FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[scotty]

F1 'war' on car makers - Ferrari

Ferrari has said that those in charge of Formula 1 have "waged war" against the major car manufacturers, leading to the withdrawal of several teams.

Toyota quit the sport on Wednesday, following the loss of Honda and BMW, while Renault are also considering their future in F1.

The Ferrari statement comes soon after a change of leadership at the sport's governing body, the FIA.

Max Mosley will be replaced by ex-Ferrari boss Jean Todt as president.

In a statement released on its website, Ferrari compared the sport to the Agatha Christie detective novel 'Ten Little Indians' in which the murderer is not exposed until after the other characters have been killed off.

The statement read: "It could be seen as a parody of "Ten Little Indians," the detective novel by Agatha Christie, first published in England back in 1939, but the reality is much more serious.

"Formula 1 continues to lose major players: in the past 12 months, Honda, BMW, Bridgestone and Toyota, have announced they are leaving the sport.

"In exchange, so to speak, we will now have, Manor, Lotus (at least in name only, as this incarnation has little to do with the team that gave us Colin Chapman, Jim Clark and Ayrton Senna to name but a few,) USF1 and Campos Meta.

"Can we claim that it's a case of like for like, just because the numbers sitting around the table are the same?

"Hardly and we must also wait and see just how many of them will really be there on the grid for the first race of next season in Bahrain and how many will still be there at the end of 2010.

"The reality is that this gradual defection from the F1 fold has more to do with a war waged against the major car manufacturers by those who managed Formula 1 over the past few years, than the result of any economic crisis.

"In Christie's work of fiction, the guilty party was only uncovered when all the other characters died, one after the other. Do we want to wait for this to happen or do we want to pen a different ending to the book on Formula 1?"

Renault held an emergency board meeting on Wednesday to discuss their future in the sport.

The French car manufacturer is considering whether to remain in the sport with its own team, switch to simply being an engine supplier or quit altogether.

Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone have also said they will leave Formula 1 at the end of 2010.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the FIA said: "(We have) repeatedly warned that motor sport cannot outpace the world economic crisis.

"That is why the competing teams have been asked to cut costs and the entry of independent teams has been encouraged.

"The FIA accepted the cost-reduction measures put forward by the teams on the basis that they would ensure a long-term commitment to the championship. Toyota's announcement demonstrates the importance of the original cost-reduction measures set out by the FIA.

"The FIA will now work to ensure that Toyota's departure is managed in the best interests of the championship and will continue to encourage the F1 teams to undertake the necessary cost-cutting measures for the good of the sport."

This is easily one of the more ridiculous things i've read this year. Blathering on about Agatha Christie and whining about something that doesn't really add up on any level, i think they're losing it...

Last time i checked the FIA wanted to put a cap on costs but FOTA basically vetoed it - yet now here we are, we've had 3 teams leave because they cannot afford to stay in F1, and Ferrari are saying that's the FIA's fault? The mind boggles.

[vaptin]

It would be nice if they gave us some evidence,

It'd hold water if they lost the battle with the fia, but they won and supposdley defeated all the nasty things the fia wanted to do . . .

Unless they're banging on about the massive rule changes but I can't see how that is manufacture specfic - maybe a dig at the new tracks?

[bud]

I like this Ferrari

[chemax]

Good analogy, but I don't know if it actually makes sense. Why would they want to break up teams or force manufacturers out?

[vaptin]

they've written crazy stuff on their website as late, maybe its massa being very board.

Ok I may have some rational here: Their blaming the massive rule changes which the fia put forward to try and break the manufacture dominance and since manufacturers have more resources all the cost cutting stuff and standardised stuff which hits them hardest. Therefore unable to get results, and feeling their hard work is all for nothing since the rules will just change again, manufactures are pulling out.

[T Harada]

hello to everyone,
i new here sorry for bad english i from japan
i big fan of f1 in my country people crazy about f1.
i want to tel you that i in shock when i listen that toyota go from f1, in local sport tv chanel some expert from toyota say that real reason why toyota go is not becouse of money, real reason is toyota people feel something bad going in the head of f1 the boses of f1 not doing good job and not be balance to japanese teams for many year and they get very angry from this f1 year.

[chemax]

hello to everyone,
i new here sorry for bad english i from japan
i big fan of f1 in my country people crazy about f1.
i want to tel you that i in shock when i listen that toyota go from f1, in local sport tv chanel some expert from toyota say that real reason why toyota go is not becouse of money, real reason is toyota people feel something bad going in the head of f1 the boses of f1 not doing good job and not be balance to japanese teams for many year and they get very angry from this f1 year.

I wouldn't be surprised if that were true, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough though.

[f1usa]

Do you think Toyota could have been tricked, and beat Renault to the punch by leaving F1 first. Surely, fellow countryman and FIA president Jean Todt wouldn't punish Toyota because he would have to punish Renault also. Well Renault put off announcement about future plans, Toyota is going to get the s**t sued out of them, and looks like Qakbak is #13.

[myownalias]

Ferrari always have something to say about something; I just wish that Montezemolo and co would just STFU. I would say that the primary reason Toyota left is financial after making a huge loss but it could also be to do with all the scandal in F1 damaging their brand identity. But would be ironic as Toyota's John Howett was at the centre of all the FIA vs FOTA battle urging teams to walk out of meetings etc! So by that reckoning it was of their own making!

[Tony_sa]

from F1 live:
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."



I truly agree with this guy....

[headless]

hello to everyone,
i new here sorry for bad english i from japan
i big fan of f1 in my country people crazy about f1.
i want to tel you that i in shock when i listen that toyota go from f1, in local sport tv chanel some expert from toyota say that real reason why toyota go is not becouse of money, real reason is toyota people feel something bad going in the head of f1 the boses of f1 not doing good job and not be balance to japanese teams for many year and they get very angry from this f1 year.

I wouldn't be surprised if that were true, I'm sure we'll find out soon enough though.

Yeah> The b oss was getting impatienrt 2 years ago - i think

[vaptin]

wow ari is agreeing with ferrari, this will make some heads explode

[Tony_sa]

wow ari is agreeing with ferrari, this will make some heads explode

I do think he raises a valid point irrespective whether ferrari may have brought up part of it.

[myownalias]

So by Vatanen's reckoning; Jean Todt will be a continuation of Mosley's regime and the manufacturers realise that and located the exit door as quickly as possible.

I think that Vatanen's statement is more sour grapes about not winning, rather than being factual!

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.

That's not even a factual statement, Mosley never said that; he called Flavio Briatore a loonie, not the Renault corporation.

[Tony_sa]

So by Vatanen's reckoning; Jean Todt will be a continuation of Mosley's regime and the manufacturers realise that and located the exit door as quickly as possible.

I think that Vatanen's statement is more sour grapes about not winning, rather than being factual!

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.

That's not even a factual statement, Mosley never said that; he called Flavio Briatore a loonie, not the Renault corporation.

I considered the sour grapes angle but i actually want to believe what he is saying. Bernie will no doubt defend himself and would be nice to hear his responce