REPORT: FIA will reject teams conditional applications

There is one thing that you seem to have over looked, which makes a "Breakaway Series" possible. The FOTA teams forming there new Series with the FOM, but under a new banner (possibly, GP1, Bernie owns the name already), new contracts, new structure, thus side stepping the FIA. Everything is already in place as far as TV, Venues, organization, etc etc All that would be needed is to establish a new governing body, which would only police the rules, not invent them!

Has anyone noticed how Bernie has said very little in the last few weeks about the current situation, might be a sign that there is things being planned behind closed doors.

 

Actually Id love to see it!! Why not a new series. F1 is in shambles and its time for something new. I dont think anything is impossible as this stage. The current ruling of the iron fist by the FIA cannot continue. I think the sport will lose fans in the long run not gain them even with the new so called teams. I wish them luck but I could care less if F1 folded and a new series began. I think its a great idea. Its time for a change and a move away from the FIA to begin.

 

Ya think?

 

Anyone's guess right now Its most likely that the FIA and FOTA will come to an agreement.

But, if the FIA and FOTA can't agree, i could see things going in the direction of a breakaway, and if that happens, you know that Bernie will be the 1st guy to be trying to run the thing! And for the teams it would make a lot of sense , it would get around alot of the possible legal issues they have with the FOM.....

 

N. Technology joined the foray today - a former WTCC team. In the latest article on crash net this am Mosely has again firmly said rules are rules. I agree with you guys that Bernie has been very quiet of late and just wonder what's going on and Chicko, you have a very good point made about Bernie. He could now become the breakaway team's friend. Do you suppose Max is phoning up these teams to put in their entries?? sounds rather strange but strange things do happen. Should the breakaway occur (which I hope it does now) I would really like to see Dave Richards and perhaps Epsilon join their ranks. Makes you really wish you were a fly on the wall in quite a few places. It's obvious that Max is not willing to concede to FOTA's terms and really, what's that going to make LDM and others look like when they then come "crawling back" under the Mosely dictatorship and Max has the ultimate victory? I also suspect that plans already exist for the full formation of the breakaway series and those plans are already firmly in place.

Carol

 

Some Intresting comments by Toyota's John Howett in an interview posted on Autosport...


http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75788


Q. Has FOTA agreed to a budget cap in 2010?

JH: No, there is no budget cap contained within the FOTA proposals for 2010 regulations. FOTA has proposed a sensible method of controlling expenditure which can be managed in a very simple, practical manner whilst avoiding external and potentially costly auditing mechanisms. We have put forward a comprehensive document of proposals for the 2010 regulations which we believe will allow Formula 1 to prosper.

Q. What about new teams? Does FOTA support new teams entering Formula 1?

JH: We are happy to see new teams but we made it clear from the start that everybody has to compete under the same rules. Cost reduction was one of FOTA's founding principles and we have reduced the costs of leasing engines and transmissions by over 50%, with further significant savings contained within our proposed 2010 regulations.

These include limits on aerodynamic development, restrictions on the use of exotic materials and prohibition of some costly technical activities, such as wheel rim heating, which don't add to the spectacle of Formula 1. We have proposed many effective measures to reduce the cost of entry to, and participation in, Formula 1.

Q. How difficult have the negotiations been?

JH: As everyone involved in Formula 1 knows, it has been a long and, at times, challenging process which is not yet concluded. If the conditions attached to our entry are accepted, I believe Formula 1 will be the winner. It has been extremely gratifying to see the unprecedented level of unity within FOTA.

Naturally we are all competing on the track but we all recognised and acted upon the need for cooperation to ensure a viable future for Formula 1 as we know it. The constructive and open atmosphere within the organisation gives me great hope for the future health of Formula 1.

 

That ^ pretty much confirms what I said here.. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245717

 

IMO the talks that matter are between FOTA and FOM. Although they are not being reported in the press (a sign of their seriousness?) they are about the revenue side of the equation and that's what everything else rests on.

 

Actually a very interesting idea. I believe FOM owns the logo of F1. I do not know if they own the name F1 as it existed long before FOM's inception.

The only problem that could exist is Bernie's contracts with the FIA, and Bernie's contracts everywhere else. In other words Bernie can not afford to violate his own contracts. I don't think legally it would as easy as sliding all of FOM's contracts to a new series.

You must also consider, that it is Bernie's contracts that promise a minimum 20 car grid. So Bernie is well aware of the need for new teams to fill the void left when some of the exisiting teams leave as rumored over the next two years. For that reason, even a FOM FOTA series would require the incentives for new teams, or F1 wiill drop to below 20 cars, and Bernie pays penalties through reduced revenue. That could violate the contract with CVC. Not to mention reduced revenue is not part of Bernie's mantra.

For these reasons, and that you only have 8 days left, it seems that such a deal would have been announced, or expect it in the next seven days. One would have to assume that Bernie and Max are no longer speaking to think this scenario would materialize.

I think the solution hinges on a method(s) to bring new teams to the series now known as F1.

I still believe there will be more visionary minds come to the table and there will be an FIA/FOM/FOTA agreement.

Question Chicko, if the governng body does not prepare the rules, who does?

 

Good point Ron
While I'd love to see new blood enter the sport it would only be if they entered on an equal footing as the existing teams.
In baseball certain records are followed by an asterisk, I'd hate to see F1 results that need similar qualifiers.

 

Your right in suggesting there is many legal scenario's that would hinder a FOM / FOTA breakaway series, but if there is a breakaway, i still think that this would be the most likely route it would take. And if there was enough new teams to keep the current F1 system running, legally the FOM should be fine legally, its been no fault of there own that the teams are pulling out, itsthe FIA responsible for that.

The FOTA would make there own rules, most likely by democratic vote. The Teams have already suggested that this is what they want to the FOM, as there confidence is low in the FIA.

Rule preparation is not the big issue, every form of motor racing does it, its the policing of the rules thats the more tricky part to set up and run, but once again, every form of motor sport do it, and seem to do it with more fairness and vision then the FIA.

The FOTA should really be looking to Moto GP for example of a good template, as they seem to be able to always find the right balance between keeping the teams/manufacturers happy, cost saving, and competitive racing.

But im with you, i still think there will be an FIA/FOM/FOTA agreement.

 

X-Post from another thread:

According to this article in AutoSport: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75812, BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen stated that the idea of the FOTA's conditonal entries was suggested to them by Max Mosley himself during the meeting at Monaco.

IMO, it looks like Max is playing everyone for a fool. He is getting all of his bases covered and testing the public opinion on his recent actions. Should the public side with him, he can reject the conditional entries and boot out the FOTA teams. But should the public side with the FOTA, he can save his face by accepting the conditonal entries to keep the sport alive and keep the FOTA teams from walking away.