Break-Away Series Eyes 17 Race Calendar

I saw that interview as well and thought to myself: What a spin doctor.

Not calling this a split is proof that you have drunken their cool aid and believe them when they say, that 8 FOTA teams will form the new series.

Who says that's going to happen?

GPMA had everybody lined up as well until Ferrari couldn't resist the offer from FIA and FOM and went the other way.

It could very well end up that we have a split down the middle team and driver wise. Then what?

 

Its not just Max though - Bernie needs to go too now. For sure he has built F1 into what it is in many respects - but he's also the reason some of the great traditional circuits have either lost races or under threat of doing so. His sanctioning fees are the reason F1 isn't in Canada or the US - he's got very, very greedy. He's the reason it costs over £100 just to get into Silverstone and over double that of you want a seat.

Add back the money that just disappears into the CVC black hole or Bernie's coffers & there is scope for the teams to make & invest more in the racing & for the circuits to be viable businesses whilst reducing ticket prices.

Bernie runs a great operation - but, ironically enough, it costs too much. Maybe if Max had spent some time trying to reduce that cost he'd have got a bit more support!!

 

Andreas;
Comparing GPMA to FOTA is similar on the surface, but vastly different in all aspects.
Ferrari is the main driver behind FOTA; they know their strenghth, and are utilizing that big time. Don't forget the $50 m bond; I doubt Bernie is going to pay that amount, plus additional $ to lure Ferrari away.
I'm not looking at this through rose colored glasses, but this is mega-different than 2005/GPMA.
Bernie/Max have never been challenged to this extent...

 

The problem is that CVC owns F-1... which is a problem. so all the money that Bernie makes goes to pay the debt to CVC... I dont know how that will all work out, but I'm sure nobody is going anywhere untill they have spoken...

 

But you'll be missed by the other 8 people who attend that race.....

 

Right now, all eight FOTA teams.

With a few extra hints from Lola.

The reason Max delayed announcing next year's teams could be the hope of reconciliation, or it could be that the "on deck" applicants told Max they wouldn't join an F1 that didn't have the FOTA teams.

If Bernie can come up with a big enough carrot to get any of the big teams to cross the line, I expect they all will go back.
(I think FOTA is waiting for Bernie to fire Max on Wed. But will that be a big enough carrot?)

My biggest fear isn't a split, but a resolution that leaves Bernie taking F1 down the "spec" series path at the tracks that will pay the most.

Then we'd have a spec (Indycar) series in North America, another spec (F1) series in the middle east, and nothing in Europe.
And no F1 in the US or Canada.

And *that* would be a real market "split".

Indycar doesn't compete with a manufacturers' series. But F1 is becoming an Indycar clone.

 

One thing at a time, ridding Max of the sport will weaken Bernie, he knows that, thats why he will be juggling the balls there in the air right now.

Ask yourself who makes Bernie the money, it aint Max.

It's already having an effect on Bernie.... "Bernie will we be having a British GP next year" Yes!

 

Of course we will. By this time next year the UK govt will own whats left of F1.

CVC can't survive the coming interest rates with falling revenues in the current financial reality.
The RBS, already nationalised, will hold CVC's assets.

This whole cap thing seems to have been an attempt by BE to direct more of the teams cut of revenues towards paying CVC's unsustainable bank debt.
If its only costing you 40 mill to compete you can't ask for much more than that for support etc.

A FOTA F1 will be unencumbered by that debt. Thats the big elephant all the IRC/champ car split comments fail to recognise.

 

I'm surprised you're laughing at that.

Of all people on here you're one of the most travelled. So what is wrong with going to Turkey?

In my opinion nothing.

 

Other than the fact that Greece is right next door and has much better food and women...

What we need is a Greek GP!!!

 

I have been to Greece a couple times (spent several weeks all over the place). Wasn't impressed with either.

But that's not the point. I find Turkey fascinating as a country (just as I found Greece marvelous). Combine it with a GP and you have the perfect vacation.

As opposed to go to Indy or Montreal for the 100th time.

 

According to a report today the Montreal organizers are having talks with Bernie who says he's hot on a return to Canada.
The interesting bit is that the organizers have two conditions. 1, The FIA/FOTA issue is settled first and 2, Whoever gets the race has to guarantee that the big name teams appear.

 

Nice to see Bernie under pressure. If nothing else this FIA/FOTA war just might bring us back an American GP. One way or the other.

 

From your lips to G'd's ear

 

IMO it's not yet at the stage where we are going, or what series we are going to see, we have to wait till the outcome.

Its clear as day to me the teams want Mosley gone, if they achieve this all well and good, they have to show they are going ahead with abreakaway otherwise nothing will change.

 

Exactly. Turkey's beautiful. The lack of F1 fans isn't so wonderful however.

 

Andreas, I guess I'm biased about the women because I'm also Greek. Much like how porcupines find each other sexy...

 

In all fairness to the Greek women: When I visited I was a bit too young for that anyway. Was much more into the history. Now I'm too old.

No problem. I figured it was the return envelope for me mocking ALMS with zero visitors in Road America. And you're quite right, Turkey's GP had no attendance either.

As I see it, I might just do another USGP next year with the pirates and go to Turkey unrelated to F1. Fine with me too.

 

The CVC leveraged debt drain has to go too. Its completely unsustainable with its own looming train wreck.
Question is whether thats a bridge too far. Can the Teams reach that high?
I hope so because if not now, when?

I see the break away as a chance for most of F1 to get out and build a new day before the catastrophe, for a change instead of after, when the CVC loans come due in only a couple of years.

 

The CVC is a problem what the outcome is doesn't bear thinking about, Bernie must be scratching his head.

I'm really not up on the effect of what a cut and run approach would do regards to this issue, but I like the idea, as you said.

Conflicts usually bring better solutions. The FISA-FOCA war of 1980-1982 brought the Concorde Agreement and that governed F1 successfully for 25 years. The reason that there was renewed conflict was because the original terms of that deal were changed. The teams did not control the revenues and share the profits. Bernie Ecclestone stepped in and did it. The FIA accepted that situation. And that started everyone down the path we are now on...