FOTA has it all; Almost. The Drivers. The Sponsors. The Teams and thus the core product. What it lacks is a proper leader. You cannot trust or count on Luca, Fabrizio, or any team principal to look after the other teams best interests. In essence there are too many Captains on the ship. Each with his own personal agenda. Bernie and Max will use this as a lever to divide FOTA. What FOTA needs an independent, unbiased, and experienced person to lead. My heart tells me to trust one who has worn most of the Moccasins to be worn in F1. A former driver (WDC to boot). A former Team owner. Someone who has worked with a major manufacturer in their F1 goals. A spokesman for the sport. A leader who has placed the interests of his mates over his own and at great personal risk careerwise when organizing other drivers to demand safety reforms. This when drivers could be bought and sold cheaply. That man is; Jackie Stewart.
It needs a bit more than that. Like venues, TV deals, tires, rules, restrictions, an operating budget, capital, ownership rights, a governing body of stewards, and more teams to round out the field. Whoever takes over has to be above the afore mentioned big wigs and that ain't gonna be easy. What happens the first time that Ferrari is hit with some kind of penalty? Will it just threaten to pull out again? Remember the flack about Renault's dampening system being "illegal" a couple of years ago? It smacked of Ferrari's intervention. What about the "flexible wing" issue? This year it was Brawn's aerodynamics that almost put the season to a halt by throwing out the results of the first 3 races. Whoever takes over has a heavy price to pay. I'm not sure Jackie is up to wanting all the politics. Also, it has to set up a complete series in new venues in less than a year. Many of the existing venues may already be under contract to F-1 and we know Bernie isn't going to let them easily just get out of it or let a rival series take place. If they race in the same venues, can they support two races a year finacially? Cart thought it could run away from the Indy' leagues restrictions and start it's own series. In the end, it went bancrupt and joined the IRL with it's tail between it's legs. It's not a slam dunk yet. Bernie may still have the upper hand in the long run.
Primarily FOTA F1 will need an income stream. Everything after that is just details. Money has an amazing way of solving problems. The point I'm getting at is that FOTA's enemies will try to divide and conquer as they always have done. The Teams need unity. And for that to happen it needs a strong and respected leader. I can think of no-one with a better shot at it.
Respect to Jackie Stewart, but I think they need a real CEO. Someone with experience in media, PR, television, running large organizations and ideally a sporting background. I would say Bob Kraft would be an ideal choice. Or a european equivalent of that kind of guy. Someone of impeccable repute, who is a businessman first and foremost, and who knows what it will take to make a series work. Also, another name that may drive people batty but who is a business whiz is Sergio Marchionne. He'd have to sever ties with Fiat, but he is a whiz and then some.
Bernie already has a job. But that would be the icing; Split the Bernie Max show. Good for the Goose..
Cart tried this exact same thing. It had the best teams, drivers, sponsorship, etc. All it didn't have is the Indy 500. It even tried to make it's own rival 500 on the same weekend. Well, guess what happened next after 10 long years of pain.... it ran out of money, TV support, venues and sponsors. I wouldn't be doing a victory dance too early here. Fota has a long road to haul in comparison to what's left over on Bernie's side. Look at it this way: F1 has to prove the racing is just as interesting to follow as before. It has everything already in place to do that NOW. In fact, getting the mall contents out of the way might make the transition easier. FOTA has nothing but half of a field of rather well funded teams, but no organization, venues, TV money, ownership rights, tires, capital, etc, etc. PLUS it has to show that the sport isn't a joke with only 8 cars in the field. Of the two, Fota has many more mine fields to get through before this is a done deal.
I'd don my kilt and follow him into battle! Your points are very, very valid. However, there are some weighty business dealings that would need a younger expert in media but I think Jackie Stewart would -- at the very least -- make an excellent public ambassador and figurehead for instantly legitimizing the new series. Thumbs up, man!
Excellent post. Jackie would be a VERY infuential person to have on FOTA's side. This is another manner in which FIA/FOM will be screwed... who are all the big names going to come out and support? I'll wager Schumi and all the other ex-drivers will be coming out to support FOTA, so will many of the tracks and sponsors. FIA and FOM are going to look around and find themselves very very lacking in the friends and supporters department. "The more you tighten your grip, Mosley, the more stars will slip through your fingers"
Rest assured knowing that former drivers will come out in support of the teams, but will also acknowledge F1's place in racing history. That, and enough muttered "For Sure" that when printed out, will reach from here to Pluto.
No way. The man looks like a mobile sofa from the early 70's. Which, coincidentally, is the last time he changed his wardrobe.
The FOTA series will need someone who understands the business as well as the racing side of things. Jean Todt, Alex Wurz and Gerhard Berger had been mentioned to be potential FIA president candidates in the past. IMHO could Jean Todt or Gerhard Berger be up for the job?
How can your humble opinion be a question? Todt > Berger. My vote? This guy: Richard Branson. Though, I have fears that he will turn the series into a spectacle of scantily clad women bouncing and jiggling around at every venue. So, he's got my vote.
Nobody has yet to mention this and I found it quite odd. This is in no way shape or form comparable to the Cart breakup. Why? Branding. The most popular CART teams were still privateers that nobody could attach themselves to through car ownership, clothes, etc. BMW, Ferrari, McLaren Mercedes, Toyota, RedBull and others are all major brands in their respective fields and catter to a loyal customer and fan base. CART's teams were not even close on branding. After all is said and done, there's one principal to judge this on: Follow the money. Ferrari, BMW' Toyota, Mc Merc, Redbull, they're all multi-billion dollar corporations that attract other multi billion dollar corporations to their series. CART was again, not even close!
Not to mention CART/IRL were in a very small market compared to F1. How many casual fans care who runs the championship? They follow are their favorite teams; long standing racing luminaries such as Ferrari, McLaren and Force India. And since the teams that left F1 are F1, few people will give ten rat's anuses who sanctions the sport.
Voila..touché. With all due respect to Penske, their branding is little to non existent as far as I'm concerned...and they were supposedly the most acclaimed team? Apples to oranges...
Ok, here's another question. Will these break away teams just go through the motions this year, saving their budgets and expensive upgrades for the "new series" in 2010? It seems like Brawn has it sewed up 2009. So, why even try? Just show up on Sunday and do the minimum. The team fans won't mind because they know there's nothing to race for this year. And, by the quickly evaporating ticket sales and TV viewers will show, the "new F1" will be hard hit without the top teams involved. If they get fined, will they just blow it off? What's Bernie and Max going to do? Ban them? Ummm... isn't that the exact same problem then? This is the ULTIMATE silly season. It's not just the drivers who may move around. It's the entire teams.
I think the "Branding" post raises the ultimate point of leverage and possible success for FOTA. When they leave, there will effectively be no "brands" left in F1. Sure, Williams is well known among long-time racing fans but that's it. Who in your office, household or neighborhood doesn't know the the meaning of Ferrari, Mercedes, Toyota and BMW? When Max said F1 could survive without Ferrari, he was probably right. But could it survive if Ferrari and the others set up a competitive series AGAINST them? Not a chance. With Max & Bernie effectively the most hated men in motorsport (go check Google trends, Facebook and Twitter right now), sponsorship money and other forms of leverage may dry up. All they have are their lawsuits. So I guess FOTA needs someone to add the PR legitimacy but also who can wrangle the lawyers and get the contracts signed. With all the brand-power they're pulling, the rest may well be gravy.
As far as venues go, F1´s crown jewel (Monaco) has already said it would follow Ferrari. So, unlike in CART/IRL split, with the exception of some tv contracts, FIA doesn´t really have any cards left.. OTOH, tracks for FOTA: Indy Montreal Silverstone Suzuka Monaco Nurburgring Imola Hockenheim Le Mans Österreichring
Honestly, this is not that bad of an idea. First, he knows racing and the business of racing inside and out. Second, it would show a sign that this isn't going to be Luca's private racing league. Third, he's got so many contacts and friends in racing all he has to do is make a phone call to get some action. Fourth, it would bring McLaren and Mercedes over from what's left of F1. That might also bring over Brawn. Fifth, he's been in racing for most of his carreer so he bleeds racing and would understand the BS from the real problems. Sixth, he knows all the real players and drivers in the FOTA teams inside and out. Seventh, if ANYONE knows the negative effects of the politics of the FIA and how to avoid them, he does. Eighth, he's already rich so money isn't a big issue. Ninth: He's got a pretty big ego and this would be some kind of vindication and a place back at the top. Lastly, he's available right now and could get to work right away. Pretty good suggestion if you ask me...
Yes Jackie is a great choice. But Jackie is getting kind of old and I don't think he can handle all the parties and sex. . What we need is someone who knows how to run an organization. Someone who knows how to negotiate. Someone who knows how to deal with large amonts of money. Somone who has seen a couple of generations. Someone who stands up for the little guy. And someone who has travelled. I elect: DR. EVIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Only problem is that he isn't really available right now. He isn't running the F1 team but he is certainly still the man at Mclaren. They have other sections of the company like the road car division. He would certainly have to eliminate his ties to remove this conflict of interest. FOTA already has Mclaren and Mercedes and Brawn. They have 8 teams not 8 cars. Last I checked that was 8/10ths of a field not half. FOTA consists of Ferrari, Renault, Mclaren, Toyota, BMW, Brawn and both Red Bull teams.
