Comments on: Formula One Team Bosses Create More Bureaucracy

By: Oliver White

Oliver White — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:13:25 +0000

Hence the new association will be known as FOTA...

That and it includes both constructors and manufacturers. The manufacturers also have the GPMA.

By: casa de lana

casa de lana — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:57:23 +0000

History repeating itself…

FOCA was the original “F1 Constructor’s Association” formed by Bernie to enable the teams to negotiate and do battle with the all powerful FIA in the early 80’s.

Bernie went on to build this into a billion dollar empire by gaining control of F1’s commercial rights (TV – Media – Licensing etc).
FOCA became FOM (Formula One Management) FOA (Formula One Admin) and Formula One Licensing as the companies were prepared for a shares issue. After various companies invested (and lost) money the majority of the shares were aquired by venture capital group CVC Capital Partners (with Bernie still very much in control).

As the interests of the commercial rights holders (CVC & Bernie) do not necessarily match the interests of the F1 Teams, the teams now find it necessary once again to form their own association, and we have come full circle in this story.

No doubt copyright/trademark restrictions prevent them from using the name FOCA (basically Bernie still owns the rights to the name). Hence the new association will be known as FOTA (Formula One Teams Association)

By: capeplates

capeplates — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:48:25 +0000

More like too many crooks spoil the broth!

By: Lonny

Lonny — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:25:05 +0000

I don’t think giving Bernie more power is likely to help anything. And what happened at Indy Sunday wasn’t a race so much as a parade coupled to a pitstop competition. Max has to go. Whatever he may have brought to F1 is used up, and his new ideas are poor to say the least.

By: Christine

Christine — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:16:55 +0000

It’s typical that the only thing the teams can agree unanimously on is something that doesn’t even matter.

By: Steven Roy

Steven Roy — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:11:23 +0000

I need someone to explain to me the difference between FOTA and FOCA. As far as I can see they are both associations and each team has equal representation in each. I cannot understand why they are saying that forming a new association is significant when it merely duplicates what is already in place.