Min and Bern tighten their stranglehold on Formula One
Discussion
This from Autosport:
McLaren stung by FIA exclusion
Wednesday, May 31st 2006, 15:29 GMT
Former champions McLaren criticised Formula One's governing body on Wednesday after losing their place on a key commission from 2008.
The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said just six of the 12 competing teams, each chosen on national identity, would have a vote on its Formula One commission from 2008.
Red Bull (Austria), Renault (France), BMW (Germany), Ferrari (Italy), Honda (Japan) and Williams (Britain) were elected to the 13 member commission which must approve any changes to Formula One's sporting and technical regulations.
All the teams currently have a vote, along with representatives of engine suppliers, sponsors and tyre makers.
"Team McLaren Mercedes note the decision of the FIA to exclude the team from the 2008 Formula One commission," the team said in a statement.
"It seems surprising that the second oldest and most successful Formula One team for the past 40 years, with 148 Grand Prix victories, has not been included as a team representative."
The other members of the commission are five representatives of race promoters (Australia, Brazil, Hungary, Monaco and Spain) as well as the commercial rights holder and FIA.
The FIA, who want to simplify decision making in the sport after the expiry of the existing commercial agreement at the end of 2007, can expect plenty of allies on the new-look commission.
McLaren and Toyota are members of the Grand Prix Manufacturers' Assocation (GPMA) and have been critical of plans to freeze engine development.
Let's see:
1 vote - FIA
1 vote - Bernie
5 votes - promoters (who are only slightly beholden to Bernie - if they want to promote an F1 race EVER AGAIN)
1 vote - Ferrari
1 vote - Mateschitz
That's a 2/3 majority for anything that Min and Bern want to get done. Seems fair.
This is reminiscent of how Hitler slowly but surely seized total control. That couldn't have been a lesson for Mosley, could it? Noooooo.
>> Edited by flemke on Wednesday 31st May 20:34
Germany, Austria, Italy, Japan.
Interesting. Where have those names been grouped before? And why is Russia excluded?
No wonder Max exiled himself to Paris.
One has to imagine that Bern is having a last fling at attempted control. though he may be Max's puppet these days.
Daimler Chrysler must be a bit put out not to representing Germany - or maybe the US?
I wonder if Bush has the stomach to send in the Marines to usurp this new dictator?
There again maybe both Max and Wee Bern are simply temporary figureheads whilst the Austrian gains financial control over all motorsport sponsorship around the world prior to buying Itally to gain control of Fiat and therefore Ferrari (if the rumours are true.)
Interesting. Where have those names been grouped before? And why is Russia excluded?
No wonder Max exiled himself to Paris.
One has to imagine that Bern is having a last fling at attempted control. though he may be Max's puppet these days.
Daimler Chrysler must be a bit put out not to representing Germany - or maybe the US?
I wonder if Bush has the stomach to send in the Marines to usurp this new dictator?
There again maybe both Max and Wee Bern are simply temporary figureheads whilst the Austrian gains financial control over all motorsport sponsorship around the world prior to buying Itally to gain control of Fiat and therefore Ferrari (if the rumours are true.)
LongQ said:A couple of years ago, when the EC introduced that common arrest warrant, or whatever it was called, whereby any EU state could compel another to extradite the citizen of that other state (such as Frank Williams with regard to the Senna accident of '94), the ever-courageous Min decided that he wanted to get outside EU jurisdiction and therefore he moved his residence to Monaco. The FIA itself is nominally located in Paris.
No wonder Max exiled himself to Paris.
One has to imagine that Bern is having a last fling at attempted control. though he may be Max's puppet these days.
Daimler Chrysler must be a bit put out not to representing Germany - or maybe the US?
The teams were allocated to countries based on the official address of the entrant itself. Therefore D-C was ineligible; McLaren is the entrant and its Woking address pertained. Similarly, although the Toyota operation is based in Germany and Renault's, Red Bull's and TR's in England, the locations of the entrants were, respectively, Japan, France and Austria.
I'm not sure how Midland was treated. You allude to Russia. I suspect that the entrant technically is situated in England as well.
V8 Archie said:I thought that he was being even more creative, and linking the Axis reference and the homeland of the guy who owns Midland.
Germany, Austria, Italy, Japan.
Interesting. Where have those names been grouped before? And why is Russia excluded?flemke said:I presume LongQ was making a (flawed) WW2 reference.
You allude to Russia. I suspect that the entrant technically is situated in England as well.
flemke said:
Germany, Austria, Italy, Japan.
Interesting. Where have those names been grouped before? And why is Russia excluded?flemke said:I presume LongQ was making a (flawed) WW2 reference.
You allude to Russia. I suspect that the entrant technically is situated in England as well.
Not sure about the creativity involved but thanks for the observation flemke.
The axis countries might have included Russia at one point I believe, according to some. But the Russians were a tad upset by some of Herr Hitler's intentions towards what they considered to be their lands.
However I do consider the political regimes and intentions to be very similar in effect, though perhaps not economically.
For the Max and Bern show of course the major benefits of the list would seem to be acquiescence. At the least. The benefits of having the Russians in side might be more practical - cash for example. But possibly they wish to keep the numbers down to leave room for good old Roman to join in. A bit like expanding the G7 to G8 a few years ago.
Thanks for pointing out the Monaco connection as well. It is so difficult to separate the man from his organisation.
LongQ said:God, let's hope not.
But possibly they wish to keep the numbers down to leave room for good old Roman to join in. A bit like expanding the G7 to G8 a few years ago.
The last thing that F1 needs is the Russian "oligarch" (one can think of other words that are closer to the mark) splashing out the money that he worked so very hard to earn.
>> Edited by flemke on Thursday 1st June 09:17
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