From Autosport: FIA president Max Mosley says there will be no backing down on his insistence that Formula 1 teams lift the conditions attached to their entries within 48 hours, but has hinted that a compromise could now be on the cards. Following a letter from the Formula One Teams' Association to Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone, viewed as a last ditch effort to avert teams walking away from the sport, the FIA laid out the terms by which it would accept a deal. Although rejecting suggestions that the deadline for the matter be delayed from this Friday to July 1, and that standard engine supplier Cosworth be forced to detune its engines, the FIA says it would be willing to talk about governance changes and revisions to the cost cap. In the letter, a copy of which has been seen by AUTOSPORT, Mosley said there was no chance of a revised Concorde Agreement being sorted before Friday - so the 1998 version would have to be used as an interim. "If we start to modify the governance provisions of the 1998 Concorde Agreement, a lengthy discussion will begin," he wrote. "There is no time left for this because we must answer the remaining applicants for 2010 no later than Friday." He added: "Our proposal is therefore that all parties agree to accept the 1998 governance provisions by means of an exchange of letters. We can then negotiate a new 2009 Concorde Agreement under the protection of the 1998 arrangement. "After all, we lived with these for ten years; a few more weeks or months should not cause any difficulty." Regarding FOTAs suggestions that independent accountants be appointed to oversee compliance with a budget cap, Mosley said that such an idea had already been suggested by the governing body. Furthermore, he wants the teams to accept the £40 million limit for now, prior to further discussions that could see it changed in the next few weeks. "A fundamental problem with the FOTA proposal was the absence of a clear figure," wrote Mosley. "The teams need to know what the constraints are, so do we. "We therefore propose that you accept the 2010 rules, as published, which we agreed with you last year. If necessary, these can be revised with the above governance procedures in due course." Mosley confirmed that there would be no two-tier regulations in 2010, which had been one of the biggest complaints of FOTA. However, he said that Cosworth would be allowed to run to 2006 regulations because it had "neither the time nor the resources to return for 2010." And in a bid to get the matter sorted in the next day or so, Mosley said he would write to the teams to ask them to accept the FIAs offer so they could drop the conditions attached to their entries before Friday's deadline. "We will shortly send a letter for signature to each team. If signed and returned, the letter will make the above proposals legally binding and the relevant team's entry unconditional," he said.
This reads as a variation of one of the three great lies : Of course I'll still respect you in the morning
From Autosport: FIA president Max Mosley has informed teams of the package of rules that he is willing to accept for next year, AUTOSPORT has learned, as a final push is made by the governing body to end the standoff over entries to the 2010 championship. The eight members of the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) have until Friday to lift the conditions attached to their entries - and efforts are increasing on both sides to try and reach a settlement. After a day of further letters between motor racing's governing body and FOTA, Mosley has as promised laid out the terms by which he wants the teams to sign up. And although there had been fears of a total breakdown in discussions between the two parties, Mosley has informed FOTA that he is willing to make some movement on the question of governance in the sport. He has told teams that he is prepared to discuss the FIA's International Court of Appeal, and also remove the controversial Appendix 5 to the 2010 Sporting Regulations. This latter element had angered teams, who feared that it gave the governing body carte blanche to impose whatever rules they wanted. Mosley also said that he was willing to change some of the technical regulations for 2010. If the teams agree, the moveable wing rules will remain as they were for 2009, 4WD cars will not be allowed, tyre warmers will continue and the engine rules will remain as they are for this year - except customer Cosworth units will be allowed to run unrestricted. Also gearbox rules will remain as they are for 2009, as will testing limitations. Mosley also made it clear that he would be willing to accept a 100 million Euros cost cap limit for next year, providing that it was reduced to 45 million Euros for 2011. This was the same figure that was outlined in a letter sent to FOTA president Luca di Montezemolo following the team meeting in Monaco. Outline plans were also detailed for how the budget cap would be policed with 'self-reporting of compliance using a reputable auditor' used. Mosley also confirmed that breaches of the budget cap rules would not result in on-track sanctions, but would instead be 'financial against a pre-agreed formula.' FOTA now has 48 hours to to decide whether to accept the terms and sign up for F1, or decide to stand firm and risk being left off the grid.
OK, now its time for FOTA to make a credible counter offer. Something like no budget cap for 2010 (its just too late), and in three years a final of $125 mill Euros ($45 mill is NASCAR level). Also, team input into new rules and regulations with realitic time frames for implemtation. And privately, a deal with Bernie, Max will retire in October. And where did the 4WD issue come from? Never saw that before.
I wouldn't be too worried about the Cosworth Engine, which is what Williams basically used in 2006 and doesn't appear to be a threat to the Manufacturers.
The system isn't two tiered except where it is. The biggest gripe the teams have with the FIA is with their capricious rule making. Once again they show how they just don't get it.
Yes a rule that is in keeping with the rest, open to interpretation and grey area, that is the main reason why everyone that has a true sense of a fair and transparent rule book of the sport, wants Mosley out of it. What he is forgetting, is that it is a sport, one the world can quite easily do without.
Exactly. Mosley knows what the teams want. He may have no character or dignity, but he isn't stupid. So he's fighting a war in public and continually talking about money... even being vicious in his criticism of the teams for not accepting his big compromises on the money aspect. This is all designed to draw the debate to money. Meanwhile, in almost every communication out of FOTA, they mention governance. Max just wants to sweep that under the rug. The only things he has had to say about governance is that it is too short on time to make radical changes, and that they can extend the 08 concorde agreement. Well, the 08 one was the one that ran from '98 until '08. THOSE ARE THE YEARS WHEN MAX INTRODUCED ALL THE RIDICULOUS COST INCREASING RULES AND SOLIDIFIED HIS IRON GRIP ON THE FIA! Those rules don't restrict Max at all... they essentially give him free reign to do whatever he wants. Furthermore, in the letters between Ferrari and FIA counsel, the FIA takes the position that Ferraris veto only applies to rules which would affect Ferrari in the $$ department. The Ferrari lawyer is very clear in establishing their rights, and if you read the letter it's very clear they are right. The FIA talks down, ridicules, is insulting, condescending, and doesn't respect Ferraris position *at all*. And Ferrari is supposed to believe that if they come back into the FIA, all will be well? Ferrari doesn't buy it, neither do the other FOTA teams. Max has shown he is a vindictive bastard, and it's inevitable that if FOTA gives Max a repreive and doesn't administer the death blow, he will never be as magnanimous in return - he will wait until he can exact revenge and the FOTA teams will pay the price. 2 years ago it was McLaren. There is no doubt that Ferrari is on the $h!t list from this point forward. FOTA needs to publically state that the FIA offer is completely unacceptable, does NOTHING to address their governance concerns, and has other unacceptable sporting concerns (2-tier system w/Cosworth engines). Don't highlight any of the other problems, just specifically state that the governance issues MUST be addressed to their unanimously-agreed-upon satisfaction before any will sign up for '10. Does Max even have enough teams to run in '10 if FOTA teams don't sign up? Lola is already out. How many others would bail out before the deadline?
Just sign the contract on the car first. If the PPI shows problems, we can "talk" later. Uh huh. Sign up, then gripe from the cheap seats. Oh sure. In reality, this "deadline" doesn't really mean anything more than the "hurry, I have another buyer" line from a used car salesman. Max would be suicidal to actually reject teams that didn't drop their conditions on schedule. That would guarantee a break-away.
Mike you're right that he's fighting his case in the press. My question is what constituency does he think he's reaching? Does he think that the fans are really going to support him over the teams if he just explains things one more time? If so it just confirms what little regard he holds us in. The more I hear the more I think that he just doesn't get it. Or maybe it's me.
I hope the teams stay united and not give in, it's time for the Max and Bernie show to go off the air. I've been a F1 fan since 1966 and these two clowns are ripping this sport apart, the way things are now I'd rather see Ferrari go LMP1. I can go a few years without F1 if that's what it takes to get rid of those two GREEDY Ba*#ards!
