RIP Formula One

[El Pistolero]

The end of F1 is here in name anyway. FOTA have announced tonight that they are starting there own breakaway series. Gutted.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76292

The Formula One Teams' Association announced on Thursday night that it is setting up a breakaway championship.

Following a four hour meeting at Renault's Enstone factory, the eight members of FOTA - Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW, Toyota, Brawn, Red Bull and Scuderia Toro Rosso - said they had grown frustrated with the FIA's stance against the organisation, and had no option but to create a series of their own.

"The teams cannot continue to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 World Championship," said a statement issued by FOTA after the meeting.

"These teams therefore have no alternative other than to commence the preparation for a new Championship which reflects the values of its participants and partners. This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important stakeholders.

"The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series."

F1 teams were given until Friday evening to remove the conditions attached to the provisional entries they posted earlier this month, or risk being left off the grid in 2010.

FIA president Max Mosley wrote to the teams yesterday offering them some of the concessions that they wanted to see regarding governance of the sport, but made it clear that he was sticking to plans for the introduction of a budget cap.

In his letter, Mosley also urged the teams to sign up to the championship before sorting out the final version of the regulations and a redrafted Concorde Agreement.

In response to that letter, the teams met at Renault's Enstone headquarters on Thursday evening for lengthy talks, where they finally decided that there was no way a compromise deal could be reached with the FIA.

The teams expressed frustration that their efforts to try and improve F1 had been rebuffed by the governing body and the sport's commercial rights holder.

"Since the formation of FOTA last September the teams have worked together and sought to engage the FIA and commercial rights holder, to develop and improve the sport," said the statement.

"Unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil has inevitably placed great challenges before the F1 community. FOTA is proud that it has achieved the most substantial measures to reduce costs in the history of our sport.

"In particular the manufacturer teams have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the FOTA initiatives. The FOTA teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future.

"Following these efforts all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012.

"The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide FOTA.

"The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006. Despite this and the uncompromising environment, FOTA has genuinely sought compromise."

The announcement by FOTA looks certain to overshadow the British Grand Prix, which takes place at Silverstone for the final time this weekend and which Mosley is expected to attend tomorrow.

With FOTA's stance now seemingly leaving no room for a deal possible, its likely that more new teams will be added to the FIA's 2010 Formula 1 entry list.

The inclusion of Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso on that roster remains open to debate, however, with the FIA claiming that the teams committed themselves to F1 in a deal agreed several years ago.

 

[FoxForceFive]

A sad state of affairs. Let's hope its just posturing & it gets sorted. I'm 90% certain it is to get their concessions agreed.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

Yeah, i text Oncey as soon as i read it.

Moseley is just being a stubborn cock. They decided to introduce rules with no input from the teams, and now wont negotiate. I realise this is a FOTA press release, but reading between the lines, Moseley etc aren't backing down to save face.

I can see this actually happening, and it splitting. No one would watch the shit teams, and it would be relegated to A1 type status.

On a side note, can you actually run a championship without FIA approval? Would you get insurance etc if its not sanctioned?

 

[FoxForceFive]

Just been listening to the radio about just this, the F1 reporter they spoke to (name escapes me) said it's virtually possible, simply cos they'll have nowhere to race. The big tracks are all in contracts with F1, & there's a serious lack of tracks outside of those that are fit to race upon.

 

[Rafanomenon]

I am sure that all of the tracks wouldn't want to miss out on hosting the breakaway series, surely the contracts they have with the FIA wouldn't stipulate that they couldn't take on a new championship?
Doesn't the A1GP run on some of the same tracks as F1?

I bet the BBC are shitting themselves after paying out loadsa cash for the rights to F1?!

 

[Mors]

I think if moseley the nazi perv gets his shit together, they can sort it out. F1 can't have a race with just Williams, nor do the remaining teams have the infrastructure to setup and organisation of their own. They both need each other, but moseley is taking the piss. I'd be very surprised if they're not all playing nice again by the time next season starts.

On a side note, lets hope some more of the cars are competative next season so we don't have jokers like Button walking away with the title again.

 

[Atlas]

Listening to the radio earlier they were saying most of the companies are ok with the idea of a budget but they needed time to cut their staff team ie mechanics etc. Some of them would have to lay off hundreds of staff and they wanted more time to adjust roles etc, which seems fair so this is probably just a thread and unlikely to go through. The G11 (or 18) or whatever always threatened to have their own super league but never did it

 

[Spionkop69]

Good. Formula 1 is dull and expensive.

I wouldn't care if there was never an another race - which of course will not happen.

 

[Rouge Penguin]

you're right mors, i hate the fact its not ferrari or mclaren dominating for the 10th year in a row.

Hopefully red bull and brawn will find their place next year.

I'm glad its button, loads of promise, hung around and showed loyalty to honda when they were truly awful and never complained.

 

[Squiggles]

Should the break-away happen, the BBC will look to cancel the contract because the product has changed beyond recognition due to no fault of either party.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Good. It's the most boring, politicallyinfluenced sport in the world. I hope it dies on its arse.

 

[737Max]

They could easily get tracks, there are those which aren't signed up by the FIA from next year plus some others which would be interesting.


01 Kyalami - South African GP
02 Dubai - Gulf GP
03 Portimao - Portuguese GP
04 Imola/San Marino- Italian GP
05 Montreal - Canadian GP
06 Indianapolis - USA East GP
07 Magny-Cours - French GP
08 Silverstone - British GP
09 Nürburgring
10 A1-Ring - Austrian GP
11 Helsinki Thunder -
12 Circuito Ricardo Tormo
13 Estoril
14 Las Vegas - USA West GP
15 Portrero de los Funes - Argentinian GP
16 Fuji - Japanese GP
17 Surfers Paradise - Australian GP

 

[Rafanomenon]

Looks like there will be no breakaway championship and the end of Mosely too - hooray!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8116756.stm

 

[FoxForceFive]

Out and out win for the car makers then, Moseley gone in 2 months and no budget cap.

 

[Rafanomenon]

And a win for the fans too!

 

[Spionkop69]

[quote author=Sheik Yerbouti link=topic=34247.msg892175#msg892175 date=1245533586]
Good. It's the most boring, politicallyinfluenced sport in the world. I hope it dies on its arse.
[/quote]

That's two things we have in common.

Wanna go for a drink?