Last week FOTA and FIA finally reached some sort of a deal and made peace. While the deal is still in place that peace hasn’t lasted for long. Instead of shutting up and moving on both sides obviously prefer to continue their war of words. Some FOTA representatives while presenting the deal to public could not resist to make few provocative remarks aimed at Max Mosley. Max Mosley being Max Mosley pulled the “I may reconsider and run again in October” weapon from his arsenal. So what is next ?

Well I believe that while the big egos will keep on talking on both sides of the divide the breakaway series is dead (for now) and the preparations for 2010 Formula One season will now go full steam ahead.

Read the rest of this entry »

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here

The World Motor Sport Council met in Paris on 24 June 2009. The following decisions were taken:

FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

All currently competing teams have committed to the FIA Formula One World Championship.

There will be no alternative series or championship and the rules for 2010 onwards will be the 2009 regulations as well as further regulations agreed prior to 29 April 2009.

As part of this agreement, the teams will, within two years, reduce the costs of competing in the championship to the level of the early 1990s. The manufacturer teams have agreed to assist the new entries for 2010 by providing technical assistance.

The manufacturer teams have further agreed to the permanent and continuing role of the FIA as the sport’s governing body. They have also committed to the commercial arrangements for the FIA Formula One World Championship until 2012 and have agreed to renegotiate and extend this contract before the end of that period.

All teams will adhere to an upgraded version of the governance provisions of the 1998 Concorde Agreement.

The following teams have been accepted for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.

Team (Constructor)
SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO (FERRARI)
VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES (McLAREN MERCEDES)
BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM (BMW SAUBER)
RENAULT F1 TEAM (RENAULT)
PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING (TOYOTA)
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO (STR TBA)
RED BULL RACING (RBR TBA)
AT&T WILLIAMS (WILLIAMS TOYOTA)
FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM (FORCE INDIA MERCEDES)
BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM (BRAWN TBA)
CAMPOS META TEAM (CAMPOS COSWORTH)
MANOR GRAND PRIX (MANOR COSWORTH)
TEAM US F1 (TEAM US F1 COSWORTH)

In view of this new agreement and with the prospect of a stable future for Formula One, FIA President Max Mosley has confirmed his decision not to stand for re-election in October this year.

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here

The FOTA teams met today at Renault’s Enstone factory ahead of yet another deadline imposed on them by FIA. After the four hour meeting the FOTA teams (Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Brawn, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso) issued this statement:

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.

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.

It has become clear however, that 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.

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.

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here

(Another) Friday deadline looms and both warring parties are sending out messages calling for agreement or compromise.

Max Mosley suggest the teams to accept the 1998 governance provisions by exchange of letters. FIA and FOTA can then negotiate a new 2009 Concorde Agreement under the protection of the 1998 arrangement. Mosley also wants the teams to accept the GBP40 million budget limit for now, with further discussions that could see it changed following in the next few weeks.

Read the rest of this entry »

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here

Here is the FIA press release:

2010 FIA Formula One World Championship Entry List
12/06/2009

Following the completion of the applications process for teams to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, the following teams have been confirmed.

TEAM
SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO
RED BULL RACING
AT&T WILLIAMS
FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM
CAMPOS GRAND PRIX
MANOR GRAND PRIX
TEAM US F1
VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES*
BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM*
RENAULT F1 TEAM*
PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING*
BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM*

*These five teams have submitted conditional entries.The FIA has invited them to lift those conditions following further discussions to be concluded not later than close of business on Friday 19 June.

The maximum number of cars permitted to enter the 2010 Championship has been increased to 26, two being entered by each competitor. Pending completion of the discussions referred to above, further due diligence is currently taking place on other potential entries.

Read the rest of this entry »

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here

Max Mosley asked FOTA to respond to his letter by the end of yesterday. FOTA duly sent the reply to FIA, the details however haven’t been made public.

The only comment on FOTA response came from FIA:

“The FIA has received a letter and various attachments from FOTA, the contents of which are not entirely negative, and we are currently examining the details.”

A twitter message from 5Live last night suggested that “BBC understands FOTA teams will remove conditions for entry to 2010 and discuss new regs and rules with FIA representatives!”

According to Autosport however “FOTA was unwilling to comment about the situation, but it is understood that the teams made it clear that they were not in a position to be able to drop the conditions attached to their entry yet.”

At least they are still talking …

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here

Max Mosley has written to FOTA with his proposed way out of the current mess:

Read the rest of this entry »

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here

This is getting ridiculous. First March Engineering (co-founded by Max Mosley 40 years ago) announced it has lodged the entry to 2010 F1 championship. Then Franz Hilmer, who bought the assets of Super Aguri team last year, filed his entry as Brabham Grand Prix, a news that came as a surprise to the Brabham family. And now Litespeed came out saying that they are using Lotus name for their potential 2010 F1 entry.

Some people behind some of these projects may have genuine Formula One plans. And yes, it would be nice to have these historic names back in Formula One. But, unfortunately, considering the circumstances, all this does not seem to be about bringing the old and long gone outfits back to F1. This looks to be more about piling up the pressure on the FOTA teams.

The message seems to be obvious – if the big names of today decide to go, F1 can continue with the big names of yesterday…

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here

Not much has been happening in F1 since the deadline day last Friday, not much that has been made public. The most interesting probably is the ever growing list of new teams that submitted their 2010 entries.

Campos Meta, US F1 Team, Prodrive and Lola announced their entry submissions before the deadline. Over the weekend news came out Austria that Alex Wurz lodged F1 entry with a new Team Superfund. The latest team believed to have submitted the entry is March (competed in F1 between 1970 – 1993). Some sources say that Litespeed is also among the potential new entrants. The only thing on Litespeed website however is their few weeks old press release stating their intention to apply for their place on 2010 F1 grid.

Read the rest of this entry »

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here

The deadline for teams to submit their 2010 Formula 1 entries has passed. The only thing that is clear now is the next important date – June 12, the day when the 2010 Formula One entry list will be published.

Four new teams – Campos Meta, US F1 Team, Prodrive and Lola – submitted their entries before the deadline, at least these four made it public. Earlier this week Williams also entered the 2010 championship splitting from FOTA.

Then late on Friday all nine FOTA teams (membership of Williams has been suspended) submitted their entry. This might have sounded like exciting news until reading the press release that came with it:

Read the rest of this entry »

F1Wolf

labels: plugin code here