Breakaway series is go!

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Originally Posted by Mark

Of course it's now gone beyond a simple protest about the budget cap. We're on the brink of a full scale civil war for control of Formula 1.

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we've been here before though - don't forget MAx and Bernie were inviolved in the last one and have taken F1 on a long way since then. but times have changed and there is a need for a new power structure, and hopefully we will end up with a new head to take the sport on, rather than stagnating

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Originally Posted by ioan

Why not with ITV?!

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And why not with BBC? I am sure BBC would rather show a series that people are interested in, there will be a maximum of 16 people interested in F1 series featuring Williams and Force India along with Manure racing

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Originally Posted by Mark

That, for me, is the essence of Formula 1. The history, that the teams and the championship have been around for a long, long time. That Formula 1 can trace it's roots back to well before the war, right to the establishment of motor racing itself.

That Formula 1 is important and winning in Formula 1 marks you down in history.

A split series wether it be the weakened F1 or the FOTA series, will not have any of that prestige.

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Before 1950 it was no F1, it was GP racing! And the history is each teams history!
Look it up in the history books, every winner and every champion has a name of his own first of all, it's not only a F1 winner!

The history will go with the teams and their heritage!

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Originally Posted by Robinho

we've been here before though - don't forget MAx and Bernie were inviolved in the last one and have taken F1 on a long way since then. but times have changed and there is a need for a new power structure, and hopefully we will end up with a new head to take the sport on, rather than stagnating

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More exactly they survived another 3 years and are collapsing in the 4th, nothing to brag about IMO.
Not to forget that back than they had Ferrari on their side, now they only have WIlliams and FI, both together have maybe 5% of the Ferrari fan base!

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Originally Posted by ioan

Before 1950 it was no F1, it was GP racing! And the history is each teams history!
Look it up in the history books, every winner and every champion has a name of his own first of all, it's not only a F1 winner!

The history will go with the teams and their heritage!

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That's true. However F1 took over from Grand Prix racing as a whole, they did not split into several championships and compete against each other.

Now if Formula 1 was to disappear completely and be replaced by Grand Prix 1, then indeed the history and heritage will continue.

If there are two series then it will not. Just look at IndyCar and how nobody really cares who wins that any more! (Apologies to IndyCar fans!)

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Originally Posted by Garry Walker

And why not with BBC? I am sure BBC would rather show a series that people are interested in, there will be a maximum of 16 people interested in F1 series featuring Williams and Force India along with Manure racing

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The BBC would rather go with the most popular series. But there is the small matter of contracts to consider.

Now I'm sure the BBC can argue that the FIA has broken its contract and the F1 series of 2010 is not the same as the one the signed up to, but it would be an expensive struggle.

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Originally Posted by Robinho

cos ITV have less money than Sir Alan Stanford has access to at the moment

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Who says they need to pay much?!
Maybe first year will be free if they will help with substantial publicity for the new series!

The teams are working with 300-400 million budgets right now! They can leave without a 50 million return from TV money for one season during which they offer everything for free!

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Originally Posted by Mark

The BBC would rather go with the most popular series. But there is the small matter of contracts to consider.

Now I'm sure the BBC can argue that the FIA has broken its contract and the F1 series of 2010 is not the same as the one the signed up to, but it would be an expensive struggle.

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Depends what is in the contracts.

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Originally Posted by Mark

That's true. However F1 took over from Grand Prix racing as a whole, they did not split into several championships and compete against each other.

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Obviously because it was 1950 and not 2009. Because there was no need to do it either.

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Originally Posted by ioan

It says the major ones, not all of them.
IMO Bernie and CVC are the reason for this breakaway. They are at the root of all these stupid cost cutting dictatorial rules.

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I think you may be in for a surprise ioan old son.

You have 3 distinct camps in F1. FOM, FIA and FOTA.

I have long predicted that this split is going to happen and my guess is this:

Bernie will be part of the FOTA breakaway series. He is also the commercial rights holder to the name GP1.

Why would he get mixed up with a rival series to F1? Where's Markability when you need hem. Money and Power

Lets admit that Bernie is a master at establishing, promoting and running a racing series. Love him or hate him, he has created the modern F1 with Max.

However, he has seen his power over Max wane as the jumped up little Hitler has begun to overshadow him.

Then we have the sale for $squillions$ to CVC where Bernie only has a minority stake in FOM which is reputed to be in the name of he estranged wife.

Now, if he chucked in with FOCA, he would be able to re-establish his control over the series. GP2 could become a feeder series to GP1 and because CVC wouldn't be involved, money could be re-invested back into the sport and teams.

Then we have the teams. They know they need someone to promot6e and run the series and they know Bernie of old. If they can negiotiate a attractive contract, it would be a no brainer to have him as the series figurehead. His new title; GP1 Supremo.

I would be very surprised if Bernie hasn't got a finger in this pie ;)

But as I say, it's only a guess.