Another Day, Another Threat 19/06/2009 I suppose it is only to be expected that a lawyer's first reaction to being crossed is to threaten legal action. We have seen Mosley spray threats of lawsuits at those he dislikes before and so the FIA's announcement of legal action to counter FOTA's intended breakaway series comes as no surprise. What we should remember, however, is that beginning an action and actually going to court are two different things; Martin Brundle can testify to this, thanks to Max's threat to sue the journalist that resulted in nothing much at all.Kazuki Nakajima, fourth fastest in second practice for the British GPMosley's hasty rejoinder to FOTA's plans can be taken as his usual knee-jerk reaction therefore. He has a meeting with the WMSC on Monday to get through first and there is also the matter of whether the FIA can afford the latest rash of lawsuits that Max so happily brandishes at his opponents. Anyone who heard SpeedTV's interview with Toyota's John Howett prior to Practice in Silverstone today knows that bullying is not going to deter the teams this time.I did find it amusing that Mosley should accuse FOTA of "a grave violation of competition law" however. He should know all about that, the European Union having had cause to rap the the FIA over the knuckles for exactly that offense in the past. The contracts between the FIA and Ferrari/Red Bull may be subject to legal debate but hey, if someone doesn't want to play in your backyard, there is nothing that can prevent him taking his ball away.The true weakness in Mosley's statement is revealed in its last sentence:Preparations for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship continue but publication of the final 2010 entry list will be put on hold while the FIA asserts its legal rights.So the teams that expect to race in F1 next year will have to wait for the verdict of the court before they can be certain that they are in or out. That could take a while yet.I suspect that these are just Mosley's last floundering attempts to stay in charge, anyway. It no longer matters what he says or does, the facts are these:The FIA has been left with an F1 series that is hardly a shadow of its former glory, comprising as it does of Williams, Force India, three new teams and a shrinking reserve list. Even in the unlikely event that the FIA win all the threatened lawsuits, this cannot persuade the FOTA teams to participate, doubly annoyed as they would be by any penalties handed out by the courts. Meanwhile FOTA's announcement has produced a huge response of approval from the fans and a clear interest from circuit owners and teams who have experienced Max and Bernie's high-handed methods in the past. No prizes for guessing which series would be the more viable come March next year.It is obvious now to everyone except Max: Max is the problem and Max has to go. Since he has proved incapable of yielding to reason on the real concerns of the teams, nothing less than his resignation will do this time. If the FIA cannot see that, the organization deserves all that is coming to it.Oh yes, there were also two qualifying sessions at Silverstone today. They proved to be the usual guessing game apart from the fact that Red Bull are looking very, very good on this track. Vettel topped the time sheets in both sessions with his team mate mere hundredths of a second behind him. But it is tomorrow's Qualifying that will show us the true pace of the other teams. Business as usual therefore.
Clive
RON The FIA and Max can burn in hell for all I care... they took a fantastic sport, and turned it into a joke...I have a feeling the FIA are in deep trouble this time... all the geniune fans want the FOTA dream... the teams left in F1 seem to want out now, given they are just going to be a laughing stock...F1 is going to become a desert... no fans, no teams... only the odd lizard and tumbleweed... Date Added: 19/06/2009
Clive It certainly looks that way, Ron. Imagine it - life without Max... Date Added: 19/06/2009
Journeyer The end is nigh for Max Mosley. With Lola, N Technologies, and Prodrive having all abandoned (FIA 2010) ship, and even Litespeed dropping its bid to be named Lotus, Max has nowhere left to go. No wonder he couldn't publish an entry list - he wouldn't be able to fill up his grid without FOTA.Max had an interview with the BBC, where he said the strangest things:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8109971.stm1. He had to keep the 2010 door open for FOTA, since no one else would back them - I know he needs FOTA, but that's the lamest excuse I've ever heard.2. He thinks F1 will be in Silverstone next year, despite Bernie saying they won't be, regardless of whatever happens to Donington - rather inconsistent, there...3. He said he'd be more likely to step down if peace broke down in F1 - despite saying in the past he wouldn't run again. Of course, no one believed him, but no one thought he'd so badly contradict himself.He also looks old and haggard in the interview. If anything, it reminded me of the final days of Ferdinand Marcos - if you're familiar with him. Date Added: 19/06/2009
Journeyer Oops, forgot to mention the video is geolocked (UK-only), but I've more or less summarized what he said. Date Added: 19/06/2009
Clive Journeyer: Thanks for that - the video won't play in the States but the still photo of Max shows just how old and haggard he is looking. And the main points as listed by you are more than usually illogical. I think you're right - Max is on the way out.By the way, there is a strong rumour that there will be a vote at Monday's meeting of the WMSC regarding Mosley's continued tenure. It seems even the FIA delegates have realised that he is killing the sport. Date Added: 19/06/2009
Steve Ellis Looks like Max is putting up a brave front claiming all the teams will be at Melbourne next March. I hope they are too. The one who I hope won't be there is Max himself. This grandiose pompous piece of garbage needs to be run out of town. I hope FOTA stick to their guns and see the thing through. Should the series split, it won't be Max's show that I'll be watching. Max could down in history as the man who destroyed F1. Hard to believe a year ago that he possibly could be remembered more for that then his sexual hijinx. Date Added: 19/06/2009
Clive Steve: All too true. I just find it amazing that Bernie hasn't dumped him yet. Date Added: 19/06/2009
donwatters It would appear Max is going to get the ax one way or another. Either the WMSC dumps him, or Bernie (despite his blathering about FOM not needing Ferarri and the other FOTA teams) will do the right (in his case a monetary rationale, in the case of the teams, fans and sponsors a "what's best for the sport" rationale) and drop Max like a bad habit. I think Bernie has, or perhaps will, come to realize that without the FOTA teams, FOM is a losing proposititon. Just my take. Date Added: 19/06/2009
Peter I certainly want Max deposed Monday.But, I don't want FOTA back in the FIA fold afterwards.FIA sold the commercial rights to CVC in an incestuous fashion and Bernie is gouging F1. This was a travesty as the teamshave all the value and no control and little return since the hobbit takes the lion's share.FIA may own the ascii characters "Formula 1", and soldthis valueless sham, but the teams hold the trueguts of F1, and now is the time to restore the balance.So, FOTA need the break away series to rid themselves of Bernie and the burden of his (CVC's) debt that is not theirs torepay.And... I have to say it : I told you so, over a year ago!!! Date Added: 19/06/2009
David Legal bullies, such as mad Max, always seem to forget that countersuits are common in civil cases. Such counter actions may be taken against the FIA, of which the mad one is president, or they may be brought against the mad one himself, or both. Either way, the greater the number of suits thrown by FOTA members, the less chance either the FIA or the mad one has of surviving the ensuing financial endurance contest.Thus, competently countered by FOTA members - and I have every reason to believe they are capable of that - it would be financial suicide for either the FIA or the mad one to instigate such a legal battle. Personally, I would very much like to see either one, or both, do exactly that, which would hasten the FIA’s demise and see the mad one living in a shipping container, while the proposed series gained a popularity boost as the resultant news coverage translated to advertising.Indeed, vindictiveness is a common trait in cranky old men. Date Added: 19/06/2009
michael me too, me too, me too :-) I also said Max' downsizing will begin with Ron Denis' departureOn a serious noteHello Clive I must say I am an old man so old that I actually wouldn't be alive and kicking were it 700 b.c. No my eyesight is pretty awful at that too so don't you think you could have "someone" :-) implement an RSS feed to your site? I mean I always have to type -- f1innss.. argh you see? and by the time I'm done I need my insulin which wouldn't be on offer either in 700 b.c.Why is it that everyone except for Peter is focusing so much on Max. I would really like to no what and how FOTA aims to reign back in those lost tens of millions pocketed by Bernie? Plus, is Bernie next? And what is the long term game plan of FOTA having heard the Renault Automobile Boss demanding a bigger share of the cake? hm will Ron sneak back in once Max is gone?all the best Date Added: 19/06/2009
Madmin Hi Michael, there is a link this blog's RSS feed in the footer of the page. If you're using Firefox etc you will also see an RSS icon in your browser's address bar, click that for subscription details.Cheers :) Date Added: 19/06/2009
Clive Don: It may be that Bernie is going senile (i have wondered about this before) and just cannot see how CVC's income is threatened. He's getting very old... Date Added: 19/06/2009
Clive Peter: It seems to be the week for "I told you so"s!I can sympathise with the idea of getting away from Bernie as well as Max but see Max as the priority at the moment. Once that has been accomplished the teams can decide whether they want Bernie still involved or not. Date Added: 19/06/2009
Clive David: Agreed entirely. Date Added: 19/06/2009
Clive Michael: RSS question answered by Madmin (my son) above, I believe.As for Bernie, FOTA does not have to allow him into their new series although there is some talk that they might in view of his experience in arranging races and so on. Personally, I think that would be madness but we'll have to wait and see.I think everyone focuses on Max because he is so deious and untrustworthy. He, much more than Bernie, is the core reason for what is wrong in F1. At least Bernie has never made any secret about his lust for money.No doubt the teams will hammer out some form of equitable agreement on the shares due to each competitor in their new series. Without Bernie taking a 50% share, there should be enough to satisfy Renault, I think.And as for Ron, I don't think he wants back in, although I'm sure the teams would welcome him. It was always planned that he would step back from the team soon and it was only the timing that was affected by Max's vendetta against him. Date Added: 19/06/2009
Nick Goodspeed Ecclestone and Mosley are thick as thieves. They can probably not go at one an other due to each having so many tons of dirt on the other. Date Added: 19/06/2009
Clive Nick: I'm not so sure. I think Bernie lost control of Max at Indy 2005 when Max's intransigence over the Michelin tyre affair made Bernie so exasperated he threw his cell phone across the room. Since then Max has being doing as he pleased with Bernie running behind him trying to repair the worst damage. Date Added: 19/06/2009
michael Thanks Cliveand Madmin::: I am embarrassed - told you I need glasses :-)all the best Date Added: 20/06/2009
Nick Goodspeed The mayor of Montreal has said he will sign no contract with Ecclestone if Ecclestone can't guarantee the manufacturers are on board!! Date Added: 20/06/2009
Clive Nick: I think there will be no shortage of tracks for FOTA to race on. Hopefully, at least two will be in the States. Date Added: 20/06/2009
Nick Goodspeed I'd like to see Long Beach and Watkin's Glen reinCARnated. I'm sure Canada could easily sell out two races also. Problem is 5 days driving to get out west is a bit far. Date Added: 20/06/2009
Clive Nick: I, too would love to see a return for Long Beach and the Glen but it may be impossible. Long Beach would require extensive changes to make it safe enough for F1 cars and that just isn't going to happen. Watkins Glen is a bit more feasible but I have heard that it would be a very dangerous track for modern GP cars these days.Personally, I don't really care where any American GPs are held as long as Laguna Seca is one of them! ;) Date Added: 20/06/2009
Lee Clive, If there was an F1 race at leguna seca, I would expect to see practically every car in a pileup at the corkscrew on lap 1! Although admittedly this would make great TV.I fully expected Max to announce court action as it seems his solution to everything. I can't see what grounds he has for suing them for anti-competitive behaviour though, and I am sure if he does sue them for that the teams may well point out that FOM were given 100 years of commercial rights without the required tender process among other things. I also find it funny that all of a sudden when there is talk of FOTA going to silverstone next year Max and Bernie appear to both be claiming that Silverstone may still be on for F1 next year, despite both being adamant that this would never happen and a contract being signed with donnington........I have a great idea that I have had for a while now but now the split is happening could now be away forward... Merge MotoGP with F1, bikes and cars racing at the same time! The first corner may be a little messy, but like leguna seca it would make great TV..... Second thoughts.... possibly not exactly a great idea........ Date Added: 21/06/2009
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