STODDART: MINARDI ARE PAYING FERRARI

[yesod]

http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=31906

[paulyb]

From ITV-F1:

Paul Stoddart has revealed that Ferrari are subsidised by the other nine teams on the grid.

The Minardi boss made the dramatic disclosure in an interview that appears in the latest edition of F1 Racing magazine.

Asked if he thought the FIA were under the thumb of Ferrari, Stoddart replied: “No, I just think... Ferrari are special.

“Why do all the other teams pay money, real chequebook-out money, to Ferrari every year, under the Concorde Agreement?

“Why on earth, with our tight finances, do Minardi, for example, have to pay money to Ferrari every year? There’s no good reason for it.

"The answer we’re given is that it’s ‘in recognition of their historical contribution to the sport’.”

Stoddart is also unhappy with the influence that the world champions have over the sport’s regulations.

He said: “There’s talk, and I can’t say if it’s true or not, that the 2005 regulations were written by, among others, 18 people from Ferrari.

"It’s only paddock talk, of course – but then again, Max has openly conceded that the FIA consulted Ferrari, hasn’t he?

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Ferrari, particularly for Michael (Schumacher), but if a team are totally dominating the championship, and have done for years and will do so for the next few years, then it adds insult to injury to let these people write the rules because it’s fairly obvious they’ll write them in a way that suits them.

“Believe me, Ferrari are going to win the 2005 and 2006 titles, and there’s nothing any of us can do about it.”


http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=31906


Sorry - just realised someone else has already posted this: DOH!!!

[62 250 GTO]

Originally Posted by paulyb

“Believe me, Ferrari are going to win the 2005 and 2006 titles, and there’s nothing any of us can do about it.”

Damn Straight!

[62 250 GTO]

How about writing somthing in the thread title about the subject, so there isn't 500 posts about the same issue? "Interesting", "WOW", "Shocker" etc... is useless.

[Gilles27]

Interesting

[paulyb]

LOL

[PSk]

I do think the current Concorde agreement sucks ... i.e top teams getting all the funds, etc., but as for the rules and impact Ferrari has on the series, er, ofcourse they have a big impact. Grow Minardi into a top team and Stoddart's impact on the series will grow too.

Pete

[PSk]

Minardi are paying Ferrari

Pete

[62 250 GTO]

Originally Posted by PSk

Minardi are paying Ferrari

Now there's an interesting title.

[imperial83]

Paul Stoddart is a bitter man that cannot stomach the fact that Ferrari will win the 2005 and 2006 championship. Minardi will never be able to compete at the top level and will probably go belly up in the next year or so.

If Paul Stoddart thinks that Ferrari are in complete control and the Concorde agreement sucks then he should quit F1. Why compete in something you know you cannot win? After all he is complaining because he cannot win. No one is forcing him to be in F1. He can just as easily take his team and compete in a lower formula series. No one held a gun to is head and made him sign the Concorde agreement!!! He signed it because he wanted to be in F1.

I hate people that complain. Don't complaing about the situation if you agreed to be part of it!

[PSk]

Originally Posted by imperial83

I hate people that complain. Don't complaing about the situation if you agreed to be part of it!

Gee imperial, I actually agree with you.

I have not seen any proof yet that Paul has moved Minardi forward one bit ... and I am disappointed with this.

Any team can eventually win, but you cannot win by doing nothing, you need to invest in the future of the team and achieve some sort of improvement every year ... like say new factory, new manufacturing equipment, wind tunnel, etc.

Pete

[judge4re]

Marketing 101

Ferrari = Formula 1

Any questions?

[paulyb]

The bottom line is the other teams obviously feel paying Ferrari is worth it. Didn't Ron Dennis himself; arch Ferrari detractor recently say that paying Ferrari an extra $5 million (or was it $50mm?) to join the GPWC was worth it?

Paul Stoddart has demonstrated time and time again that he's willing to say a lot of things in public if he thinks it will help his team. Most team principals would, of course, but Stoddart has been especially vocal these past couple of years. Remember Ron Dennis' "soup kitchen" comment to PS in 2003 at the Canadian GP. Maybe Ron is now lining up for a handout...

[yesod]

Originally Posted by 62 250 GTO

How about writing somthing in the thread title about the subject, so there isn't 500 posts about the same issue? "Interesting", "WOW", "Shocker" etc... is useless.

Sorry, wasn't thinking

[imperial83]

Originally Posted by PSk

Gee imperial, I actually agree with you.

I have not seen any proof yet that Paul has moved Minardi forward one bit ... and I am disappointed with this.

Any team can eventually win, but you cannot win by doing nothing, you need to invest in the future of the team and achieve some sort of improvement every year ... like say new factory, new manufacturing equipment, wind tunnel, etc.

Pete

I agree completely. I have no sympathy for Paul Stoddart or for the Minardi team. They chose to be in F1. If they cannot compete at the top level no one is forcing them to stay in F1. The door is open. LEAVE!

Paul has been going on and on for the past two years how everything is unfair and there is a conspiracy to let Ferrari win. Paul, there is no conspiracy. The fact in F1 is that Ferrari will continue to win because teams such as Minardi do not have the determination to compete.

[Old Guy]

As Stoddart says he pays real money out of his checkbook every year to Ferrari, could we please see just a couple of the cancelled checks? Paul, we swear we'll never doubt you again....

[Koby]

I thought this was common knowledge. Ferrari brings huge ratings, from which all the teams benefit (case in point- I became interested in F1 because that is where Ferrari races). That said, while I understand the system, I don't agree with it. This agreement dates back to a very different Ferrari team, and after the success of the past few years, I don't see the need for this futal system.

As for Stoddard, I like his style. He came in, staked his claim, and is holding his ground against the F1 establishment. With their budget the fact that they manage to show up each week is more of an accomplishment than most other teams manage with their meager results (Toyota). I agree that the real proof of Stoddard's efforts is if the team grows, but that does take time, and they have been busy fighting for survival, so give it more than 2 seasons before you render a verdict.

[bigodino]

I don't understand: is Minardi and every other team directly paying Ferrari because of historical significant reasons? And how long is this going on? And why didn't Stoddard complain any sooner about this?

Or is he talking BS and is he refering to the fact that every team pays an amount of money to F1 and the top runners get a share out of this budget?
If so, why is Stoddard complaining about Ferrari and not BAR?

I think it's pathetic (sp?) how the other teams are trying to make Ferrari a scapegoat for all their own and F1's problems. Really makes me wonder why I should watch F1 anymore..

[62 250 GTO]

Originally Posted by yesod

Sorry, wasn't thinking

No problem, it just seems to happen a lot.

[tifosi12]

Originally Posted by 62 250 GTO

No problem, it just seems to happen a lot.

I just merged the "Interesting" thread with this one as they're about the same thing.