Why FOTA's Tactics of Fear Must Not Win Out in F1 Row

(Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Oh look Formula One seems to be going through a bit of a power struggle, politics in F1 eh there’s a new thing! Now let, me see where are we as of today?

The FIA have published the 2010 entry list containing all the current teams plus three new, the expected entry of the USF1 project, the surprise pick of Manor motorsport and the Spanish Capos Grand Prix. All FOTA teams have made their way on under various conditions here and there and all looks good in the world.

Except of course it’s not that’d be too easy, this is F1, that’s not the way they do their business; FOTA’s members immediately challenged their entries and renewed their threat of a breakaway series if they didn’t get what they wanted.

Now I’m not going to go over all the details of how we arrived at this point (I’m sure many esteemed writers have navigated that particular issue in the past days). What I do intend to do, however, is explain why FOTA’s threat of a breakaway series must be treated with scepticism/contempt as opposed to fear.

Since the list was released on Friday FOTA have issued a statement in which they attempt to align themselves with the F1 fan saying they would fight the ‘crazy rules’ on the fans behalf, I’d be lying if I said this didn’t get to me just slightly.

The idea that somehow a collection of profit motivated car manufactures will somehow protect the sport you and I love is bordering on the obscene.

What makes this worse is the fact they are trying to scare people with the threat of a F1 world without them in it. Of course it would be better for everyone if a resolution could be reached with them in it, but what if it can’t would it be so bad?

I’ve heard Damon Hill recently saying that F1 must prevent Cart/IRL style breakaway, yet I can’t help thinking why? If the Manufacturers want to have a series which has no budgetary constraints let them.

The concept is utter madness not to mention unsustainable, only a few short months ago Honda ditched their entire F1 program because I assume it was not selling enough Civic’s, not to mention the fact that they pulled out at the very point their head designer was sitting on one of the most complete F1 cars in decades.While of course economics played a big role here, indeed we are living in unique times it cannot be disputed that car manufactures will (and always have) ran from F1 as soon as it stops making ‘economic sense’ recession or no recession.

These are not the people you would want as the custodians of Formula One no matter how crazy you might find Max’s latest plan. The last time I counted there were only eight teams in the FOTA group following the suspension of Williams and Force India. So at the very best that leaves the breakaway series with a mighty 16 cars! Now call me naive, but I don’t think General Motors will be rushing to sign up any time soon or any major car manufacturer for that matter, most car manufacturers, as I understand it, are on life support.

The one thing they do not need is to be rushing to sign up to a brand new series sans all F1 history and prestige with the very real prospect that one of them will end up coming last race after race.

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