Formula One in crisis: Q and A

Eurosport - Sat, 20 Jun 10:17:00 2009

Eight Formula One teams have said they are planning to set up their own championship after failing to reach agreement with the governing FIA on next year's rules.

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The following looks at some of the issues and likely scenarios ahead:

WHO ARE THE BREAKAWAY EIGHT?

Champions Ferrari, BMW-Sauber, Brawn GP, McLaren, Red Bull, Renault, Toro Rosso and Toyota.

WHY NOT WILLIAMS AND FORCE INDIA?

They have already signed up unconditionally for the existing championship. Former champions Williams say they had to for contractual reasons, Force India because they might otherwise break their banking covenants.

HOW MANY TEAMS ARE LEFT WITH FIA?

Williams, Force India and three newcomers - Campos, U.S. F1, and Manor -- have been confirmed. There are a number of others on standby to join but the FIA has postponed publication of a new entry list pending legal action against the teams' association (FOTA) and Ferrari.

WHY LEGAL ACTION?

The FIA says Ferrari, Red Bull and Toro Rosso are all contractually bound to compete in their championship due to existing agreements. The teams dispute this.

WHAT WILL THE EFFECT OF THAT BE?

By not publishing a new list, the FIA has at least kept the door open to the teams coming back. Had replacements been named, that would have complicated matters. However, any new teams do not have long to play with if they are to design and build cars from scratch. They will also not know for certain until the standoff is resolved what rules apply.

WHAT ARE THE FOTA EIGHT UNHAPPY ABOUT?

The 2010 rules published by the FIA which include an optional £40 million budget cap and pave the way to a possible two-tier series. Teams like Ferrari oppose the budget cap, say it is set way too low and will be impossible to police. They also do not want auditors going through their company accounts and say it will be hard for carmakers to separate their racing expenditure from other commercial activities.

SO IS IT JUST ABOUT MONEY?

No, the teams also have a big problem with the governance of the sport. FIA president Max Mosley has said the rules can be changed once the teams have entered unconditionally but they are reluctant to take him at his word.

HOW LIKELY IS A BREAKAWAY REALLY?

There is still plenty of scope for a solution, but compromises will have to be made. Mosley is dismissive of the teams' position: "This is posturing and posing and it will stop before the start of 2010 and the first race of next season in Melbourne and settle down," he told the BBC. Others say Mosley may have to step down before anything really moves. He has yet to decide whether to stand for re-election in October. Commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone has a key role to play in bringing the two sides together.

WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME?

The longer the uncertainty goes on, the more damage it does to the sport. Teams will struggle to sign up new sponsors and do deals until they know who and where they are racing. Drivers are reluctant to commit to teams for the same reason. Circuits cannot sell advance tickets for 2010. It is in everyone's interests to have clarity as soon as possible.

IS THERE ANY RISK TO RACES THIS SEASON?

Not at this point. The teams say they owe it to the fans to keep racing.

WHERE WOULD A BREAKAWAY SERIES RACE?

There are plenty of grand prix standard circuits around that have been dropped from the calendar or are seeking to host a race. They might include Silverstone, Imola, Montreal, Indianapolis, Magny-Cours, Jerez and Dubai among others.

WHO GETS MONACO?

That would be key to the success of either championship, if it comes to a split. Monaco and Ferrari are seen as Formula One's crown jewels and the two are likely to stay together.

Reuters

Comment 8 - 27 of 27

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  1. wot really ruins F1is the boring predictable races,­ overtaking in the pits is about all that happens. watch­ moto GP so much overtaking, in fact there's more in­ one race than the whole F1 season its @#$%!

    From gus h, on Sun 21 Jun 12:28PM

  2. after following F1 for the last 20years getting up­ early to watch all the races the politics are spoiling­ it for everyone i for one am fed up and will not bother­ anymore MAX MOSELY what the hell are you doing to­ F1.This is supposed to be the best of the best let them­ spend what they like its there money not yours.

    From WILLIAM, on Sun 21 Jun 11:41AM

  3. Keep British GP at Silverstone where it belongs

    From Ex Pat, on Sun 21 Jun 10:48AM

  4. I liked Mansells comment; let 'em set up different­ championships, then twice as many drivers get to­ race.
    The whole thing has become an elite sport that­ only a tiny number can participate in. Many are­ already fed up with the procession we see. No real­ racing like in Mansells time IT WOULD BE WORSE IF­ FERRARI GET THEIR WAY.

    From Keith, on Sun 21 Jun 1:18AM

  5. Mosley just piss off

    From , on Sat 20 Jun 5:10PM

  6. WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME?

    The longer the uncertainty­ goes on, the more damage it does to the sport. Teams­ will struggle to sign up new sponsors and do deals­ until they know who and where they are racing. Drivers­ are reluctant to commit to teams for the same reason.­ Circuits cannot sell advance tickets for 2010. It is in­ everyone's interests to have clarity as soon as­ possible.

    The fans will go with the FOTA and not­ Mosley FIA. The sponsors will go with the fans and not­ some mad man.

    From , on Sat 20 Jun 5:07PM

  7. I am a Lewis and Jenson fan.....

    From , on Sat 20 Jun 4:59PM

  8. MOSLEY THE PERVERT MUST GO!!! MOSLEY IS A NASTY DIRTY­ BAG WITH NO MORALS HE A VILE NAZI RACIST.

    From , on Sat 20 Jun 4:58PM

  9. Mosley is on this blog what have Lewis or Ferrari to do­ with this subject? We are talking about MOSLEY. ­ Don't be fool his employee is on this blog. The­ issue is Mosley destroying F1 and the FOTA forming a­ new Championship which is fan friendly and doesn't­ misgoverns and change the rules at will. Mosley MUST­ GO.

    From , on Sat 20 Jun 4:56PM

  10. No George F I am not a Hamilton fan, you do not need to­ be a Hamilton fan to dislike the ferrari cheats.

    Now­ to my article which you actually ignored the very good­ points that I made. Tell me which of these was­ untrue?

    In fact none of it was untrue, I was just­ pointing out that the other FOTA teams should count­ their fingers after the hand shakes. They would be­ foolish not to be on their guard and even a­ cheating-ferrari @rse licker like yourself would have­ to admit this.

    From Grainger, on Sat 20 Jun 4:44PM

  11. go go max go....im one of those who will follow real­­ racing and follow the manufactures anywhere they­­ go...come back imola and silverstons maybe even­­ etoril...who the hell wants to go to bharain and­ aduabi­ ot whatever is called...???

    From NUNO, on Sat 20 Jun 4:43PM

  12. this is the same man that told the team to do it so­ should King Bernie sue King max Hmmmmmm? it was King­ Max Idea lol so they only have their self to blame Not­ the FOTA!

    From raiders1, on Sat 20 Jun 4:30PM

  13. Grainger....that was spoken like a true Hamilton /­ McLaren "A$$-licker," obviously you not only­ know very little about F1 but should be smashed like­ the parasitic bug that you are!!! Monaco has stated­ that they will not honor a F1 race without­ Ferrari....so take that and weep all you­ want....without Ferrari, there is not F1 at the top­ level. What do you want a new Formula Cosworth series­ that Mosley and Eccelstone are bent on creating against­ the top F1 teams?!!! Way to go FOTA....let's put an­ end to the Bernie and Mad Max era, for once and for­ all...you have the abilities to ruin these tyrants from­ our sport!

    From George F, on Sat 20 Jun 4:23PM

  14. A message for the teams in FOTA, other than ferrari. ­ Are you getting a feeling of deja vu? Well you should­ be.

    Remember a little while back when ferrari were­ with you and you were all discussing a breakaway­ league? All of a sudden the cheating ferrari scum did­ an about face and were back in bed with the FIA. ­ 80million pieces of silver and a rules veto was the­ price then. What will the price be now?

    One thing is­ for sure, ferrari will shaft you.

    From Grainger, on Sat 20 Jun 3:34PM

  15. Max comes up with the way to get teams to back down.­ Call them idiots and then sue them. Then stand for re­ election because he is so popular and good at his job,­ is he really that deluded?

    From paulgreen204, on Sat 20 Jun 3:08PM

  16. The sooner Ecclestone & Mosley get kicked out the­ better, Teams should be able to race without­ interference, choose which tyres, suspension, power­ plants ect ect, they wish to use. But these geriatrics­ are hanging on for dear life, Still trying to milk as­ much as possible into there personal accounts, Get rid­ of both of them.

    From alan, on Sat 20 Jun 3:07PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    FI in Crisis????? that's putting it mildly.­ don't you just hate to see pictures of bernie and­ max? They look dead. Literally

    From harleyboy, on Sat 20 Jun 2:49PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    the poem for you my f1 chumps.

    he is mr hamiltons­ son,­
    and by cheating he had his day in the F1,
    they­ said he­ was great,
    he avoid paying tax to the UK­ state,
    and­ now he just the hopeless bum.

    even the­ lady driver­ laugh in his face
    in the average car he­ not even in the­ race
    it is so very sad
    he not get the­ media attention­ of his dad,
    and now they need to get­ mr alonso to take­ his place.

    From marnio from peru, on Sat 20 Jun 2:12PM

  19. The F1 teams dont need mosely but mosely needs them,­ end of story, they will survive but max n bernie wont.

    From michaelwilkins654, on Sat 20 Jun 1:33PM

  20. A good article breaking down what's going on in the­ F1 fiasco. I hate that F1 has come to this point. ­ Why can't the FIA see that Mosleys continuing­ comments isn't helping the situaton? If the 2010­ list isn't going to be published in the near future­ wouldn't the best course of action now be to have­ everyone shut up and calm down. Hopefully the British­ GP race will be exciting and take everyones mind off­ the terrible state of F1.

    From gegaard, on Sat 20 Jun 12:44PM
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