I definitely don't want to see Dennis in there -- I'd even vote for someone like Jordan or Stoddart ahead of him -- just figure he's very likely to be on the real candidates list. To be honest, I really would like to see Eddie Jordan take over at the FIA (second choice Jackie Stewart) and someone Paul Stoddart-like replace Bernie at FOM.....or better yet delete FOM altogether and start over with some other less greedy organization in charge of the business side.
How is it Mosley doesn't get that he's despised and should just walk away? Mosley slams FOTA behaviour
Next up on the Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone show, Bernie forgets to take his meds and decides to speak his mind: Hitler Remarks Touch Off Fire Storm Fortunately, it was all just a big misunderstanding: Hitler Comments a 'Misunderstanding' Sure Bernie, we believe you... :crazy:
Yet another reason why F1 management is dropping the ball on running F1. How can we respect the leaders when they spend so much time suffering from foot in mouth.
No matter how Formula One looks next year, one thing is certain: Fuji International Speedway won't play host to the Japanese Grand Prix, circuit representatives confirmed Tuesday. Fuji--owned by Toyota--has hosted the past two Japanese GPs and was set to alternate with Honda-owned Suzuka, the race's longtime home, beginning this year. But the recession has apparently caused Toyota to change its mind and stop preparations for the 2010 race. “In view of the sharply deteriorating business conditions and few signs of a rapid economic recovery, we decided it would be extremely difficult to continue holding the F1 Japanese Grand Prix,” Toyota said in a statement. Suzuka's future as an F1 venue beyond this year also is in doubt, since Honda pulled the plug on its factory F1 team prior to the start of the 2009 season.
From what I've heard/read, seems like most F1 races are money losers for organizers without govt subsidies which are usually justified by claiming the local/regional economy gains more than hosting the race costs. You have to pay for the privilege and Bernie and FOM charge plenty, plus they have outlandish expectations for the way you're expected to run things, the sort of facilities you have to provide, etc, and they're both elitist and expensive. There's a new Bleacher Report with a pretty good explanation of the fundamentals on the FOM fees side of the equation: Fuji, Toyota, and the Future of Formula One Here's the best bit:
There's plenty of pundit-speak out there now.....I'll resist temptation to post more for the moment.....and replace that with some of my own! I'm to the point where I'm hoping it falls apart, and I have a few options for how I'd hope that would go. None of these are likely to occur, I suppose, but I figure the most likely of my favorites is FOTA banding together with Bernie (and FOM), dropping the FIA as a governing body, and generating a new one. It's the break-up option that's easiest to recover from since FOM already have everything lined up for next year and all they'd need to do is replace the too-flawed-to-be-useful FIA. If they came to the right sort of agreement, there would be 13 teams on the grid and all of them probably happy with the compromise. On the very down side, Bernie would be even more firmly entrenched, and I'd rather to see the money grubber (and FOM) ousted. My favorite option would be FIA and FOM both being somehow separated from F1. Bernie's business owns the rights to the name though so it would have to be called something else. Without FOM, FOTA (and whoever else is left) would have to create a new governing body and then start from scratch signing a new promoter to build a season full of venues. There would probably be some new venues and maybe even revival of some old ones (maybe even Watkins Glen?). The oft-threatened break-away series.....I'm warming to the idea..... The most destructive option, but still somewhat likely, is FOTA breaking away from FIA (and for all intents and purposes from F1) and then disintegrating because of disagreements before they can get a new series underway. F1 would die, or at least flounder for a while, and some of the manufacturers might switch to other racing series' like Le Mans or ALMS, etc. I'm an F1 fan (obviously) but even this option feels better to me than continuing along the current lines. Oh well, we'll see. The thing is, there's only so much time left before it'll be too late for anything other than more business as usual, mixed with even more back-stabbing politics than ever. On the plus side, the 3-week break is over so those of us who like to watch the fast cars drive can get back to that very soon. The first practice session for the German GP starts in a little over 5 hours; race this Sun.
Or we they can combine FOTA with Champ/Indy wiht a mix of ovals and road courses. All in North America.
:lol: :lol: :lol: Vatanen says (here) his strongest supporter in his bid for the FIA Pres position is AAA! More power to him, but I get the feeling folks in Europe might not quite understand that the title "American Automobile Association" sounds a bit more impressive than it really is.....
Ignoring the politics for a change, they're going to actually hold a race tomorrow (8 AM EST)! Webber has his first F1 pole ever and he qualified heavier than the Brawns who ended up behind him. Pre-race weights & Provisional Grid I thought Sutil making it through to Q3 was a fluke only made possible by the rain during Q2, but there he is P7 in his Force-India ahead of both Ferraris, and he's heavier than either of them! Two Ferraris in the top 10 but both stuck behind five cars with Mercedes engines....in Germany....oh dear....
Hey Steve, if you ever want to make your F1 experience a little more exiting, just check out my home forum. We have an F1 pool going for every race. But yes, this was one of the more interesting qualifying sessions in recent memory.
Goodbye Max! Max Mosley has confirmed that he won't be standing for re-election as FIA president and has endorsed Jean Todt as his successor. The move means that the Formula One community will go into 2010 on the basis of the broad agreement reached by Mosley on June 24 with Formula One Teams Association chairman Luca di Montezemolo and Formula One group CEO Bernie Ecclestone. This deal has since been honed in ongoing negotiations, and a new Concorde Agreement is now expected to be signed by all the F1 stakeholders in the near future. Mosley has served four terms and 16 years as FIA president. Todt is the highly accomplished former rally co-driver and director of Peugeot Sport who became successful as the F1 team principal for Ferrari. Although he has yet to officially declare his candidacy, his interest in the job has been clear for some time. He has been canvassing for vital votes from clubs in Africa, and rumor suggests that he was touring the continent on the FIA's plane, courtesy of Mosley. Mosley said at the World Motor Sport Council meeting on June 24 that he would stand down as part of a deal to secure the future of F1. But he appeared to change his mind when FOTA bosses suggested to the media that he had been forced out. Mosley says he has had messages of support from 100 clubs who wanted him to stay on. However, he says he has already changed his domestic arrangements and feels that, at 70, it's time to slow down. Mosley wrote: "After three weeks of intensive negotiations, Nick Craw (as deputy president for sport) and I feel that we have negotiated an agreement that brings to Formula 1 the new teams and lower costs which were so urgently needed. At the same time, again largely thanks to Nick, we now have very satisfactory contracts for the World Rally Championship and the new World Championship for GT cars. From a personal point of view, it would be very difficult for me to change my mind and stand again. I began some months ago to rearrange my family life with effect from next October. I also informed senior FIA staff that I would not be a candidate. To continue now would greatly complicate my domestic arrangement and be inconsistent with my obligations to my family, particularly after our recent loss. Also, I have felt for some time that I would like to work less. After all, I will be 70 next year. Therefore, with these new arrangements in place, extremely grateful though I am for all the letters, e-mails and messages I have received, I have decided to reconfirm my decision. I will not be a candidate in October." In a letter to the FIA member clubs, Mosley called on them to support Todt and said that the Frenchman is "the ideal person to continue but also to extend the work of the last 16 years." Todt would face an election showdown in October with his former driver, Ari Vatanen, the 1981 World Rally Champion who went on to become a member of the European parliament..
Home forum? Thanks. This year I'm playing along again at PickSix.com. It seems dull as dishwater -- all you do is pick the top 6 finishers each race and you get points -- but it's simple, takes very little time or thought, and costs nothing....all good. So all that political crap ends with one big political win (for everyone except Max himself) and what may be some short term not-so-political improvements. I still say they would have been better off breaking away, even if only to escape Bernie/FOM/CVC. Maybe if the teams stick together they'll be able to at least scale back the money-grubbers' effects on the races a bit. I've read there are opponents to Todt based on his still strong ties to Ferrari, but pretty much anyone should be an improvement over Mosley.