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FORMULA ONE: AS SEEN ON TV

Friday, December 11, 2009

Australian free to air television network "Network Ten" have announced a five-year extension of its exclusive Australian broadcast rights to Formula 1. The new agreement commences at the start of the 2011season and extends through to the end of 2015. The new agreement with Formula One Management will see the network continue it's live F1 coverage on the digital only ONE HD Sports channel as well as with delayed coverage on TEN. The Australian Grand Prix race will also be broadcast live simultaneously on TEN as is required under Australia's anti-siphoning rules. For the first time the new deal also covers online, mobile and IPTV rights as well. Network Ten's general manager – sport, David White, said: "Formula 1 has always had a large, passionate and loyal following in Australia."

NO SPLIT IN F1, MOSLEY GONE! IT’S GOOD NEWS WEEK!

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

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NO SPLIT IN F1, MOSLEY GONE! IT’S GOOD NEWS WEEK!

The great Formula One breakaway crisis is apparently over with FIA President Max (hurts so good) Mosley finally falling on his sword and doing what he should have done this time last year. Mosley announced to the World Motorsport Council meeting in Paris today that he would not be standing for re-election. Mosley told reporters after the meeting that there will be no split. "We have agreed to a reduction of costs," he said. "There will be one F1 championship in 2010 but the objective is still to get back to the spending levels of the early nineties within two years." It is believed that Mosley's position became untenable after meeting with long time supporter Bernie Ecclestone and [FOTA] chairman Luca di Montezemolo. It is believed that Ecclestone warned Mosley that if he did not stand aside then Ecclestone would join with FOTA in staging an alternative World Championship. The new agreement means that the teams must call off the breakaway series and sign up to a new Concorde Agreement until 2012. A unified Formula One, and we get rid of Mosley. all in all a job well done. I think Champagne is called for.

IMG LINK RAISES THE STAKES IN F1 BREAKAWAY

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

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IMG LINK RAISES THE STAKES IN F1 BREAKAWAY

Website Grand Prix.com is suggesting that global sports management juggernaut IMG could be the people behind the promotion of an "alternative F1" series. IMG is one of the World's largest sports promotion and management companies and if anybody can rival Bernie Ecclestone for professionalism and global reach then it's IMG. IMG has a global portfolio that includes many of the worlds biggest sporting events and the company has plenty of motorsport experience including running a number of major street races including the Surfers Paradise Indy race and several Champcar rounds in the USA. It also has run Bathurst and the Sandown enduros here in Australia. Currently they are responsible for the media and marketing rights to events including the LeMans Series, NASCAR, NHRA Drag Racing and The World Speedway Grand Prix. Interestingly IMG is also a media partner of the Williams F1 racing team, one of only two current F1 teams to commit themselves to the traditional FIA series next year. FOTA is scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss the planning for their series, certainly, if as rumoured IMG is involved, then the chances of it happening and operating successfully just got a whole lot better.

FOTA’S RUMOURED CALENDAR. EMERALD CITY GP MISSES OUT, WIZARD SAID TO BE FURIOUS

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

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Several media outlets including "The Guardian" in England are reporting an alleged calendar for FOTA's break away Formula One series. Of most interest to Australian fans is the inclusion of Adelaide as the series finale in November. Adelaide's end of year bash was always a highlight of the International F1 year and many GP regulars would be thrilled to see it's return. However the listing of Surfers Paradise as an alternative clearly shows the true nature of this calendar. There is about as much chance of Surfers ever hosting any kind of serious F1 standard race as there is of me hosting the Oscars. The track is seriously narrow, there is no run off area and the area seriously lacks much of the major infrastructure need to host a GP type event. The track already struggles to cater for the previous Champcar/IndyCar event so how they would cope with something five times as big is anybody's guess.... More

FIA RESPONDS TO FOTA THREAT: SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO…

Friday, June 19, 2009

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The FIA have released a terse press release in response to the announcement that FOTA teams including Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, BMW Sauber and Brawn GP would stage a rival Formula One series in 2010. The simple 110 word statement reads: The FIA has noted the latest press statement from FOTA. The FIA is disappointed but not surprised by FOTA’s inability to reach a compromise in the best interests of the sport. It is clear that elements within FOTA have sought this outcome throughout the prolonged period of negotiation and have not engaged in the discussions in good faith. The FIA cannot permit a financial arms race in the Championship nor can the FIA allow FOTA to dictate the rules of Formula One. The deadline for unconditional entries to the 2010 FIA Formula World Championship will expire this evening. The 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship entry list will be announced tomorrow. Meanwhile here in beautiful GirtbySea, Victorian tourism and special events apologist Tim Holding has announced to an eager and bewildered mainstream media that the Albert Park GP will go ahead as planned no matter what happens in Europe. Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding said the contract with Mr Ecclestone ensures a Formula 1 Grand Prix takes place every year up until 2015. "This is part of the pushing and shoving that Formula 1 is well known for,'' Mr Holding said. Speaking to the Murdoch media owned Herald Sun Holding said "We know these negotiations will continue and we also know that we will get a good outcome. Let's give the negotiations that are currently underway an opportunity to run their course.'' Mr Holding left the media conference on his magical flying carpet to return to Asgard.

FORMULA ONE SPLIT: CRISIS, SHOCK, HORROR, SCANDAL ! Pictures page 3

Friday, June 19, 2009

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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.

RENAULT WARNS FIA: AU REVOIR FORMULE UN

Thursday, May 14, 2009

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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

FORMULA ONE: PUT A CAP ON IT ?

Friday, May 1, 2009

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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,”

FOTA’S F1 FUTURE, CRYSTAL BALL OR 8 BALL ?

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

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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.

F1′S FUTURE, A BRAVE NEW WORLD OR MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING?

Thursday, March 5, 2009

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F1′S FUTURE, A BRAVE NEW WORLD OR MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING?

The long awaited statement from the Formula One Teams Association was released last Thursday with teams united in a call for a radical cut in costs, a new points system and better access to teams and drivers for the public and media. The announcement called for an immediate change in the points system to provide more incentive for a win. Also proposed are changes to technical regulations to extend the working life of engines, and limitations on the use of exotic materials and a cutback in wind tunnel and CFD modelling. Teams have already agreed to cuts in some areas for this year with Wind tunnel use restricted this year, and teams only allowed to use 60% models and maximum speeds of 50m/s. For 2009 teams will limit engine use to eight engines per driver for season, and the engines will be limited to a 18,000rpm maximum. There will be a restriction of the number of parts or updates per year for the chassis with one single specification per year for wheels/survival cell/roll structures and front and rear impact structures. Modifications will be limited to two homologation versions for suspension assemblies and skid blocks , three specs for engine cover, sidepods, diffuser, floor and air ducts and five for wings, where trimming will be allowed." FOTA will be put in place a three-year homologation period for transmissions, meaning no development or new gearbox design from 2010 to 2012. There will be four gearboxes per driver per season and teams will be able to buy a gearbox package for 1.5 million Euros. One of the more controversial proposals is that FOTA is aiming to have a standard KERS for 2010 and that it will be put out to tender. This would seem to contradict the idea that competition between manufacturers to build better, lighter and more efficient KERS would provide a direct and tangible benefit to the main stream auto industry. Race distances have also been put under the spotlight with a call for a reduction in race distances to 250km or a maximum of one hour 40 minutes. The public perception of Formula One as aloof and inaccessible will be targeted with a number of proposals to increase interaction between fans and teams.