Tuesday, March 14, 2006
# posted by Rich @ 6:12 AM
GPMA split over?
One of the more welcome news items during the week was that there appears to be an imminent resolution to dispute between the FIA and the GPMA teams (Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Renault, and Toyota).
The threat of a breakaway manufacturers championship has been looming like a cloud over F1 for several years now. The threatened breakaway invariably revolved around money, more specifically the allocation of the TV momey - the manufacturers understandably wanted a greater return on their investment, and wanted a bigger cut of the TV money profits, plus a fairer allocation of the money. Another one of the sticking points over the years has been the issue of payments that teams have to make to Ferrari.
It now seems, however, that a new deal between the FIA, the commercial rights holder under the leadership of Bernie Ecclestone, and the manufacturers is on the table. Supposedly there is an offer of 55% of the TV money (an increase from something like 30%), and a concerted effort to get costs down. Ron Dennis was quoted as saying that a deal was more than a day but less than a month away.
I hope that he issue gets resolve amicably, and sooner rather than later. This treatened split has caused a lot of tension between the teams and the FIA, and I am sure that it is one of the reasons behind the fiasco at the 2005 US GP. Moreover, even though I supported the principles of the GPMA, a split could only hurt the sport. You need look no further than the CART/IRL split to see what has happened to open-wheel racing in the US. Both Champcar, as it is now, and IRL are now struggling, with spiralling costs becoming a serious issue in IRL, and Champcar seemingly staving off bankruptcy on a regular basis.
However much I welcome a new deal to ensure the stability and future of F1, I think that the management structure needs to change. I believe that the FIA and Max Mosely have done a poor job of listening to the concerns of the teams, and that Bernie Ecclestone and his companies have too much power. A system such as the one they have in NASCAR I think would be advantageous, namely that you have a commissioner, who is appointed by the teams, and who sits below the governing body. The FIA would then be responsible only for regulating the sport, the commissioner would be responsible for the day-to-day running of the sport. Because the commissioner would work for the teams, the teams would ultimately have a greater say in how their sport is run.
I can think of one person who would make a good commissioner - Paul Stoddart. His forthright nature would be the ultimate antidote to the likes of Mosely and Ecclestone!
The threat of a breakaway manufacturers championship has been looming like a cloud over F1 for several years now. The threatened breakaway invariably revolved around money, more specifically the allocation of the TV momey - the manufacturers understandably wanted a greater return on their investment, and wanted a bigger cut of the TV money profits, plus a fairer allocation of the money. Another one of the sticking points over the years has been the issue of payments that teams have to make to Ferrari.
It now seems, however, that a new deal between the FIA, the commercial rights holder under the leadership of Bernie Ecclestone, and the manufacturers is on the table. Supposedly there is an offer of 55% of the TV money (an increase from something like 30%), and a concerted effort to get costs down. Ron Dennis was quoted as saying that a deal was more than a day but less than a month away.
I hope that he issue gets resolve amicably, and sooner rather than later. This treatened split has caused a lot of tension between the teams and the FIA, and I am sure that it is one of the reasons behind the fiasco at the 2005 US GP. Moreover, even though I supported the principles of the GPMA, a split could only hurt the sport. You need look no further than the CART/IRL split to see what has happened to open-wheel racing in the US. Both Champcar, as it is now, and IRL are now struggling, with spiralling costs becoming a serious issue in IRL, and Champcar seemingly staving off bankruptcy on a regular basis.
However much I welcome a new deal to ensure the stability and future of F1, I think that the management structure needs to change. I believe that the FIA and Max Mosely have done a poor job of listening to the concerns of the teams, and that Bernie Ecclestone and his companies have too much power. A system such as the one they have in NASCAR I think would be advantageous, namely that you have a commissioner, who is appointed by the teams, and who sits below the governing body. The FIA would then be responsible only for regulating the sport, the commissioner would be responsible for the day-to-day running of the sport. Because the commissioner would work for the teams, the teams would ultimately have a greater say in how their sport is run.
I can think of one person who would make a good commissioner - Paul Stoddart. His forthright nature would be the ultimate antidote to the likes of Mosely and Ecclestone!
Labels: Formula 1
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