Tuesday, March 28, 2006
# posted by Rich @ 2:19 AM
GPMA teams commit to F1
As reported on itv-f1.com, the 5 GPMA teams - Renault, McLaren, Toyota, Honda, and BMW - have committed themselves to Formula 1 in 2008, by sending in their applications on the opening day of the application period.
This move is not unexpected really. The teams really had no choice but to be part of the process, because if they were excluded, then they would not have had influence in the rules making procedure. Given the somewhat controversial nature of some of the rules recently proposed by the FIA, it is really crucial that the teams get their say in the way that F1 is going to be run.
Whilst this move does make the prospect of a breakaway series much less likely, it does not totally eliminate the threat. If the manufacturers still do not get their way, then they may yet form a rival series. However, there is supposedly a better package on the table from Bernie, and I am sure that CVC - the new commercial rights owners - will not allow their investment to break itself apart.
So overall, I would say this is good for the future of Formula 1 because a split could be disastrous. However, I still feel that the way F1 is administered needs an overhaul. I am hopeful that all the political manouevring on the part of the GPMA will result in a reshaped management structure, in which the teams are more in control of their own destiny, and are not at the mercy of the whims of Max Mosley and the FIA.
This move is not unexpected really. The teams really had no choice but to be part of the process, because if they were excluded, then they would not have had influence in the rules making procedure. Given the somewhat controversial nature of some of the rules recently proposed by the FIA, it is really crucial that the teams get their say in the way that F1 is going to be run.
Whilst this move does make the prospect of a breakaway series much less likely, it does not totally eliminate the threat. If the manufacturers still do not get their way, then they may yet form a rival series. However, there is supposedly a better package on the table from Bernie, and I am sure that CVC - the new commercial rights owners - will not allow their investment to break itself apart.
So overall, I would say this is good for the future of Formula 1 because a split could be disastrous. However, I still feel that the way F1 is administered needs an overhaul. I am hopeful that all the political manouevring on the part of the GPMA will result in a reshaped management structure, in which the teams are more in control of their own destiny, and are not at the mercy of the whims of Max Mosley and the FIA.
Labels: Formula 1
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