Breaking news: FIA puts the squeeze on Formula 1 manufacturers
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) and its
President Max "My Way or the Highway" Mosley seems determined to bully into submission the five members of
the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association, who have threatened to set up a series in competition with Formula 1. On
Wednesday, the FIA's motor sport council rubber stamped Mosley's plan to force teams to commit to participating in the
2008 Formula 1 championship by the end of March. A very interesting exchange of letters
between the GPMA and Mosley before and after the council meeting shows that Mosley is playing hardball, and enjoying
it.Only teams who have
The FIA's "2008 Sporting Regulations" were released Wednesday (you can find the pdf file here). Teams that sign up
for the 2008 season by the end of the month will have until the end of June to negotiate the rules package with the
FIA, at which time rules affecting the design of the cars will be frozen.
Meanwhile, the GPMA is reported to be close to a deal with Bernie Ecclestone on a new commercial rights agreement between the teams and Formula One Management, the commercial enterprise that manages the F1 series under a lease agreement with the FIA. However, signing up for the 2008 series does not mean that the manufacturers have to accept a commercial deal by the same deadline - the two are completely independent.
Confused yet? We certainly are. What seems likely to happen is that all the current teams will sign up for the 2008 season by the deadline. As a manufacturer's representative told GrandPrix.com, "We do not care if we are seen to lose the battle so long as we get what we want commercially and in relation to the rules. We are quite happy to let Max Mosley be seen to win. That is probably the best thing that can happen now."
[Sources: Reuters, FIA, GrandPrix.com]
Meanwhile, the GPMA is reported to be close to a deal with Bernie Ecclestone on a new commercial rights agreement between the teams and Formula One Management, the commercial enterprise that manages the F1 series under a lease agreement with the FIA. However, signing up for the 2008 series does not mean that the manufacturers have to accept a commercial deal by the same deadline - the two are completely independent.
Confused yet? We certainly are. What seems likely to happen is that all the current teams will sign up for the 2008 season by the deadline. As a manufacturer's representative told GrandPrix.com, "We do not care if we are seen to lose the battle so long as we get what we want commercially and in relation to the rules. We are quite happy to let Max Mosley be seen to win. That is probably the best thing that can happen now."
[Sources: Reuters, FIA, GrandPrix.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Steve C. 3:44PM (3/22/2006)
I can't tell you how much I don't care about Formula One anymore. Wait . . . I guess I just did.
After the shameless debacle at Indy last year I haven't watched a single F1 race and I don't intend to ever watch one again unless and until it becomes a racing series for the fans.
Mosley and Ecclestone can eat s*** and die.
Reply
chevelon 3:47PM (3/22/2006)
I love Formula 1 but the image of F1 being the pinnacle of automotive technology has been ruined in recent years with all of the regulations that choke technological development. What is really galling is that "cutting costs" is always the reason used to restrict the formula even more. Have you seen what the teams are still spending? No one has reduced the budget. They just spend even more money trying to go faster, and in many cases (no tire change rule) in an arguably more unsafe manner. And all of these regulation changes have yet to produce any on track passing or close racing. I realize there are always two sides to an issue , but it seems that Max and Bernie have bungled the future of F1 and maybe its time for an alternative series run by car guys instead of money guys. Just my opinion.
Reply
Russ Rougeau 6:03PM (3/22/2006)
I can't imagine anyone else messing up an F1 type of racing venue more than Bernie and Max have done, all in the name of greed with a "screw the fans and the teams" attitude while all the while stating that the rule changes and new team structures are "in the best interests of the fans and the sport". I say let a new F1 series come into being, let these two greed mongers see that they are not the only game in town.
Reply
Mike from Scarborough 8:41PM (3/22/2006)
What I don't get is why are they rev limiting the new V-8's to 19,000,when they have a redline of 21,000?The cars are fantastic to watch on TV, but the race is hardly climactic.
Reply
Mike 8:28AM (3/23/2006)
I still love F1. I've been watching it for 15 years now and this may turn out to be one of the most competitive seasons I've ever seen. There are literally 5 teams (read 10 cars) with real potential to win the race. I do agree that Max is a sore spot for me and a lot of loyal fans. I was at Indy last year. Despite the lack of a race, we still had a great time. If you have never been to Indianapolis, GO. It's a great town. I agreed with Paul Stoddard (Minardi). As a matter of fact, put him in Max's chair and I think things would go famously.
Cheers,
Mike
Reply
Manolo 1:14PM (3/23/2006)
F1 is not about passing. You want passing? then just watch Nascar, IRL, Champ Cars, etc. Nothing wrong with that; but to expect F1 should be similar to that is unreasonable.
Please tell me which racing series is run by car guys as opposed to money guys? It simply does not exist.
The only way to REALLY reduce costs is to create a spec series and that will be the end of F1, so it will never happen.
Car manufacturers are not concerned about costs. They just want -what they believe should be- a more equitable distribution of the series revenues, that is all. So far F1 is being financed by advertisers, as always, and there is no shortage of interested companies willing to have their names in F1 cars.
To keep chastising F1 because Michelin goofed at Indy is puerile.
What if F1 is dead in the US? Soccer is dead here, and it still is number ONE sport in the world.
Just look at our national sport, invented here, etc: Baseball. Recently a bunch of other countries beat the US at its own game!
So you don't want to watch F1? Fine, your loss.
I enjoyed the last two races quite a lot.
Reply