F1 Teams Revolt Against FIA and Max Mosley
Mad Max Mosley and the FIA have pushed and pushed this year in the area of cost cutting. Alas, they have pushed to far. The F1 teams are in full revolt and the sport stands on the edge of ruin.
The economic meltdown has done a number on most business niches other than those involved in bankruptcy, foreclosures or repossessions. For those businesses, these are the glory days, but I digress. The economic meltdown has given rise to much needed changes in Formula One from the perspective of costs. The costs have become so high that epic privateers like Williams could no longer compete. Something needed to be done.
The amazing thing is Formula One actually did something. Team engineers sat down with FIA reps and tested different approaches. Vicious rivals like McLaren and Ferrari made peace and the FOTA was formed. Prices were slashed on engines and development by limiting the areas of the car that could be worked on. Privateers were taken care of by teams guaranteeing a low, set cost for things such as engine for a year.
The changes have worked. You need look at only two areas to see it. First, Brawn GP is wiping the field in the points standing. The big challenger to Brawn? Red Bull and Toyota. Of the three, only Toyota is a manufacturer backed team. Even the morbid Williams team has show massive pace, but just in practice. Max Mosley, the FIA, Ecclestone and the teams deserve credit for taking these steps. The good times couldn’t last however. Mad Max Mosley had to push it too far.
As you know by now, the teams are in full revolt. The problem? Mosley and the FIA are unilaterally passing new rules. These include things such as setting a $60 million “voluntary” budget cap. Teams don’t have to follow the budget, but they’ll have no hope of winning given the restrictions on teams that don’t.
This has led to a revolt be teams for a variety of reasons. The first is contractual. Many teams are committed contractually to spend money with vendors for years into the future. They’ll either have to pay these agreements with no benefit or be sued for not doing so. Second, Formula One is supposed to be the technological height of racing. Now it is looking more and more like CART racing in the United States – complete with buttons you can push for extra thrust and different tires being required on each race.
The teams have spoken. Ferrari, Renault, Toyota, BMW, Red Bull and other are ready to quit F1. Mosley seems to think the sport would survive. Mosley is bluffing. He and Ecclestone know that Formula One without Ferrari is a circuit with very low television ratings. A meeting has been set up this Friday between the teams, Ecclestone and Mosley. This is the classic case of Mosley and Ecclestone playing good cop/bad cop with the teams to get something. They’ve grabbed all they can, so expect them to back off their position at the meeting and for Formula One to survive.
Lemmy