Thursday, March 23, 2006
# posted by Rich @ 1:31 AM
Politics, politics, politics
Today, the World Motorsport Council met to discuss a number of issues regarding the future of F1. Amongst them, the CVC buyout, cost cuting measures (such as standard ECUs and simpler gearboxes), and a 3 year engine development freeze - all of which were ratified.
What struck me about all of this, though, was the political manouevring on the part of Max Mosley. Take for example the issue of engine development - Mosley had suggested a 3 years freeze on engine development to help reduce costs, and this has now been ratified. But this issue can only be discussed by the manufacturers, and consequently changed, if they sign up to the 2008 world championship before the March 31st deadline. Latecomers to the world championship will not be allowed to participate in the discussion of the rules.
Mosley insists that the dealine is to ensure that teams have enough time to comply with the new regulations, but if you ask me, this is a rather cynical attempt to ensure that the manufacturers sign up, rather than get shut out of the rules making procedure.
Moreover, I am getting tired of Mosley's attempts to reduce costs and otherwise fiddle with the rules. I understand the need to reduce costs, but being totalitarian about it is not helping. One of the reasons the manufacturers wanted their own series in the first place was their dissatisfaction with the governance of the sport. I reiterate my feeling that the governing body should quit trying to be the sport, and should merely regulate it. The teams are the sport - they should be the ones saying how their sport is run, and what the rules should be.
What struck me about all of this, though, was the political manouevring on the part of Max Mosley. Take for example the issue of engine development - Mosley had suggested a 3 years freeze on engine development to help reduce costs, and this has now been ratified. But this issue can only be discussed by the manufacturers, and consequently changed, if they sign up to the 2008 world championship before the March 31st deadline. Latecomers to the world championship will not be allowed to participate in the discussion of the rules.
Mosley insists that the dealine is to ensure that teams have enough time to comply with the new regulations, but if you ask me, this is a rather cynical attempt to ensure that the manufacturers sign up, rather than get shut out of the rules making procedure.
Moreover, I am getting tired of Mosley's attempts to reduce costs and otherwise fiddle with the rules. I understand the need to reduce costs, but being totalitarian about it is not helping. One of the reasons the manufacturers wanted their own series in the first place was their dissatisfaction with the governance of the sport. I reiterate my feeling that the governing body should quit trying to be the sport, and should merely regulate it. The teams are the sport - they should be the ones saying how their sport is run, and what the rules should be.
Labels: Formula 1
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