MORE TALK ABOUT BREAKAWAY F1 SERIES!

(FROM AUTOSPORT)


McLaren have distanced themselves from talk of a breakaway Formula One championship, amid continuing discussions to try and frame a new Concorde Agreement.

Reports in German newspapers at the weekend suggested that both McLaren and Honda were the ringleaders in attempts to get a breakaway from FIA involvement in F1.

However, both teams have denied that a breakaway is realistic - amid a growing acceptance that F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has been using the threat of an alternative championship as a warning against the FIA membership in the wake of their verdict of president Max Mosley.

However, although there has been widespread talk about the two meetings between the teams and Ecclestone, Dennis had been initially reluctant to reveal what the true situation is.

"A lot of things are discussed in team principals' meetings, and all of them are confidential," he said. "A lot of things have, of course, therefore been discussed in the team principals' meetings we've had this weekend. They're therefore confidential."

Despite his desire to keep quiet about the discussions between Ecclestone and the teams, Dennis made it clear he was not interested in a breakaway series.

"Do I, or does McLaren, believe that a breakaway series is likely? Absolutely not. As we said in our statement on our website, we're looking forward to a period of stability for F1."

Dennis' stance on a breakaway series has been backed up by rival team bosses, who insist efforts are being made to ensure the FIA is part of a new Concorde Agreement.

When asked by autosport.com about the situation, Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said: "Well, the only thing that I can say is that for sure, as we always said, we definitely need the FIA as a regulator of the championship.

"That's the history of Formula One, and any word is not taking anyone to any point. We need to stay cool and work and that's it. It's a moment when I feel that this is what I feel has to be done."

Honda Racing F1 CEO Nick Fry added: "On the FIA side, we would like them to be part of it. That has been the objective all along, but we have to have a tripartite agreement and we have to see where it goes."

When asked about the possibility of a breakaway championship, Fry said: "I don't think it is the first option. We would prefer to work with the FIA if we can."


(also see Domenicali interview thread where he discusses this subject from Ferrari's standpoint)

 

British tabloid "News of the World" on Sunday 8th dedicated a 2-page article to the threat of a break-away group in FI.

Ecclestone has apparently told F1 teams that they can go alone now, since the Concorde Agreement is not enforceable anymore, and a new one not signed (146 drafts so far!!!).


According to the paper (the same paper that revealled Max Mosley's .... extra curriculum activities), the teams likely to break away from FIA are

- Vodafone McLaren Mercedes
- ING Renault
- Honda Racing Team
- Force India
- BMW Sauber F1
- Toyota

the teams likely to stay with FIA are

- Ferrari
- Red Bull
- Toro Rosso

Indecided:

- Williams

By virtue of the EU anti-monopolly laws under which it operates, FIA cannot prevent a rival series, but the "WORLD DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP and WORLD CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP" titles belong to the FIA .
Also, by virtue of the Rome Treaty, FIA cannot prevent competitors to participate in rival series.
The ball is in the sponsors' court, and the car manufacturers.
Ecclestone seems to imply that several national sporting authorities and track owners would split with FIA.
Ferrari seems to want to stay loyal to the FIA somehow.

 

The teams that want to break away would do well without Ferrari on the grid. They all have a better chance of winning. But.......the majority of paying spectators wear Scuderia red, so in the event of a breakaway series, they all lose.

Its not going to happen.