Correct and the power the taste for power of the FIA. A good thing has happened, its about time that the two individuals in question realized that are not bigger than the sport, they cannot push corporations around. Me, I would like to see more races, different locations in countries where their is a both a market and a love of racing, its angers me no end that there is no GP in North America or Canada, huge market, many fans but the love of money again meant no GP for the whole area.
I disagree if you have ever been to Laguna Seca it is one of the best track in the world, seeing f1 cars go down the corkscrew would be magnificent plus the jerk that owns Indy is just the US version of bernie!
Toyota brought their TF106 to Laguna Seca in 2006 for the Monterey Historic Races in an effort to reset the fastest lap time at the track. I was there and it was quite cool to watch and listen. There's a video highlight from the event here on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_bWOdY6mbU The run-off areas aren't all that large, there is very little grandstand seating, and at just 1:06 per lap the track might be a bit short for a F1 race, but I too would love to see an event there. >8^) ER Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Personally I think this is some fun stuff. Not sure what the outcome is, but I thought the French loved revolutions? I'm sure this has been posted more than once, but here also is another great article from Autoweek http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090618/F1/906189977 Like McDonald's says "I'm loving this!".
As much as I would hate to see any of the status quo maintained, Bernie, or perhaps more importantly Bernie's people and companies may be needed. It will be a tough job to organize an entire series in the next 9 months. The teams don't have the personnel with experience in setting up events or TV deals. Formula One Management or some corporate reincarnation of it would ease the process greatly. However, it may not be worth letting him get his grubby little paws into the coffer. Im a youngin but have read some F1 history. Didn't Bernie rise to power as a result of his negotiations in a similar governing body power struggle. Bernie as leader of FOCA vs FISA right? Edit - Also the FIA has responded with a press release this morning. They contend that some of the teams wanted this all along and weren't really negotiating in good faith. They further say that the deadline for unconditional entries is tomorrow and the full 2010 F1 entry list will be released on Saturday.
Au contraire. FOTA had already suggested delaying the "deadline" until Jul 1 to permit the dispute to be resolved. Max rejected that out of hand, insisting that his deadline is not subject to discussion. (Insisting that teams commit to the new season *without* having the new rules settled.) This is the "governance" issue. Arbitrary decisions not open to discussion. What guarantees do the teams have that Max will pay any attention to later "talks", after they've committed to the new seasion? Max is insisting that the teams sign up on *his* schedule, promising to let them talk later. With no guarantee that he will listen. Max isn't listening. What's the point of making another counter-offer to someone who deems his own way the only way? (This is exactly the complaint Bernie and Max had against Balestre -- he was ignoring them.) FOTA is calling Max on his arbitrary deadline. It gets extended, or the teams leave. Max is telling FOTA it's his way or the highway, ... ... Well, they're auto makers: they're comfortable with highways.
FANTASTIC news!! Most of my opinion has already been voiced by several users here, one point about the tracks, assuming that FIA can legally "blackmail" them: FIA really has a leverage on all the tracks that now probably face the decision "One New-F1 race or all the other FIA races". But FOTA consists of the big guys in business, not necessarily Ferrari, but BMW, Mercedes, Renault (...and Fiat). I know that at least Hockenheim and the Nürburgring make a good part of their money with these manufacturers using the tracks for testing. They'll rather stick to their customers, I think.. Another thing I find great is the announcement of lower ticket prices. Now that the tracks don't have to pay ridiculous sums to Bernie just to host the races, we might see full grandstands in Europe again.... and I might finally be able to afford going to a race I think the new F1 will rather be a marketing instrument for the manufacturers than a money making machine for Bernie and Max, which can only be in our interest!
From Lee McKenzie: The team bosses are set to meet after this mornings practice session at Ferrari HQ. "What's interesting is that everyone in F1 circles thought Ferrari were so sheltered by the FIA but Ferrari are right at the head of this breakaway threat," she adds. You've probably guessed but she also reports that it's a frenzy up in the paddock right now." I hope this breakaway series really does happen as they have promised cheaper tickets and I think we'll see Silverstone back on the calendar.
With all this talk of people leaving F1 it's nice to here someone saying they want to get involved - 1997 world champion Jaques Villeneuve is at Silverstone (he was also spotted in Monaco) and he tells BBC Radio 5 Live's Victoria Derbyshire: "It would be fun to get back in there, there is a lot of change happening in F1 right now." I know there is not much love for him on FChat, but I always liked his style.
Long Beach was run as the "US Grand Prix West", as the second GP in the 'states. The USGP was at other venues (usually the Glen). TV coverage and rights is going to be one of the big issues for the new series to resolve. And one of the most crucial. Bernie has the "world feed". The new FOTA series will need a new distribution system. One good thing about building a new broadcast rights structure would be the opportunity to integrate online coverage in a reasonable fashion, rather than just a hit-or-miss add-on. But the first hurtle would be getting cameras at the tracks. That may be an issue for the tracks to resolve when bidding for inclusion in the new series calendar. Tracks that have agreements with certain video operators (or local channels) may have trouble with that if those video feeds are already contracted with Bernie. But likely none of the video sources have "exclusive" rights with Bernie -- only rights for "F1" races. If Bernie threatens to not do business with feeds who cover FOTA races ..... well, local channels will go with the ratings. And that won't be an issue at all at tracks that F1 has abandoned. The second hurtle would be getting local feeds from the tracks to the broadcast partners. Any FOTA teams sponsored by satellite or global networking companies? In the US. Fox (Speed) has the agreement with the world feed for F1. But VS now has the coverage for Indy racing and the Dakar. Adding the new FOTA series would be another coup for VS. With any luck, maybe WRC will get the hint, and break away from FIA too. Maybe then we might get TV coverage of that in the 'states.
Brilliant just brilliant... Well Max If everything seemed to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
I just hope the FIA does not cave to the team union, FOTA. If a team wants to participate in F1, it has to follow it's rules or be booted out. I know I will continue to watch F1 and not some lame breakaway series. Without the F1 Championship title, any breakaway series will be a failure IMHO.
Here's my take on the situation. I am really pleased that the teams are forming a new series. We may finally see some innovation in F1 again. Personally, I cannot think of anything that could be better for the sport. Second, with the new series, presumably, being promoted by the same group that does MotoGP, I am thinking there's a good chance they may stack the races at the same tracks on the same weekends. It makes sense for at least the first year anyway. The weekends are already resevered and they are internationally known circuits. If this turns out to be true, F1 would be back in the US, and it would make the cost of the tickets so much more worth it with the bikes running also. I would think they'd run bikes earlier in the and F1 early afternoon. It would make for one hell of a weekend for spectators. This is at least what I'm hoping for. Mark PS: If this has already been mentioned, I apologize, I didn't have time to read the thread through.
I would not sign "any" business agreement that did not make good business sense for the direction of my company, its customers base and legal obligations before I signed it. If someone handed me a contract and said here sign this "unconditionally" after you sign then we can make changes you need, I'd get up and walk out the door. Why is this any different?
Per that response; "The FIA says that its deadline for teams to lodge unconditional entries will remain as the close of business today, with the full 2010 entry list to be announced on Saturday. "The deadline for unconditional entries to the 2010 FIA Formula World Championship will expire this evening," it said. "The 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship entry list will be announced tomorrow." Sometimes you have to look the Bear in the face and pull the trigger. Now is that time. TV deals, rules, and all the details can be subbed and worked out. The framework is there. There are tracks standing by to host events. Many in those positions would be eager to help. I wonder how many enemies FOM BernieMax have made along the way in just those areas where assistance is needed. This is not rocket science. Ding dong the witch is dead. Or at least melting.
I hope you enjoy it. I will follow the series with teams like BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, and Toyota. I don't care if they'll call it The Queen's Underpants. Furthermore, I will go to races packed with fans that feel like racing. For example Turkey and the Middle Eastern races are total garbage and that's the way Bernie's been heading lately. He can certainly do it without my support.
