A fearsome battle is brewing in F1 between Bernie Ecclestone – the man who has the biggest say in where money goes in the sport – and the teams, who want a bigger slice of F1’s revenues. Money is always a hot topic in F1 as too little of the enormous revenues the sport generated … Continue reading Where the money goes in F1
Politics articles archive
Politics
Max Mosley and the art of distraction
Posted onSteven Roy reckons the fuss over ‘medals’ is just a big distraction: I have come to the conclusion that it is a grand deception. There is a technique in business where you take a small problem and make it a big problem. Then solve the big problem using the extra resources you have been given … Continue reading Max Mosley and the art of distraction
The FIA ?óÔé¼?£analysis?óÔé¼Ôäó of Ecclestone?óÔé¼Ôäós medals proposal is flawed and irrelevant
Posted onBernie Ecclestone?óÔé¼Ôäós plan to replace the F1 points system with the awarding of ?óÔé¼?£medals?óÔé¼Ôäó for winners has been widely received as a bad idea. Today the FIA waded into the argument by publishing some research. Their effort shows much the same lack of care and consideration that Ecclestone put his idea forward with. Titled ?óÔé¼?ôThe … Continue reading The FIA ?óÔé¼?£analysis?óÔé¼Ôäó of Ecclestone?óÔé¼Ôäós medals proposal is flawed and irrelevant
The state of Formula 1 in 2008
Posted onThe 2008 Formula 1 season ended on a high on the track – but the shock withdrawal of Honda was a sting in the tail. With 2009 almost upon us it’s time to take stock of F1’s position as one season ends and a new year begins: the quality of the competition, the future of … Continue reading The state of Formula 1 in 2008
The cost-cutting plans: engines
Posted onAmong the proposals agreed by the FIA and the Formula One Teams?óÔé¼Ôäó Association to cut costs are a range of money-saving measures targeted at the engines. The changes include an extension in engine life and severe restrictions in development. Will they achieve the goal of cutting costs while keeping F1 at the technological forefront?
More signs that manufacturers are starting to favour specification racing
Posted onWhile Honda joins Audi and Seat in scaling back its motor racing programmes for 2009, Porsche is doing the opposite. But the German premium marque isn?óÔé¼Ôäót joining rivals BMW and Mercedes in Formula 1 ?óÔé¼ÔÇ£ it?óÔé¼Ôäós chosen the American Grand-Am sports car championship. What, if anything, does this tell us about F1?óÔé¼Ôäós appeal to car … Continue reading More signs that manufacturers are starting to favour specification racing
Honda: a one-off or the first of many?
Posted onDid Honda drop its F1 team because it was performing too poorly to be worth keeping? Or are car manufacturers going to begin cutting their F1 teams, irrespective of how well they’re doing, to save money?
Why is FOTA worrying about qualifying when F1 faces far greater problems?
Posted onFiddling while Rome burns. Re-arranging deckchairs on the Titanic. There are plenty of cliches to be thrown at FOTA’s plans to radically overhaul qualifying yet again. Why is FOTA trying to change a system that has already been tweaked eight times in the past five years? Its not as if there aren’t more serious problems … Continue reading Why is FOTA worrying about qualifying when F1 faces far greater problems?
FIA to provide video evidence and improve stewarding of incidents in 2009
Posted onThe FIA is to introduce a series of changes to how its rules are enforced during F1 weekends. In a significant change the FIA will ensure all video evidence relating to controversial moments is made available to the public via its and FOM’s websites. It did so following the questionable penalties given to Lewis Hamilton, … Continue reading FIA to provide video evidence and improve stewarding of incidents in 2009
F1 2009: 10 questions for the off-season
Posted onAs the 2008 F1 season ends on a high we now look forward to what should be one of the most fascinating off-seasons for many years. With radical changes to the technical rules, fraught political tension between the rule-makers and the teams, and two holes suddenly appearing in the calendar, these are the questions that … Continue reading F1 2009: 10 questions for the off-season
FIA-FOTA agreement: Teams’ proposals accepted as Mosley backs down on KERS
Posted onDetails are emerging about the agreement reached between the FIA and FOTA, representing the F1 teams, following their meeting at Geneva today. A joint statement from the two declared “significant cost savings for 2009 and 2010” had been agreed but added no further detail. However Autosport has published details of some points of the agreement … Continue reading FIA-FOTA agreement: Teams’ proposals accepted as Mosley backs down on KERS
Max Mosley and FOTA meet for crunch talks on F1 costs in Geneva
Posted onMax Mosley and the representatives of the Formula One Teams Association are meeting in Geneva today to discuss future rules that could transform the face of Formula 1. It comes after several weeks of leaks, off-the-record briefings and the usual subterfuge that occurs whenever F1’s political tectonic plates start to shift. Central to today’s discussion … Continue reading Max Mosley and FOTA meet for crunch talks on F1 costs in Geneva
Links: Mosley vs FOTA on costs
Posted onPlus, GP2 Asia returns this weekend
FOTA discusses F1 refuelling ban
Posted onPlease please please please please
How will the FIA make each F1 teams’ engine performance equal in 2009?
Posted onThe FIA World Motor Sports Council confirmed yesterday it will take steps to ensure all engines used in F1 have equal power outputs in 2009. Rumours about this have been buzzing around since June. This brief statement marks an utterly radical change for Formula 1 and a major step away from being a series where … Continue reading How will the FIA make each F1 teams’ engine performance equal in 2009?
F1’s unwritten rules: team orders edition
Posted onWe all know team orders are banned. But we also know teams can get away with doing certain things to manipulate the running order of their drivers.
Four mistakes F1 must avoid
Posted onHere are four ideas, which have been tried in other championships to make racing more entertaining, that don’t belong in F1.
More insight into FOTA
Posted onDoctorvee has been extolling the virtues of the Inside Line Podcast so I upgraded it from the ‘stuff I download but never get around to listening to’ (dozens of different shows) to ‘stuff I actually do listen to’ (about three). And I’m glad I did. A couple of weeks ago we looked at the teams’ … Continue reading More insight into FOTA
The future of Renault’s F1 team
Posted onA few developments in recent weeks have planted seeds of doubt in my mind about Renault?óÔé¼Ôäós future in Formula 1. Fernando Alonso seems to want to leave the team and they?óÔé¼Ôäóve admitted their engine programme has fallen behind their rivals’. The general economic outlook remains gloomy and it seems particularly poor for Renault?óÔé¼Ôäós car making … Continue reading The future of Renault’s F1 team
Flavio Briatore admits Renault have fallen behind on engine development
Posted onThe F1 team bosses have been meeting at Ferrari?óÔé¼Ôäós headquarters in Maranello to come up with a set of proposals for F1?óÔé¼Ôäós rules for 2011 and beyond. Speaking before the meeting, Renault?óÔé¼Ôäós Flavio Briatore gave a frank assessment of his team?óÔé¼Ôäós problems: The problem is that us, Renault, have stuck to the letter of the … Continue reading Flavio Briatore admits Renault have fallen behind on engine development