Defeated FIA presidential candidate Ari Vatanen squarely blames Formula One's governing body for provoking major car manufacturers into leaving the series, and says he understands why Renault might want out.
"If you analyse it Renault is right, they are a serious international corporation and not loonies like [former FIA President] Max Mosley has called them," vatanen said in an interview with CNN. "They are just very disillusioned with the governance of Formula One."
The former World Rally Champion and European parliamentarian believes that the economic crisis – although it certainly plays its part – serves mostly as an excuse to quit the sport rather than deal with the incessant political conflicts.
Amid uncertainty regarding Renault's long-term participation in F1, Vatanen said manufacturer teams would remain "If the sport was known for positive news and if it was a good avenue for marketing and promotion.
"But Formula One is only known for conflict, crisis and court cases recently, and big companies cannot afford that," he said.
"We must realize the economic realities have nothing to do with the crisis," Vatanen continued. "Big companies always look to market and promote, even when times are tough, but only if it is in a sensible way."
In a statement issued yesterday, Ferrari also blamed the sport's governance for creating a negative atmosphere within F1.
"In reality the steady trickle of desertion is more the result of a war against the big car manufacturers by those who managed the sport, than the effects of the economy that affected Formula One over the last years," Ferrari asserted.
Over a 12-month period, Honda quit last December, BMW announced its plans to leave at the end of the 2009 season, and yesterday Toyota confirmed its departure with immediate effect.
Although key Renault people have been confirming their involvement in the 2010 championship, it remains unknown if the French carmaker plans to stay beyond next season. That decision will be taken within the next few weeks.
Whether Renault decides to stay or quit, the fact they are considering their options is a warning message in itself that the FIA and its new President Jean Todt should quickly heed, Vatanen insisted.
"It is the final alarm call that we cannot continue with business as usual," he said. "I'm sad to say the old guard are still in power in the FIA but teams are starting to vote with their feet."
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Zedio the answer to your question is; probably not because the damage was done before the election. The only thing he could do, & lets hope Mr Toad does it instead, is change the culture of the FIA to make it more accommodating & less abrasive towards the teams and less scandal ridden. And make it more impartial.
May Vatanen answer to this simple question?
Was he capable of preventing Toyota's exit in case he won the election?
I think what he's saying is that the apple is still rotten at the core, i.e. Mosley is still pulling the strings at FIA and "offering" "guidance" to his little puppet Toadster. We're still going to have a failed MEP, who knows nothing about motor racing, making decisions about who gets to win races, a Kenyan who wants to tell drivers when to shave and get a haircut and all the other nonsense and chicanery we've gotten tired off. They had their opportunity for a clean sheet but nobody wakened up at FIA so they are obviously not aware of just how many of us are at the tipping point... of just saying "I've had enough" and turning off or switching channels.
Let it die with Bernie, and then start a new one like they were anyway, without some dirk running the show.
I feel after many years of following this wonderful sport it has reached a time in its history to call it a day as it has really got out of hand ,too powerful and to many circuits being built way way over the top.Multi billion dollars circiuts do not make a good a grand prix yes it all looks pretty but i would sooner watch a grand prix at Silverstone or Spa than these so called future circuits these are for Bernies benifit.
I feel its time to start again and have proper teams and rules where all teams can win.Do away with Bernie and the FIA and let the teams control the sport........I wish they had broken away when they said they would.I love this sport but i cannot continue following it the way it is
There is an accumulative series of problems that have bestowed F1 and look to continue!
FOTA had the chance to start afresh! It had the full support of the fans, both those that go to the races and the multi millions all around the world that watch on TV, it is those that the sponcores want to advertise to.
A new series with new prominent people leading and guiding FOTA would have started with a clean set of rules and constitution.
It does not matter who you are, you will remember the off track F1 more than the on track F1 of the last few years, that, is the problem that F1 will find very hard to break away from in the comming years with the continuation of the halfwit rule changing and team and historic race track bashing.
The lack of money in F1 will not be its down fall, the greed for more money from the sport by Bernie will be!
Sour grapes from the pygmy Euro loser then.
It makes no difference what Vatanan says or Ferrari.
The head of Toyota has stated why they have left F1, because of the COST.
So Max was right all along and no amount of spin and bs will change it.
Where is Fota now?
What blatant hypocrisy, it is almost unbelievable.
With all due respect to Mr. Vatanen, I agree that the BM (Bernie and Max) reign of terror WAS sickening. However, what, exactly, can the FIA do to prevent rogue employees from stealing plans and selfish teams from fixing races? F1 decided it needed McLaren and Renault rather than booting them outright. What the teams should have done is sack everyone involved to demonstrate their commitment to clean racing. The FIA, in turn, should have banned those individuals involved for life, with the possibility of reinstatement under certain conditions.
Bitterness does not become you Mr Vatanen
Thank goodness someone from inside the sport has finally realised this.
Fans have been saying it for years.
The Poisoned Dwarf and Mad Max have belittled the people who participate, and ignored the people who pay.
This has gone on too long.
PLEASE let us get back to racing.
Forget the 'no testing', the no refueling (who's bright idea was that one?), all the silly rules etc.
Just race the bluddy cars. It worked for years. The only person who is really getting rich is the Poisoned Dwarf. (And even his wife has had enough.)
And as for the Dwarf's latest venture - Abu Dhabi GP. Great place and bril for a holiday, but what a boring race. I bet you one baht (yes I live in Thailand) that it does not make money from the GP events!
By the way - why isn't it called the UAE GP? We do not have an Interlagos GP or a Monza GP. What happened here?
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