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Tag Archive | "FIA"
FORMULA ONE SPLIT: CRISIS, SHOCK, HORROR, SCANDAL ! Pictures page 3
Formula One teams led by Ferrari and other major manufacturers have called the bluff of FIA President Max (hurts so good) Mosley and announced that they will run a breakaway series beginning next year. At a meeting held at the Renault F1 factory in Oxfordshire the teams refused to back down on their demands for changes for next years regulations. Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso have therefore declined to enter the FIA Formula One Championship for 2010. The announcement, on the eve of what looks set to be the final British GP at Silverstone, seriously ups the ante in the multi-billion dollar stare-down between the teams and the FIA. In a statement issued by FOTA, the teams said that there was no room for further compromise. "It has become clear that the stables cannot continue to make compromises on the fundamental values of the sport," they said. "The teams have no other alternative but to begin to prepare for a new championship which reflects the values of the competitors and their sponsors. According to the statemant the new series will have a transparent governing body, one single set of rules, encourage new entrants, and would better listen to the fans' wishes. Just what role, if any, Bernie Ecclestone may play in this is not yet clear. Despite the posturing of both the teams and the FIA, the real power broker is still Bernie. It is he who controls the sports commercial rights and the valuable TV deals that provide so much of the sport's income. Publicly at least, Ecclestone has shown qualified solidarity with his old mate Max, but Bernie is Bernie and friendship will count for nothing if there's a quid involved. And with literally millions of quids involved expect Bernie to jump wherever it's best for Bernie.
Continue reading...BRABHAM FAMILY NOT A PART OF GRAND PRIX COMEBACK
Friday, June 5, 2009
The Brabham family have distanced themselves from an attempt by an organisation calling itself Brabham Grand Prix Ltd. to bring the iconic name back to F1. In a statement issued last night the Brabham family expressed their surprise at the news that an entry has been submitted for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship by Formtech with the intention of operating as Brabham Grand Prix Limited. "The family would like to make it clear that they are in no way involved with Brabham Grand Prix Limited and received no consultation regarding the company’s plans to resurrect their historic name in Formula One." the statement said. The family is taking legal advice and will take necessary steps to protect their name, reputation and its goodwill. The new Brabham Grand Prix team is led by by German entrepreneur Franz Hilmer, owner of Formtech GmbH, a machine tool business based in Germany. Australian Mark Preston, formerly the technical director of Super Aguri will be technical director. Preston was previously with Super Aguri and the new team says it will operate out of that teams former home, the Leafield Technical Centre. The announcement of the possible return of the Brabham name to F1 came only an hour before the announcement in Melbourne that 15 year old Matthew Brabham, son of Le Mans winner Geoff and the Grandson of three time World Champion Sir Jack, would soon make his Australian circuit racing debut in the Victorian Formula Ford Championship.
Continue reading...RENAULT WARNS FIA: AU REVOIR FORMULE UN
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Renault have issued the strongest warning yet to the FIA that they will withdraw from the sport at the end of the season unless plans to set up a two tier F1 system are scrapped. In a statement issued by the company Renault said that the decision of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to introduce two sets of Formula One technical regulations for the 2010 Formula One season had caused the company to reconsider its entry in next year’s FIA Formula One World Championship. Unlike some other statements from other manufacturers and teams, there is absolutely no ambiguity in Renault's statement. Drop the new rule or we're out. The company expressed its frustration that FOTA’s proposals, including major cost saving measures had been completely ignored without any form of consultation by the FIA. "Renault believes that it is paramount that the governance of the sport is co-ordinated with a spirit of consultation with all parties (FIA, FOM, FOTA) in order to achieve a better balance between the costs and the revenues." The statement also reinstated the company's belief that all entrants in the World Championship must adhere to and operate under the same regulations. President of the ING Renault F1 Team, Bernard Rey, commented: “Renault has always considered Formula One as the pinnacle of motor sport and the perfect stage to demonstrate technical excellence. We remain committed to the sport, however we cannot be involved in a championship operating with different sets of rules, and if such rules are put into effect, we will be forced to pull out from next season.” ING Renault F1 Team Managing Director, Flavio Briatore, commented: “Our aim is to reduce costs while maintaining the high standards that make Formula One one of the most prestigious brands on the market. We want to achieve this in a co-ordinated manner with the regulatory and commercial bodies, and we refuse to accept unilateral governance handed out by the FIA. If the decisions announced by the World Council on the 29th of April 2009 are not revised, we have no choice but to withdraw from the FIA Formula One World Championship at the end of 2009.” Ferrari, Toyota, Red Bull, BMW and Williams have all attacked the proposed regulations, Mercedes, whose McLaren team was recently given a firm but some say inadequate slap on the wrist over the "Lie Gate" affair have been strangely quiet on the topic. With: Renault F1 Media Release
Continue reading...FERRARI SEES RED
Monday, May 4, 2009
Ferrari has raised serious doubts over the FIA's new voluntary 'Budget Cap' system, with President Luca di Montezemolo questioning the path Formula One is headed, even alluding that the Scuderia's involvement in Formula One is 'not a never ending story' The World Motorsport Council ratified the new £40 million 'Budget Cap' at a meeting in Paris last week, a move to stem unnecessary spending from teams. Parties who sign onto the budget cap will gain exclusive technical benefits (See previous story), benefits which are not available to those who remain 'free spenders' It is this 'two tiered' approach that has upset di Montezemolo, as he believes fans are likely to be confused and that the regulations may simply be a knee jerk reaction to the global climate.“Any controversy [regarding] the actual respect of the cost cap would undermine the image of Formula 1 and could seriously damage any involved team”, said the Italian in a letter to FIA Presdient, Max Mosely. The letter, sent on the April 28th, two days before the details of the 'Budget Cap' were announced, declared that Ferrari's powerful status within F1 allowed them the right to air the grievances, something that the FIA should not take likely.
Continue reading...FORMULA ONE: PUT A CAP ON IT ?
Friday, May 1, 2009
The FIA has announced Formula One's sweeping new financial changes at The World Motorsport Council. Most notably, the FIA has introduced a £40 million 'budget cap' program to guarantee the future of current teams, while creating financial intensives to entice potential new teams into Formula One. The penny pinching goes so far as to also include the banning of re-fuelling and tyre warmers for the 2010 Championship. While not compulsory, those teams who do sign up to the program will receive numerous technical freedoms. These include unlimited wind tunnel testing and pre-season track time, along with movable front and rear wings as well as their engines being free of rev-limits. FIA President Max Mosely is quoted as saying “I think they may find it attractive because like everybody else they need to save money. They've got to think of their shareholders' money, and not just spend like in the old days.” Supporter of the concept of a budget cap, Sir Frank Williams, has raised concerns over the optional implementation of the initiative. “We would like to see all the teams operating to one set of regulations and under a budget cap in 2010 and that is the position we will be advocating within FOTA when we meet next week”. The Q&A media release on the FIA's website, stated that “There is one set of technical regulations and as always there are choices for all teams as to how they decide to attack the championships,”
Continue reading...McLAREN: JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE…
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The FIA has issued McLaren with a suspended 3 race ban after the team admitted it's guilt to the World Motorsport Council. In a statement issued just moments ago the FIA said: "Having regard to the open and honest way in which McLaren Team Principal, Mr Martin Whitmarsh, addressed the WMSC and the change in culture which he made clear has taken place in his organisation, the WMSC decided to suspend the application of the penalty it deems appropriate. "That penalty is a suspension of the team from three races of the FIA Formula One World Championship. This will only be applied if further facts emerge regarding the case or if, in the next 12 months, there is a further breach by the team of article 151c of the International Sporting Code." The finding means the team will be on the grid at Barcelona and Lewis Hamilton can continue his defence of his World title. Martin Whitmarsh, Team Principal for McLaren said in a statement released by the team "I would like to thank the FIA World Motor Sport Council members for affording me the opportunity to answer their questions this morning. We are aware that we made serious mistakes in Australia and Malaysia, and I was therefore very glad to be able to apologise for those mistakes once again. I was also pleased to be able to assure the FIA World Motor Sport Council members that we had taken appropriate action with a view to ensuring that such mistakes do not occur again." Of interest is the decision by the FIA not to impose a financial penalty on the team. In these tough economic times a large fine may have been just enough to push engine supplier Mercedes to re-examine their continued involvement with the sport. So the question needs to be asked, was the suspended 3 race ban adequate punishment for McLaren? In Pit Lane wants YOUR opinion just check out the In Pit Lane peoples poll in the bottom right hand corner of the website.
Continue reading...DIFFUSERS LEGAL, BRAWN WINS AGAIN
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
The FIA International Court of Appeal have backed the decision of stewards at both Melbourne and Sepang and declared the "double decker" diffusers of Brawn, Toyota & Williams to be legal. The decision has come as a huge blow to other teams who are now faced with the task of having to design and test similar devices during a tough season and with limited testing opportunities. Ferrari were quick to issue a statement expressing their disappointment about the decision. Stefano Domenicali, Team Principal for Scuderia Ferrari said that "...this decision forces us to intervene on fundamental areas of the car's design in order to be able to compete on an equal footing with some of the teams from a point of view of the technical regulations, and that will take time and money."
Continue reading...WHY I WONT BE AT THIS YEARS AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Every year since 1996 when the Australian Grand Prix first came to Melbourne, I’ve always looked forward to it as the highlight of the year. The opportunity to watch my favorite sport live in person without exuberant travel expenses is always a good opportunity. To live that “chasing the dream” lifestyle if only for one week of the year. However, 2009 will set another precedent for me as I chose to shun the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park and Formula 1 as a whole. To my friends that I have made over the years at Albert Park especially wonderful fellow fans and former members of the Super Aguri F1 team who have found employment elsewhere and are traveling to Melbourne, I apologize for not being able to see you at the AGP this year. For those of you who know me well, your first reaction to my statement above would be: “Is it only because Takuma Sato lost his ride?” That is partially correct. Amongst other arguments, for a sport to encourage and changing rules to suit overtaking then deny a competitor who doesn’t need rule changes to be able to overtake on track is well beyond me. However, that is not the entire story. I estimated I’ve spent over AUD$10,000 over the last 13 AGPs I’ve attended, and that is not including the souvenirs that I have purchased. However, I’ve found other than making friends at autograph alley and being given some very special privileges by Takuma Sato and his management as well as my friends at SAF1; my memories of the AGP are almost always of working like a slave for meager student wages to save up to fund my one big splurge each year at the AGP. However, for where the money has gone, I’ve learnt the hard way that trackside F1 fans are still very much being given a raw deal by F1, the FIA, race organizers and certain local businesses.
Continue reading...FOTA’S F1 FUTURE, CRYSTAL BALL OR 8 BALL ?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The long awaited FOTA statement was finally released on 5th of March detailing technical, commercial and regulations that have been agreed and will be implemented into future seasons of Formula 1 racing. While it is encouraging to see all team principals participating and agreeing to cement their vision of the future of the sport, the current economic situation and the unsustainable use of resources provided have now forced their hands on the teams to agree to many technical regulation changes. Most of which involve homologating and producing long life or single make components; thus reducing the fascination of and image of technical advancement of Formula 1 racing. This however does indeed take Formula 1 back to its roots before regulations of major components being required to self manufactured became applicable. However, it does not go as far back as off the shelf chassis as was the controversies over the last few years with the so-called customer cars. This does indeed cut down costs associated with the running of the cars however I don’t believe the cost cutting measures have gone far enough.
Continue reading...LIGHTS OUT IN MALAYSIA
Friday, February 20, 2009
Bernie Ecclestone's plans for more Asian based night races has taken another step backwards as organisers of the Malaysian Grand Prix announced that there will be no night race at their circuit, at least until 2015. Like Melbourne, Australia, the promoters and the Malaysian Government were encouraged to considered a night race to better fit in with peak TV viewing times in Europe. Sepang Circuit Spokesperson Irwan Rahman said that installing a lighting system to illuminate the circuit, at a cost estimated of around USD$5.77 million, was too expensive, and there was no guarantee that it would increase the revenue. Like Melbourne, Malaysia has agreed to move the start time of the race to later in the day putting the race into an early morning time-slot in Europe.
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