F1-Blog

FOTA / FIA

It seems that FOTA have announced that they will not be changing their original conditional entries, and as such have no choice but to go ahead with their own championship.

This means that Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW-Sauber, Toyota, Brawn GP, Red Bull and Toro Rosso will not be taking part in next years FIA F1 Championship.

This leaves Williams, Force India, Manor, US-F1 and Campos as the only announced teams for the FIA event next year, with most of those teams currently using an engine supplied by a FOTA manufacturer.

What this will mean to the F1 championship we do not yet know, will all the cars now end up using the Cosworth engine and gearbox package (as it seems the only choice) at the moment, and how much does that mean as teams will have already started designing packages around the engines they expected to be using next year.

Here’s the FOTA Press Release (link).

Since the formation of FOTA last September the teams have worked together and sought to engage the FIA and commercial rights holder, to develop and improve the sport.

Unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil has inevitably placed great challenges before the F1 community. FOTA is proud that it has achieved the most substantial measures to reduce costs in the history of our sport. In particular the manufacturer teams have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the FOTA initiatives.

The FOTA teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future. Following these efforts all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012.

The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide FOTA. The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006. Despite this and the uncompromising environment, FOTA has genuinely sought compromise.

It has become clear however, that the teams cannot continue to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 World Championship. These teams therefore have no alternative other than to commence the preparation for a new Championship which reflects the values of its participants and partners.

This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important stakeholders. The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series. (editors highlighting)

Note to Eds: Statement issued by FOTA on behalf of BMW-Sauber, BrawnGP, Scuderia Ferrari, McLaren- Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Toyota.

So it seems this years British GP at Silverstone might be the last one for more than one reason.

The one good side to this story might be that the FIA are pressurised into forcing Max Mosley to resign, and try come to some agreement with the FOTA teams, as there will not be an F1 championship like we have come accustomed to if the manufacturer teams leave.

UPDATE – The FIA have responded to the FOTA press release with this.

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.

Now I can assume that both the FIA and FOTA have probably been as stubborn as each other in any negotiations, however I also think that the FIA should have a lot less say in the technical rules of the championship, and stick to what they historically have done best, maintaining the safety of the drivers, fans and teams all around the world.

We know that Lola have pulled their application for the 2010 series, and as long as the funds are still around they may like to join the FOTA organised series. I’m also sure that Dave Richards would quite happily join the FOTA series, and brand the ProDrive team as Aston Martin.

We will have to see who speaks up next, and see if there is any possibility of the two parties coming to some agreement.