Thread: ** F1 - FOTA announces breakaway series **

Originally Posted by icruze

Fan base will go where Ferrari, Brawn, BMW, McLaren, Renault and Toyota race. F1 would be screwed. I still think this is still posturing but I hope they do start their own series.

+1 - hm the question is if it would be the same again?!

the f1 lost in attraction when michael schumacher left...

F1 chaos as top teams quit - Motorsport, Sport - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Eight Formula One teams including Ferrari and current championship leader Brawn GP have announced they are to break away from the motor-racing series next year.

Following a meeting last night, the members of the Formula One Teams’ Association said they had “no alternative” but to “commence the preparation for a new championship which reflects the values of its participants and partners.”

The teams, who last week submitted conditional entries for next year’s world championship, have fallen out with the sport’s ruling body and Bernie Ecclestone, who runs the commercial arm of Formula One, over revenue sharing and budget cap proposals.

“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,” the association said in an e-mailed statement.

The Geneva-based association, which also includes the BMW- Sauber, McLaren, Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso and Toyota teams, said the new series would feature the “major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motor sport.”

The teams are opposed to plans by the Federation Internationale d’Automobile to introduce a voluntary budget cap of 40 million pounds (€48 m), which would give smaller teams more engine and design freedom. Ferrari and Renault have said that would result in a two-tier championship.

The alternative 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 FOTA added.

The FIA announced the new regulations on April 30th as it seeks to lure new teams and slash costs in the wake of Honda quiting the sport in December due to the affects of the the global recession.

Williams and Force India last week agreed to take part in the existing F-1 championship, along with the three new entries: US F1, Campos and Manor.

“Formula One has to have sensible budgets so you ensure that all the teams are financially secure,” Vijay Mallya, the billionaire owner of Force India, said when interviewed in Melbourne back in March.

The FIA had set a June 19th deadline for teams to remove the conditions attached to their provisional entries. Calls to the FIA’s Paris offices seeking comment went unanswered.

FIA President Max Mosley wrote to the teams two days ago offering them some concessions regarding governance of the sport, though made it clear the governing body would proceed with its plans for the introduction of a budget cap.

“It is very difficult for us to understand the repeated refusal of FOTA even to discuss them,” Mosley wrote.

The teams would face “big problems” if they tried to set up their own series,” Ecclestone has told the Daily Express earlier this month.

“Apart from my contracts with teams, if somebody went to any of our contracted people - companies, television contractors - we would view it very seriously,” Ecclestone said. “That would be inducement to breach contracts and I don’t do that myself so I won’t stand back and let it happen.”

^^^^

Teams BMW-Sauber, BrawnGP, Scuderia Ferrari, McLaren- Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso and Toyota have decided to create their own motorsport series and to leave the FIA.

The FOTA statement states:

“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.”

i don't really hate people too often, but bernie eccelstione and max mosely need to go to hell.... like 4 hours ago

Originally Posted by MMR

i don't really hate people too often, but bernie eccelstione and max mosely need to go to hell.... like 4 hours ago

Quoted for truth x10

Originally Posted by Kerry

Quoted for truth x10

haha thank you

I'll believe it maybe about half way through next season. They're all too smart for this . . .

Would be cool to see some F1 drivers jump ship to IndyCar and/or ALMS...

If F1 self-destructs, Alonso to IndyCar

F1 great Fernando Alonso could be IndyCar bound
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso made it clear on Thursday he will abandon Formula One if the budget-cap dispute between racing teams and the sport's governing body isn't resolved.
His Renault outfit is one of five members of the Formula One Teams' Association that must confirm on Friday whether they will sign up unconditionally to enter the 2010 season. FOTA has opposed plans by the ruling FIA to introduce a voluntary $60 million budget cap.

"For me the new Formula One would be unattractive, with the small teams and no drivers," the 27-year-old Alonso said. "We want to compete with the best teams in the world, the maximum technology: we all want to compete with the best drivers.

"If this is not what Formula One is about next year, then it will be another category with that. I won't retire, I will drive for another championship."

A breakaway series is planned if Renault along with constructors' championship leader Brawn GP, McLaren, BMW Sauber and Toyota cannot reach a deal with FIA president Max Mosley, who is vowing not to change his organization's stance.

"I really hope they find a solution, but I know it's difficult times," Alonso said as he prepared for Sunday's British Grand Prix at Silverstone. "It's a critical moment for Formula One and we need to be ready for any sort of decision tomorrow.

"If we do not race in Formula One next year it changes many things. It won't be the same. We know we'll race, but it will be different."

If the breakaway series does not come to fruition, Alonso will consider his options elsewhere.

"Maybe like the U.S. There is some good competition there, like the Indy cars, and then there is Le Mans," he said. "I am not going to close any doors, but hopefully there will be good news tomorrow and all these things will not matter anymore." ESPN

Alonso in IRL would pretty tight, he'd own the league for sure haha!

Originally Posted by MexicoBlue

I'll believe it maybe about half way through next season. They're all too smart for this . . .

I'm gonna have to agree with you in that I'll believe it at the first race of the 2010 season.

On another note. The principallity of Monaco officially announced if Ferrari is not on the grid - there will be no GP of Monaco.