posted Jul 9, 2009

to all those who want FOTA to setup a new series (as I do)/ Start sending your input to their email address to express your solidarity with them to go it alone. I like what they want to do, make it affordable for the spectators again, because without us, its nothing.

FOTA – Formula One Teams Association
Blvd du Theatre, 2 – 1204 Geneva
Switzerland
Fax: +41.22.3108205
Email: info@teamsassociation.org

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posted Jul 9, 2009

It's about time Mosely & Ecclestone stepped down from F1. They are totally out of touch with the modern sport. I seen an interview with Ecclestone a few weeks ago, he couldn't even remember the name of the Brawn team.

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posted Jul 9, 2009

Max's behaviour in this affair are suggestive that recent events in his personal life (Note to mods: I am referring to the death of his son, not his hobbies uncovered last year) are putting him under emotional strain that is affecting his activities as FIA president. Personally, I find that completely understandable and I bear no grudge against him for that, but it cannot be ignored that his behaviour is damaging the sport.

The problem is that his position within the FIA is so supreme and elevated that there is no peer who can take him aside and suggest there might be better ways tor resolve this impasse. In fact I'm not aware of anybody who Max respects enough to take advice from without rejecting it out of hand. The only person Max ever listens to (on occasion) is Bernie and that is only because of the financial stranglehold the latter has on the sport, not because any personal or professional respect for him or his opinions.

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posted Jul 9, 2009

Simple enough, i loved formula 1, but all the excitement is off the track with boring on track 'action', now im turning off f1 and turning on motogp, less action off track, but pure excitement on track...thats what i want to see.

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posted Jul 9, 2009

BigG80.
i have been to 3 British GP's and while i think that £250. for a Grandstand seat is steep, i cant help but think that there is only 1 thing that FOTA are after, and that is getting more money from the revenue than they are getting now, and with the costs of running the whole show, will mean similar or higher prices for ticket's and merchandise.

also in relation to Renault World Series, you are not comparing like to like there, i dont think that any of the teams would ever consider running an F1 race whithout paying customers, the whole reason that FOTA want to run the Comercial side is to get more money, esentally they want to run an F1 programme, without actually spending anything.

im talking about the different series their are.

F1
GP2
Porche supercup
and there was another one some sort of Historic event each time i went to Silverstone.

not all great but there was a decent amount on at each weekend.

not to mention all the "experence" areas, and BMW Pit Lane Park, when FOTA are loosing revenue because of all the other suff that would have to go on during the weekend, they will strip everything away that "costs" to much.

i will accept that FOTA are doing it for the fans when i see an improved show, i wont hold my breath.

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posted Jul 9, 2009

Unfathomable!

I can not comprehend why the FIA continues to shoot itself in the foot.

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posted Jul 9, 2009

comment by rrichf (U10399301)

Unfathomable!

I can not comprehend why the FIA continues to shoot itself in the foot.

.........................

Perhaps because it is the only thing it is good at?

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posted Jul 10, 2009

starsimon1978 - Thanks for the reply. The historic GT race was at Silverstone when I was there too but I wasn't sure if it was a one off.

In response to your comment that FOTA are looking for increased revenues from the sport, can I ask why you don't think they're entitled to it? They're the ones supplying the cars and paying the drivers, why shouldn't they get the bulk of the money?

You have to remember that nearly 50% of F1 revenues are currently being siphoned off to service the £2 billion CVC debt. Without that millstone, the FOTA series will be able to be more competitive.

Also, F1 grandstand tickets are so expensive as the tracks don't get any sort of revenue except for the ticket price of people turning up on the day. If the cost of hosting a race (which is set by Bernie and CVC) wasn't so high, then the ticket price wouldn't have to be so high. Some of the agreements that the circuits have with CVC see their hosting fee incresed by over £5 million a year. How is that feasible or logical?

Personally I have no problem with FOTA taking control. If it means we get stabilised rules (because constant rule changes equals increased cost to the teams), lower admission prices and better racing then I'm all for it.

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posted Jul 10, 2009

BigG80. glad to be having an adult conversation, not just having insults being slung around. anyways i digress.

im really trying to remember, if there were historic GT events each time i was there, but i just cant. the GP2 and supercup events were Eventfull if i remember. i was really gutted in 2006, as i missed "that" move, by Hamilton.

while i dont begrudge, the teams getting more money, the only thing is that, and im sure that you would agree, if the teams set up their own series then they will themselves have to take on the costs of administration, legal teams, costs of having the FIA scruteneering, and other FIA costs.

also i hope im wrong, but the teams could strugle to come up with coherent technical regs, even more so than the FIA have managed.

your point on the expensiveness of the tickets is very good indeed, and yes the increase in the hosting fee, makes a mockery of the attempts at reducing the teams costs.

as you have said, i will have no problem with FOTA taking control, i only have a problem with the current approach, that FOTA are taking, if FOTA were to postpone the introduction of their chanpionship until 2011, with a well planned approach, and transparent regulations and books, i would be very happy with that.

i just think that everything is too rushed.

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