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[texasmr2]

winner takes all system...

the biggest facepalm ever...

[FerrariFan63]

Its about bloody time someone told Bernie to pack it in. If all the teams are against these proposed changes then FOTA should tell Bernie it isn't going to happen.

I predicted this would happen when the FIA was forced to back down before. Basically, it's about the expression of power. The FIA, having had an embarrassing climbdown, will want to emphasise that it's in charge. Whether or not the system is good or not has no relevance to the FIA at this point.

[MAD MAX]

Point taken, but if all the teams said no, then the FIA must listen. Under the proposed changes if Jenson continues to have a blinding 2009 then he would walk away half to three quarters of the season as the WDC. What would be the point for the other teams, madness

[FerrariFan63]

Point taken, but if all the teams said no, then the FIA must listen.

I don't believe that the FIA has to listen. In fact, I think the FIA wants to prove that it doesn't have to listen.

[bud]

i'm thinking it was brought back into the equation as a leverage tool because the FIA knows they will have some negotiating to do with FOTA over the initial 2010 regs.

[kerc]

This will be a big, fat FAIL.

[cap-dude]

Point taken, but if all the teams said no, then the FIA must listen.

I don't believe that the FIA has to listen. In fact, I think the FIA wants to prove that it doesn't have to listen.

The FIA are just proving they're stubborn jackasses.

They no longer appear to care about the millions of loyal followers F1 has had over the years. The just care about getting mr and mrs joe blog who know nothing much about the sport aside from the fact someone from their country is in it, to start watching F1.

You know what F1's problem is, commercialism.

[Arsenal 1-nil]

Point taken, but if all the teams said no, then the FIA must listen.

I don't believe that the FIA has to listen. In fact, I think the FIA wants to prove that it doesn't have to listen.

The FIA are just proving they're stubborn jackasses.

They no longer appear to care about the millions of loyal followers F1 has had over the years. The just care about getting mr and mrs joe blog who know nothing much about the sport aside from the fact someone from their country is in it, to start watching F1.

You know what F1's problem is, commercialism.

Truer words have never been said.

[FerrariFan63]

I don't believe that the FIA has to listen. In fact, I think the FIA wants to prove that it doesn't have to listen.

The FIA are just proving they're stubborn jackasses.

Yes. And I believe that the FIA wants to prove that they're stubborn jackasses.

It's a reasonable theory to say that the medals system might be a distractor or just put up to be negotiated away.

[Jensonb]

I think the manufacturers more than anyone want to wrest power from the FIA and i think the FIA(Max) will do anything to stop it. Its all about power for max. First it was the diffuser arguement-that could esily have been sorted out long before it got to the state it did. Now its capping. If Max can entice teams to accept capping he will isolate the manufacturers. At the moment Brawn probably stands most to gain from capping. Max has a couple of years to split the teams up and prevent a unified stand against him . I doubt he would stop at anything to prevent that stand.

That implies that the Budget Cap is not a good idea. And that's not true at all, it's a good idea. The bad idea is the two-tier formula. Brawn and the other independents will stick together, and the new teams with them. It is the manufacturers who risk weakening the teams' power, they ought to get on the bus and accept the cap. But they probably won't.

[racechick]

They're not against the cap in principal, quite the contrary. They are against the terms of it being dictated rather than negotiated and the resultant two tier system that will ensue.

[f1ea]

I hope the F1 teams part with the FIA. When will the teams say 'enough'?

I think F1 does not need the FIA. I am hoping for a "league" where the league itself appoints the judge and set intelligent rules based on competition rather than political / comercial interests; they should distribute their earnings accordingly, without an 'outside' organism dictating who earns what, but rather a common reasonable agreement without ghosts or intermediaries. Such affairs like the spygate, liegate... the recent ridiculous rules and changes... Ferrari earning more than others... the safety car fiasco... the 'endangered' venues... blah. I'm tired of this crap.

There has never been a better time for a breakaway.

[f1usa]

I hope the F1 teams part with the FIA. When will the teams say 'enough'?

I think F1 does not need the FIA. I am hoping for a "league" where the league itself appoints the judge and set intelligent rules based on competition rather than political / comercial interests; they should distribute their earnings accordingly, without an 'outside' organism dictating who earns what, but rather a common reasonable agreement without ghosts or intermediaries. Such affairs like the spygate, liegate... the recent ridiculous rules and changes... Ferrari earning more than others... the safety car fiasco... the 'endangered' venues... blah. I'm tired of this crap.

There has never been a better time for a breakaway.

Wouldn't you love for FOTA to quietly reject the BS rules imposed upon them by the FIA for past two years. FOTA should not publish the results of meeting today or topics of discussion. Keep Max, Bernie and the FIA in the dark and start negotiations with major sponsors, auto companies, race track promoters and negotiate your own TV and commercial rights agreements. See where it leads.

[f1ea]

FOTA call for ‘urgent’ talks with the FIA
Teams seeking influence in the direction of Formula One

Following the announcement last week from the FIA in which the sport's governing body cemented an optional £40 million (US$ 60m) budget cap for the 2010 season, the Formula One Teams' Association met today at Heathrow to discuss the issue. Many FOTA members are against the rule in fear of a 'two-tier' series.

The changes to the regulations adopted by the FIA's World Motor Sport Council ahead of the 2010 championship have caused some controversy, as the conditions surrounding the budget cap will grant much leeway to the teams taking the option.

Teams preferring to avoid budget caps will be held under several restrictions, thereby creating a so-called 'two-tier' F1 series with the existence of two sets of rules operating simultaneously.

Ferrari and BMW Sauber have already been vocal in their fears for the future of the championship as the FIA push on with massive cost cuts that will undoubtedly slash the size of the existing Formula One teams, but – perhaps - at the same time could encourage new entrants such as Lola, iSport and Prodrive into the sport.

"The FOTA Executive Committee met today [at] Heathrow to examine the new regulations proposed by the FIA for the 2010 F1 Championship and to evaluate the progress of the negotiations with the Commercial Rights Holder for the renewal of the Concorde Agreement," a statement began.

The Concorde Agreement is a legal binding between the FIA, the governing body of the series, as well as Formula One Administration/Management, the commercial rights holders. The last such deal has already expired with rumours that some teams have committed long term, while others suggest it is just a memorandum of understanding and therefore subject to change.

However, as expected, the budget cap plan accepted by the WMSC does not concur with FOTA's proposal to reduce the teams' annual budgets over the next three years instead of a drastic immediate cut coming into effect next year.

"FOTA held a positive and constructive meeting and agreed to continue working together in a methodical manner for the definition of further cost reduction in 2010 and 2011, progressing along the path begun in 2008," indicates the press release.

It is this issue which the teams take exceptions to.

Much has been written about the teams possibly breaking away and forming their own series – an increasingly viable option which seems to be slowly gathering public support.

There are of course many advantages for them taking this route, notably the fact that half of the revenue generated by such a series would not disappear into the pockets of FOM/FOA.

It is arguably this issue that drives FOTA to look ahead rather than the rule changes being imposed by the FIA – with seemingly no FOTA influence - as cost cutting means massive job cuts for many and also the leverage for FOM CEO Bernie Ecclestone to slash the television revenue the teams receive in response to such cost caps.

Nothing is simple in Formula One, but as a golden rule, look at the money flow...

Among other controversial points, the WMSC agreed to adopt the 'winner-takes-all' system to name future World Champions, which is not an option supported by the teams - nor the general public it seems.

"FOTA has concerns with the decisions taken at the last WMSC meeting regarding the 2010 regulations and therefore asks to begin urgent consultations with the FIA," the statement concludes.

Earl ALEXANDER / Daniel BASTIEN
© CAPSIS International

[scotty]

I think the manufacturers more than anyone want to wrest power from the FIA and i think the FIA(Max) will do anything to stop it. Its all about power for max. First it was the diffuser arguement-that could esily have been sorted out long before it got to the state it did. Now its capping. If Max can entice teams to accept capping he will isolate the manufacturers. At the moment Brawn probably stands most to gain from capping. Max has a couple of years to split the teams up and prevent a unified stand against him . I doubt he would stop at anything to prevent that stand.

That implies that the Budget Cap is not a good idea. And that's not true at all, it's a good idea. The bad idea is the two-tier formula. Brawn and the other independents will stick together, and the new teams with them. It is the manufacturers who risk weakening the teams' power, they ought to get on the bus and accept the cap. But they probably won't.

Yep. They (the manufacturers, not FOTA) must surely know they've had their bluff called here. They can't even threaten to leave because there are that many teams who could concievably replace them, or even break away into their own series cause it'll be those 5 manufacturer teams spending what they want and that'd be it - never gonna work!

It annoys me seeing all these 'FOTA calls for talks' etc articles because it isn't FOTA at all, just the manufacturers... who may well agree to the idea of the cap, but want it to be much higher so their spending advantage isn't as badly affected.