Formula 1 has been thrown into chaos after
eight of its major teams said they are now planning to set up a
rival championship for the 2010 season.
The threat by members of the F1 Teams Association (Fota)
intensifies their row with world motorsport boss Max Mosley over
his budget cap proposals.
"The teams have declined to alter their original conditional
entries to the 2010 F1 Championship," said the teams.
"We've no alternative than to commence preparation for a new
championship."
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Mosley was insistent on introducing a voluntary £40m budget cap
for teams to curtail a "financial arms race" in F1.
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F1 breakaway would be bad - Sutil
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But Fota refused to agree to his conditions, prompting
championship leader Brawn GP, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota,
BMW Sauber, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso to take their drastic
action.
They announced their decision following a four-hour meeting on
Thursday night ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix at
Silverstone.
"Since the formation of Fota last September the teams have
worked together and sought to engage the FIA and commercial rights
holder (Bernie Ecclestone), to develop and improve the sport," read
a Fota statement.
"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.
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"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, 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."
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Ecclestone brushes off questions
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Fota added that its championship would put F1 fans first and
boast the best drivers and sponsors.
"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," added the
statement.
"The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and
companies historically associated with the highest level of
motorsport will all feature in this new series."
Former champions Williams and Force India have already committed
unconditionally to the FIA's world championship along with three
new entrants - Campos, US F1 and Manor.
The FIA has said there are other would-be newcomers waiting to
take the places of those teams that refused to enter
unconditionally, although one, Lola, has already withdrawn its
application.
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The stage is also set for a legal battle, with the FIA saying
champions Ferrari and the two Red Bull teams have existing
contracts which commit them to the existing championship.
The FIA had set a 19 June deadline for five teams - Brawn,
BMW-Sauber, McLaren, Renault and Toyota - to convert their
provisional entries into unconditional ones or risk being
excluded.
The FIA responded to the teams' move in a statement on Friday,
saying: "We are disappointed but not surprised by Fota's inability
to reach a compromise in the best interests of the sport."
It claimed 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 statement added: "The deadline for unconditional entries to
the 2010 FIA Formula 1 World Championship will expire on Friday
evening. The 2010 entry list will be announced on Saturday."
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We have a duty to protect F1 - Horner (UK only)
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BBC F1 pundit and former team boss Eddie Jordan said it might
ultimately need Mosley to announce he is not seeking another term
of office to resolve F1's civil war.
He told Radio 5 Live: "It's posturing, but it has become very
serious, and heads will roll before this sorts itself out."
Jordan added there was "absolutely not a chance" that the sport
could sustain two rival series next season.
The BBC, which broadcasts F1 in the UK, said in a statement: "We
are monitoring the situation."
It added: "We never comment on the details of contracts, because
it is commercially confidential information."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8108488.stm
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If this F1
civil war continues and all the big guns form a breakaway series.
F1 will be full of "amatuer" drivers and small teams. It will no
longer be attractive. Which would be more interesting? Force India
fighting for the lead or Ferrari fighting for the lead? F1 will no
longer be interesting. All the planing and preparation will be for
naught as no one will watch it.