From the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8109846.stm Max says about FOTA: "We had to take legal proceedings. That's all part of the process, but the moment they come to their senses that will all stop," Man, he's more of a condescending prick than Barbra Boxer...
Beautiful! I copy some other forum members' question on the timing - whether the FOTA series announced a day prior to the deadline being a tactic. But judging by LOLA's withdrawal of its F1 application, they must've called the FOTA to ask "Are you guys for real?"
IMO, a true "Formula One series" is made by the teams that are involved, not by FIA. Without these historical teams, it is nothing more than just a shell of what was known as F1 racing. And the F1 Championship title you speak so highly of, will be completely meaningless without these teams. It will be like a completely healthy individual competing in and winning the Special Olympics. Incidentally, FOTA did exactly what you recommended, they did not like their rules and decided to quit FIA's version of F1 so they can start a new series. F1 was never suppose to be a spec. series, and unless FIA and Maxie understands that, it will forever be a second tier racing series to what FOTA has in mind. With that said, I am sure Maxie & FIA will be happy that there are "diehard fans of FIA's F1" like you out there somewhere.
There is not a single reaction on the official F1 site http://www.formula1.com only the positive news that there are three new teams for 2010. That's straings?
+1 The FIA, Max, and Bernie has gotten very arrogant over the years. They ignore the teams, make questionable decisions/judgements, change the rules every damn bloody season, and expect everyone to cut costs. First off, how the heck do u cut cost when u keep changing the friggin rules every season? I sincerely hope that the breakway series happens.
I commented above but I wish to add more. Bernie and Max must really be screwed up; they have to have figured out by now how badly they have ruined a once great sport. Usually, you would think the fans would be upset at thge teams effectively destroying the sport (example: the MLB and NHL strikes). You know something is really wrong when the fans cheer for the teams withdrawing from the sport. How bad does the governing body have to be for there to be an almost unanimous feeling from the fans that they are better off somewhere else. Mark
Exactly .. Bernie and Spanky had weathered too many storms that their over-sized egos and greed made them feel immune. Let's see how this plays out the next couple days. There's nothing in the F1 world that pleases me off than to see Max be removed from his presidency in disgrace .. b/c he brought it upon himself.
They should take a page from the NASCAR people and develop a fan friendly series. To bad but maybe this will bring an improvement to the series.
Just to give an idea of how pervasive this issue is. I was in Boston today to buy a tie and all the salesman wanted to talk about was FOTA/FIA. In BOSTON not a hot bed of F1 fans.
Well that just goes to show what I have been saying about Bernie, he is really leaving to the 11th hour to step in to sort it. Why because the crafty shrewd little git loves the free publicity keeping F1 in the headlines.