FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

By Jonathan Noble Friday, June 6th 2008, 23:19 GMT

Formula One teams have formally started the process of framing a new Concorde Agreement after lengthy talks with the sport's commercial boss Bernie Ecclestone in Montreal on Friday afternoon.

With the teams and Ecclestone all believed to be keen to sort out a document that lays out the running of the sport, they met for more than two hours to begin the process that it is hoped will result in a new document that binds them together.

It is understood that the teams discussed with Ecclestone what they wanted to see encompassed in the new document - with further talks likely to take place this weekend.

Once the proposals have all been agreed, Ecclestone will have to put together a draft document, which will then require either further amendments or will be signed by all the teams.

But even if the teams and Ecclestone can agree a way forward for a new Concorde Agreement, the matter is likely to face further hurdles because the FIA appears unwilling to sign up too unless it believes the contract fulfills certain criteria.

In a recent letter that FIA president Max Mosley sent to national clubs, he wrote: "In my view, we should only sign a new Concorde Agreement if it reinforces the authority of the FIA and deals properly with the major financial crisis which appears imminent in F1.

"Costs have gone out of control, income is insufficient and major manufacturers are in difficulty with their core businesses. Only with fair and realistic financial arrangements will we avoid losing more teams."

This stance may not fit in with Ecclestone and the team's plans, however – especially with desire from some outfits to have a say in the framing of technical regulations.

[McLaren Fan]

From F1-Live.com:

Ecclestone warns Mosley against F1 meddling
Or risk involvement of the European Commission

Bernie Ecclestone has warned Max Mosley to keep his nose out of F1's commercial affairs.

It emerged at the weekend that, amid the threat of a 'breakaway' series, the FIA President is planning a counter-offensive for the World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Wednesday.

It is expected he will only sign a new Concorde Agreement if F1's owners, run by chief executive Ecclestone, agree to release more income for the competing teams.

But in an interview with The Times newspaper, Ecclestone reminds his former ally that the FIA is not allowed to meddle in the sport's commercial affairs.

"I'm sure if that happened, the European Commission would move in," the 77-year-old said. "Under the agreement with the European Commission, the FIA are the regulators of the sport - like the police - and Formula One Management are the commercial rights holders."

"The money doesn't belong to Max, it doesn't belong to him to touch," Ecclestone added.

He laughed at suggestions he is unlikely to win a war with Mosley because he is lacking the trained barrister's "world-class political brain.
"

For example, while Mosley may win the teams' support over the issue of more commercial income, at Wednesday's WMSC the FIA will simultaneously call on the teams to pay higher championship entry fees.

"I'd hardly say what Max has been doing lately is world class or political. In any case, most of the time it's the other way round. He calls me for advice," Ecclestone said.

But as all-out war with Mosley now seems inevitable, Ecclestone vehemently denies that he is the furtive figure behind the devastating expose about Mosley's umpalumpa life.

"You must be joking," was the reply.

"It is nothing in the world to do with me in any shape or form," he said from his London office.

"Secondly, this sort of thing is not my style -- not the sort of way I would operate. Thirdly, there is no way in the world that I would want to destroy Max."

"To suggest I would want to do that is such a lot of bollocks, quite frankly -- it's not true."

[bud]

the sports in great hands