will see how fast the skeltal leadership of Mad Max will come to an embarrassing end. Date Added: 13/06/2009
Björn Svensson What is you going to do with this blog when the breakaway is happening Clive?Are you sticking with F1 of are you going to follow FOTA and the manufacturers to the ACEA GP1? Date Added: 14/06/2009
Clive Pimpernel: A boycott won't work, I'm afraid - we 're too addicted. Let's just wait and see what happens and then follow whatever we think id best. Date Added: 14/06/2009
Clive Björn: Well, of course I am hoping that things can be sorted out and F1 does not split. If it does, I will follow FOTA, although I will probably keep an eye on the FIA series as well. Date Added: 14/06/2009
Björn Svensson Ofcourse i hope for the best, and that being that Max is put on the springboard and kicked of the ship.But knowing him, and having many hard memories of years passed, i do not have to high hopes of this issue beeing fixed for more than a year if there's now beeing any fixing of it at all.If Max remains, i do not think there is going to be any fixing at all, because he is really happy to have the manufacturers kicked out. I to also think he will be pleased to have a whole bunch of smaller teams in the series, because those will be much easier to handle and will not cause so much fuss if he happens to make any hasty or inadequate rulechanges.He just have to tell them to shut up or leave the series, and he will get his will through.But if the split will happen, i sincirely hope that the new teams in F1 will stick with the idea af having a FOTA, because that will be their only way to make their voices heard.I would really be happy if you followed FOTA in case of a split, because that is where i think that i will be, or maybe i will have to follow two series. It depend on if the FOTA-teams and their organisations will be able to put together an interesting series with the right feeling to it. Date Added: 15/06/2009
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