The Young Oswald - What Next?
Discussion
I'm sure most on here have a negative comment or two about this bloke and we all like to poke fun at "The Man Who Would Be Furher" but; When is someone in authority going to call him out for being a complete and utter nuisance and a detrimental influence in motor sport?
Mosley sets deadline for manufacturers
FIA president Max Mosley has thrown down the gauntlet to the manufacturers planning a breakaway championship - warning them they must commit to Formula One by next April or risk losing their place in the sport for 2008.
Although BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Renault and Toyota have signed a document binding the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) together in not leaving the rebel plans until next September, Mosley seized the initiative on Monday and told them they will instead have to decide their future plans in the next few months.
That is because he intends for the entries to the 2008 World Championship to close sometime in April, effectively meaning that those who do not commit then could lose out to new teams planning to make the jump to F1.
Mosley said that he hoped the next meeting of the FIA World Council on March 22 would agree to open entries to the 2008 championship on March 23 and then close them just 'a few weeks later'.
With a maximum limit of 12 entries for the 2008 championship, and a high likelihood of an over-subscription because the hurdle of the $48 million deposit will be dropped, any manufacturer stalling will risk getting overlooked if they do not sign-up.
Although there will be provisions for teams to enter after the April deadline, Mosley made it clear that that would only be possible if there was a vacancy.
"I would hope that everyone would enter, but there is no guarantee that they will," he said.
"From 2008, nobody has either a right or an obligation to enter the championship. We may have fewer vacancies than there are teams out there.
"We are going to stick to 12 teams because of safety and all the pits now are arranged for 12. There are six in there, there are three possibly four people talking about entering and there are five GPMA teams.
"It makes sense to open entries soon and then to close them again quickly. Then we can discuss with the people that have entered refinements to the regulations before the deadline of the end of June.
"The regulations for entry are identical to the present day except that we have deleted the $48million bond. We would look at their factory, their business and be satisfied that are capable of doing what we wanted.
"It would mean a good GP2 team would have a good chance of getting an entry than say I would if it was just me on my own. There will be provision in the rules saying we could accept a late entry but you can only do that if there is a vacancy.
"The GPMA were saying until recently they were going to run their own series and if they do we will do everything we can to help.
"It would not surprise me to see some defections (from the GPMA) next month when we open the entries. I hope everybody will be sensible and see these are sensible rules and everyone will enter."
Mosley has also further increased the pressure on the manufacturers by revealing controversial plans to reduce costs by introducing same-spec engines from 2008 to 2010.
Under the scheme, manufacturers would have to lodge their engine design with the FIA by next June and then that specification of power-unit would be frozen for 2008, 2009 and 2010 - meaning no development at all for three years.
Reliability problems, however, could be addressed as long as the work did not result in a performance advantage.
"It would save up to one billion Euros per year on engine development," explained Mosley.
"I have a real determination to see this through. If F1 is to prosper we have got to get the costs down in order to help the independents survive.
"The GPMA and the manufacturers have been complaining about not getting enough money back from the sport, but they are spending between them one billion Euros per year. It would be better to cut that than try and get more back from Bernie Ecclestone."
Mosley sets deadline for manufacturers
FIA president Max Mosley has thrown down the gauntlet to the manufacturers planning a breakaway championship - warning them they must commit to Formula One by next April or risk losing their place in the sport for 2008.
Although BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Renault and Toyota have signed a document binding the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) together in not leaving the rebel plans until next September, Mosley seized the initiative on Monday and told them they will instead have to decide their future plans in the next few months.
That is because he intends for the entries to the 2008 World Championship to close sometime in April, effectively meaning that those who do not commit then could lose out to new teams planning to make the jump to F1.
Mosley said that he hoped the next meeting of the FIA World Council on March 22 would agree to open entries to the 2008 championship on March 23 and then close them just 'a few weeks later'.
With a maximum limit of 12 entries for the 2008 championship, and a high likelihood of an over-subscription because the hurdle of the $48 million deposit will be dropped, any manufacturer stalling will risk getting overlooked if they do not sign-up.
Although there will be provisions for teams to enter after the April deadline, Mosley made it clear that that would only be possible if there was a vacancy.
"I would hope that everyone would enter, but there is no guarantee that they will," he said.
"From 2008, nobody has either a right or an obligation to enter the championship. We may have fewer vacancies than there are teams out there.
"We are going to stick to 12 teams because of safety and all the pits now are arranged for 12. There are six in there, there are three possibly four people talking about entering and there are five GPMA teams.
"It makes sense to open entries soon and then to close them again quickly. Then we can discuss with the people that have entered refinements to the regulations before the deadline of the end of June.
"The regulations for entry are identical to the present day except that we have deleted the $48million bond. We would look at their factory, their business and be satisfied that are capable of doing what we wanted.
"It would mean a good GP2 team would have a good chance of getting an entry than say I would if it was just me on my own. There will be provision in the rules saying we could accept a late entry but you can only do that if there is a vacancy.
"The GPMA were saying until recently they were going to run their own series and if they do we will do everything we can to help.
"It would not surprise me to see some defections (from the GPMA) next month when we open the entries. I hope everybody will be sensible and see these are sensible rules and everyone will enter."
Mosley has also further increased the pressure on the manufacturers by revealing controversial plans to reduce costs by introducing same-spec engines from 2008 to 2010.
Under the scheme, manufacturers would have to lodge their engine design with the FIA by next June and then that specification of power-unit would be frozen for 2008, 2009 and 2010 - meaning no development at all for three years.
Reliability problems, however, could be addressed as long as the work did not result in a performance advantage.
"It would save up to one billion Euros per year on engine development," explained Mosley.
"I have a real determination to see this through. If F1 is to prosper we have got to get the costs down in order to help the independents survive.
"The GPMA and the manufacturers have been complaining about not getting enough money back from the sport, but they are spending between them one billion Euros per year. It would be better to cut that than try and get more back from Bernie Ecclestone."
The problem is that they can't - he changed the voting procedure for FIA presidency to virtually insure that he would be reelected last year. (Now an individual cannot run for President alone - he or she must run as part of a preannounced slate of officers. Guess who was the only one who already had a slate, namely the people who were already in all those positions. Surprise!)
He maintains his position by virtue of the votes from the FIA's member organisations. There are something like 175 members (such as the American AA, British RAC, German ADAC), so that each country has a vote. I don't know about you, but I am very relieved to know that the likes of the President of the Automobile Club of Paraguay are indirectly dictating the move to V8s in F1 this year.
And you shouldn't think that Min would ever do anything to ingratiate himself with these motoring luminaries from around the world in order to retain their support. Free tickets to events, pitlane access, autographs of star drivers? Heaven forfend!
He maintains his position by virtue of the votes from the FIA's member organisations. There are something like 175 members (such as the American AA, British RAC, German ADAC), so that each country has a vote. I don't know about you, but I am very relieved to know that the likes of the President of the Automobile Club of Paraguay are indirectly dictating the move to V8s in F1 this year.
And you shouldn't think that Min would ever do anything to ingratiate himself with these motoring luminaries from around the world in order to retain their support. Free tickets to events, pitlane access, autographs of star drivers? Heaven forfend!
OK, so let's say that Honda Racing F1 miss the boat...what's to stop them setting up a satellite team to guarantee them a place regardless...or how about Toyota?...all they'd need to do would be to guarantee a supply of engines to a Midfield team which is always "up for sale" and they'd guarantee their place.
McLaren could do the same - all they'd need to do is to lease that Woking facility that they just happen to have kept, out to another team and they'd be in business too. Ferrari could do the same too but it might cost them a bundle to buy out their chosen team....Renault might not bothered to make such a provision if they were intending to pull the plug...
..of course, all this is hypothetical...and I can't see any of the teams mentioned above having the foresight to do such a thing, could you? After all, BMW's the only one that has jumped the gun a bit and actually bought a midfield team hasn't it?....
McLaren could do the same - all they'd need to do is to lease that Woking facility that they just happen to have kept, out to another team and they'd be in business too. Ferrari could do the same too but it might cost them a bundle to buy out their chosen team....Renault might not bothered to make such a provision if they were intending to pull the plug...
..of course, all this is hypothetical...and I can't see any of the teams mentioned above having the foresight to do such a thing, could you? After all, BMW's the only one that has jumped the gun a bit and actually bought a midfield team hasn't it?....
I accept your responses and agree with the comments. But why all the smoke and mirrors. It just isn't necessary.
Yes Max has set himself up as a puppet (or should that be Muppet) dictator. But we all know that.
We also know that big corporations can use their muscle to circumvent the obstacles thrown up.
But what’s the point?
The FIA is not just about F1. I have a competition license, when I go to the MSA website I see that the organisation I get my license from and pay my dues to is affiliated and overseen by the FIA and the FIA seem to be a bunch of prats.
I don't like that!
Yes Max has set himself up as a puppet (or should that be Muppet) dictator. But we all know that.
We also know that big corporations can use their muscle to circumvent the obstacles thrown up.
But what’s the point?
The FIA is not just about F1. I have a competition license, when I go to the MSA website I see that the organisation I get my license from and pay my dues to is affiliated and overseen by the FIA and the FIA seem to be a bunch of prats.
I don't like that!
More from The Great Nauseator:
"The no-money (commercial income) thing is really quite logical - but what is logical and what people like are two really quite different things.
"They have had a three-year war with Bernie to try and up the money from him, from let's say $20 million to $40 million, but we can come along and we can take away more than $100 million straight like that on (cost-cuts with) the engines.
"Is it not then logical that if we take the $100 million out, although they didn't get their $20m to $40 million, they are actually $80 million better off?"
He added: "It is not an attack. It is just a completely logical conclusion from reducing the budget, because they are then much better off. I do see that it could be represented as me having a go at them, which I really am not."
What brilliant reasoning. Why, the FIA should require that a single set of tyres last for an entire season. Think of the savings then!
And it would only be for the carmakers own good.
"The no-money (commercial income) thing is really quite logical - but what is logical and what people like are two really quite different things.
"They have had a three-year war with Bernie to try and up the money from him, from let's say $20 million to $40 million, but we can come along and we can take away more than $100 million straight like that on (cost-cuts with) the engines.
"Is it not then logical that if we take the $100 million out, although they didn't get their $20m to $40 million, they are actually $80 million better off?"
He added: "It is not an attack. It is just a completely logical conclusion from reducing the budget, because they are then much better off. I do see that it could be represented as me having a go at them, which I really am not."
What brilliant reasoning. Why, the FIA should require that a single set of tyres last for an entire season. Think of the savings then!
And it would only be for the carmakers own good.
Perhaps I'm missing the point here but instead of coercing teams into a long-term deal in order to stifle future dissent, why doesn't MM instead strive to make F1 more commodious currently?
God, it's not Quantum mechanics. If you're lifeblood aint happy, sit down with them and discuss it. Maybe an amicable solution can be found that way.
Or is a certain red team going to p*ss on everyone's chips again?
God, it's not Quantum mechanics. If you're lifeblood aint happy, sit down with them and discuss it. Maybe an amicable solution can be found that way.
Or is a certain red team going to p*ss on everyone's chips again?
_VTEC_ said:
Perhaps I'm missing the point here but instead of coercing teams into a long-term deal in order to stifle future dissent, why doesn't MM instead strive to make F1 more commodious currently?
God, it's not Quantum mechanics. If you're lifeblood aint happy, sit down with them and discuss it. Maybe an amicable solution can be found that way.
Or is a certain red team going to p*ss on everyone's chips again?
I don't think Max understands win / win.
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