Since he is the boss of the country and can do whatever he likes, nobody :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Valve Bounce
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Since he is the boss of the country and can do whatever he likes, nobody :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Valve Bounce
The FIA have responded to FOTA's latest attempt at negotiation:
http://allenonf1.wordpress.com/2009/...ota-breakaway/Quote:
The FIA is disappointed but not surprised by FOTA’s inability to reach a compromise in the best interests of the sport. It is clear that elements within FOTA have sought this outcome throughout the prolonged period of negotiation and have not engaged in the discussions in good faith.
“The FIA cannot permit a financial arms race in the Championship nor can the FIA allow FOTA to dictate the rules of Formula One.
“The deadline for unconditional entries to the 2010 FIA Formula World Championship will expire this evening.
“The 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship entry list will be announced tomorrow.
So that's that then. No compromise. Expect the finalised entry list to be Williams and Force India; Ferrari and the RBR teams (the FIA believe they're contracted to race); plus a whole lot of new teams.
The two big questions in FIA vs FOTA war so far have been FOTA's ability to stay united despite Max' and Bernie's endless attempts of diving them. And secondly, whether FOTA is successfully capable of forming its own series. If those two premises are fulfullied (so far, so good!), FOTA has a great chance of winning this war.
People keep talking about "two competing series", but - to be honest - if FOTA manages to set up its own series quickly and successfully, I see no rivalry - FOTA-series would be way above. F1 - if it continues to exist in that way - with its Marches and Litespeeds would only play a role of a feeder series for FOTA. Max and Bernie should know this, but it seems that they would rather kill F1 than give up their power. And this is the keyword of the whole struggle.
Not that I'm an advocate of FIA but me thinks FOTA are copying Max's negotiating tactics.
I'll believe this breakaway nonsense when all the contracts are signed, 2010 calender published and then the start of the new championship.
FOTA: call your bluff. The ball is still in your court.
So when does everyone think the remaining eight teams will submit their inevitable entries to the FIA championship tonight? I'm going for about 11.30!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
FIA has put on hold on the release of new entry list, till things gets clear.
Is that you Max?! The ball lies right in front of you! :laugh:Quote:
Originally Posted by wedge
Won't happen.Quote:
Originally Posted by Alfa Fan
They've not extended the deadline though, have they? That is, the process of officially choosing from the entries received has been suspended, but all who wish to enter must have an unconditional entry in by tonight.Quote:
Originally Posted by race_director
And with the FOTA teams along with Lola, Prodrive and NTech withdrawing, well...
My thoughts:
First:
Max. What does he want? I mean REALLY want. His statements on the budget cap being necessary to keep F1 an open technological contest while keeping it sustainable, if true and without agenda, are very laudable and strike a chord with me.
HOWEVER - I judge people on actions rather than words. He could have set up F2 in the image of his proposed new F1 (on a smaller scale of course), but instead he chose the FPA+ route. A piece in Autosport at the turn of the year said that Max's real dream is a spec series, and not only a spec series, but a centrally-run one without traditional racing teams.
If the split goes ahead, F1 will likely be 100% Cosworth powered. Nothing wrong with that if they are the only company capable of supplying a decent motor at this point in time, but is this the thin end of the wedge that sees Max mandate ubiquity by stealth?
"Oh look, everyone's using the same engine anyway, let's make it mandatory." He's already got tyres covered, so then he could start weasling his way into the chassis side...a common part here and there...and increasing until everyone has to use the same car.
Second:
FOTA's search for a promoter. I agree with the poster who said Dorna are bad news. Under their watch MotoGP have followed F1's lead by booting out Michelin and making everyone use Bridgestones, and implementing various technical restrictions in the name of "cost cutting" and "the show". MotoGP is going down the same slippery slope as F1, just a bit higher up said slope.
Their boss Ezpeleta (sp?) is always appearing in news articles piping up about how they need to change this, that, and the other. You are not wanted - go away.
Third:
CART/IRL analogy. People are comparing Monaco and the Indy 500, but I think it's slightly different. Monaco is a prestigious event, probably the most prestigious event, but it's just one prestigious event among others (Britain, France, Italy, Belgium etc.). IndyCar is unique at being so gravitated to one event, hell that's evident even in the name - IndyCar. F1 isn't called "MonacoCar".
I agree a split could well have the damage that the US split had, but unlike over there, where in the long run there was only ever going to be one winner (the one who had Indy), I think the resolution to any split here will be more decided on individual merits (a combination of best drivers, teams, tracks, technology, and *shudders* "show"). There will be no Indy-style trump card that beats all by default.
Finally:
What will I do if the split goes ahead? Well I'll probably watch both to begin with, although if Max's F1 even looks like heading towards Max's F2 model, I'll file it under "irrelevancy" and act like it doesn't exist.
But, if the manufacturer-less F1 becomes a playground for garagiste constructors pitting ideas off against each other, if the budget caps work and the technical rules aren't micro-managed to the n-th degree like they are currently, I would prefer it to any manufacturer breakway series, although I would still watch both. And no I still wouldn't care about "the show". You're talking to a guy whose favourite season in his own living memory is 1992 :)
(Apologies for the long post, but I had a lot to cover for a 10 page thread!)