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In a follow up to my previous post about the FIA and FOTA failing to reach an agreement over the proposed 2010 regulations that will see a voluntary £40m budget cap introduced, I thought I would take a moment to try and decipher Ferrari’s angle on this affair. Without doubt Ferrari are to Formula One what Manchester United are to the Premier League – Ferrari are a big organisation that command a huge following and generate a lot of money and put a lot of bums on seats. But there is more to them than you think… Continue Reading

The current Formula One teams, the FIA and Bernie Ecclestone met today in a Heathrow hotel to discuss the intended 2010 budget cap rule. In the past week, five teams including Ferrari and both Red Bull squads said they wouldn’t compete in next year’s championship if the current proposals for a two-tier formula remained. The discussions resulted in no compromise and now the teams are talking between themselves to decide what their next move will be. Continue Reading

Ever one to speak his mind and certainly not afraid to rock the establishment every now and then, Renault boss Flavio Briatore has voiced his disproval of the FIA International Court of Appeal’s decision that deems the ‘double-diffuser’ legal. While preparing for the Chinese Grand Prix on Thursday, Briatore hit out at Ross Brawn and his drivers, making crude comparisons and generally creating a fuss where others have simply accepted and moved on. Failing to get his way and having been criticised in the media, Briatore has proposed that Brawn’s entitlement to monetary benefits should instead be shared among the other competitors. Continue Reading

Formula One Management has signed a deal with Universal, the music company, which will see the inauguration of some special music concerts and television programmes. At the moment, details on this are a little thin, but the announcement is quite interesting. The concerts are planned to take place at the grands prix and will be made into TV shows which will then be made available the world over. Continue Reading

The Formula One Teams’ Association outlined today their proposals for the future of Formula One. FOTA are a new body, set up last year to collectively voice their concerns regarding Formula One in a unified and professional manner. Previously, it was nigh-on impossible to get the team chiefs to agree on anything, but with the apparent need to change, F1 bosses have united in their efforts. Today was their first real test. Continue Reading

Sir Jackie Stewart, former world champion and team owner, has launched a scathing attack on Formula One’s commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone. Speaking to The Times newspaper, Stewart said that time for change is now essential in the sport’s senior management. Stewart, who often goes on the offensive against FIA president Max Mosley, feels that it is taking too long for important changes to be implemented. Continue Reading

It didn’t take too long before a war of words erupted between the newly formed FOTA and the traditional powers-that-be who rule and govern Formula One, but this time the exchanges have led to Bernie Ecclestone revealing some possible truths behind the way the revenue is shared out among the teams. This revelation comes from Bernie himself, when speaking to The Times newspaper the diminutive Briton admitted that Ferrari get more money than the other squads. Continue Reading

After the Canadian Grand Prix was rudely dropped from the 2009 calendar, the world gasped in horror at the largest automobile market on the planet not having the opportunity to showcase the very sport that the car manufacturers invest in. The North American fanbase were appalled, and I personally was disgusted at not only losing a great track, but also the way in which the cancellation had apparently been handled. However, it would appear that not all is lost for next season… Continue Reading

About two weeks ago, the FIA announced via the press that the Canadian Grand Prix had been dropped from the 2009 Formula One World Championship, causing an uproar among fans the world over, particularly those residing in North America. The continent and major motor-industry market have lost a key race, especially so given that there is no USGP at the current time. But the reported nature of the way the race was dropped has started a war of words between the Grand Prix du Canada organisation at the FIA and FOM. Continue Reading

There is little worse than losing Suzuka from the calendar every other year. There is little worse than the circuit, possibly the country which hosted the very first grand prix losing a place in the championship. And there is little worse than the pinnacle series in international motorsport not racing in the largest car market on the planet. But Bernie Ecclestone and the FIA have managed what I previously thought was impossible. The Canadian Grand Prix is apparently no more. Continue Reading