Happy Xmas Bernie from Monti
Discussion
FOTA President Luca di Montezemolo (who also runs one of the F1 teams) had a real dig at Bernie at a Christmas do. He said, according to Pitpass:
"Do you think it is normal that we don't have one race in North America? Do you think it is normal that we learn from the newspapers that the Canadian Grand Prix is over? Do you think it is normal that we see important sponsors decide to leave the smaller teams? Do you think it is normal that we pay unbelievable amounts for hospitality to promote ourselves at races? Do you think it is normal that we cannot discuss the timing of races?"
Subtle it aint.
He also said, in a sort of code, that Bernie should go.
This was said as president of Ferrari, not FOTA, but I would assume that it has the support of the other teams. This is a public expression of what must have been going on behind the smoke.
It could be, I suppose, that they - the teams - are after more money but on eading the Pitpass accoount it sems more of an attack on Beernie personally, and by implication I suppose, CVC as well.
Happy Christmas, Bernie.
"Do you think it is normal that we don't have one race in North America? Do you think it is normal that we learn from the newspapers that the Canadian Grand Prix is over? Do you think it is normal that we see important sponsors decide to leave the smaller teams? Do you think it is normal that we pay unbelievable amounts for hospitality to promote ourselves at races? Do you think it is normal that we cannot discuss the timing of races?"
Subtle it aint.
He also said, in a sort of code, that Bernie should go.
This was said as president of Ferrari, not FOTA, but I would assume that it has the support of the other teams. This is a public expression of what must have been going on behind the smoke.
It could be, I suppose, that they - the teams - are after more money but on eading the Pitpass accoount it sems more of an attack on Beernie personally, and by implication I suppose, CVC as well.
Happy Christmas, Bernie.
nothing to do with the fact that ferrari had a shocker at singapore? 
but i agree with him. very interesting how the relationship between them and the FIA has really turned around. wonder if allan donelly will not give them the benefit of such bad decisions next year...
also, seems that FOTA are doing a bit of a divide and conquer on max and bernie - BE wants medals, max doesn't - max wants teams to get 70% of the income of the sport, BE definitely doesn't!
but i agree with him. very interesting how the relationship between them and the FIA has really turned around. wonder if allan donelly will not give them the benefit of such bad decisions next year...
also, seems that FOTA are doing a bit of a divide and conquer on max and bernie - BE wants medals, max doesn't - max wants teams to get 70% of the income of the sport, BE definitely doesn't!
Riley15/6 said:
It is all out war. It's not as if the extra funding was a secret. Everyone knew about it.
Luca is a different animal from those who went before him and Mosley/Eccs have to accept this. I like the suggestion he should mind his own business. I thought F1 was Ferrari's business.
To think I was concerned when he was 'elected' head of FOTA. Putting him as boss was a stroke of genius.
Forza FOTA!
Bernie said:
“The only thing he has not mentioned is the extra money Ferrari get above all the other teams and all the extra things Ferrari have had for years – the ‘general help’ they are considered to have had in Formula One,”
Wow, Bernie's ruffled. What help? Well I guess we all (well, some of us) had some idea of a general Fia bias toward Ferrari, but this is straight from the horses mouth. This will get more interesting, and they'll be tears before bedtime. Once the dam breaks, they'll all be snitching on one another. Derek Smith said:
It's not as if the extra funding was a secret. Everyone knew about it.
Derek Smith said:
Luca is a different animal from those who went before him and Mosley/Eccs have to accept this. I like the suggestion he should mind his own business. I thought F1 was Ferrari's business.
To think I was concerned when he was 'elected' head of FOTA. Putting him as boss was a stroke of genius.
Forza FOTA!
I was concerned that he had the position as it was the only way the FIA/Eccs could ensure the teams fell in line with their desires. Fortunately, my concerns seem to have been ill founded and Di Monty is going up in my estimation at present.To think I was concerned when he was 'elected' head of FOTA. Putting him as boss was a stroke of genius.
Forza FOTA!
A new F1 chapter is unfolding, and so far I like the way it is looking.
Jesus!
Times Article said:
Ecclestone added that the special deal with the Italian sports car manufacturer goes back to the attempt by the teams to form a breakaway championship in 2003, when Ferrari were the first to return to the fold. “They were the only team that broke ranks with the other manufacturers – why did they break ranks?” he said. “That’s where the $80 million comes in. We ‘bought’ Ferrari. We ‘bought’ Ferrari’s loyalty. Our deal with Ferrari was that we ‘bought’ them so they would not go to the others.”
peterguk V6 KWK said:
Excuse my ignorance, but why is this allowed???
I guess it is just business. All the other teams would know that this was happening when they later agreed to sign up. Ferrari are seen as the biggest draw, so Bernie was happy to pay them enough to get them on board, knowing that without them the other teams would have less to offer if they went a separate way.Not saying it is right, or should happen, or that I agree with it. Just wanting to try and answer the question.
ph123 said:
Montezemolo has a bunch of 'yes' men around him.
So he does indeed beleive he carries more power than the Pope.
He did too run the World Cup and stuff didn't he?
Prat, thinks he can walk on water ...
Other than the WC thing that could just as well apply to Bernie, or Max for that matter.So he does indeed beleive he carries more power than the Pope.
He did too run the World Cup and stuff didn't he?
Prat, thinks he can walk on water ...
The fact that the whole crock is morally, if not illegally, corrupt should not surprise anyone.
hornetrider said:
Jesus!
WW3 is upon us.Times Article said:
Ecclestone added that the special deal with the Italian sports car manufacturer goes back to the attempt by the teams to form a breakaway championship in 2003, when Ferrari were the first to return to the fold. “They were the only team that broke ranks with the other manufacturers – why did they break ranks?” he said. “That’s where the $80 million comes in. We ‘bought’ Ferrari. We ‘bought’ Ferrari’s loyalty. Our deal with Ferrari was that we ‘bought’ them so they would not go to the others.”
Holy hell!!
So why has Bernie brought up the money now?
I mean, it's not as if the other teams weren't aware of it so why make it public? With the new bonhomie amongst the teams and attack on one will be seen as an attack on all, surely?
Whilst Luca was speaking at a Ferrari do, he was wearing his FOTA hat.
They will write books on this in years to come.
I mean, it's not as if the other teams weren't aware of it so why make it public? With the new bonhomie amongst the teams and attack on one will be seen as an attack on all, surely?
Whilst Luca was speaking at a Ferrari do, he was wearing his FOTA hat.
They will write books on this in years to come.
One aspect of this is the confidentiality clauses of the Concord agreement. We know that previously no one has been prepared to discuss details, not even Paul Stoddart. Yet Bernie in this interview casually throws out figures?!
Does this imply that other parties will now feel comfortable opening up the details? I hope so.
Does this imply that other parties will now feel comfortable opening up the details? I hope so.
Riley15/6 said:
One aspect of this is the confidentiality clauses of the Concord agreement. We know that previously no one has been prepared to discuss details, not even Paul Stoddart. Yet Bernie in this interview casually throws out figures?!
Does this imply that other parties will now feel comfortable opening up the details? I hope so.
Stoddart famously stated that, every year, every other team was required to pay "real, chequebook-out" money to Ferrari. One presumes that this is the payment to which Ecclestone is referring. Does this imply that other parties will now feel comfortable opening up the details? I hope so.
Interesting that Ecclestone seems to think that it is the Commercial Rights Holder that is providing the money, whilst Stoddart seems to think that it is the entrants.
My own, separate understanding is that it is money that is technically paid out by the CRH, but that it comes off the top of the annual Constructors' Championship pool which the CRH is contractually obliged to pay out to the teams.
As others have observed, the fact that Eccs, in describing the authorities' relationship with Ferrari, used the term "bought" three times was extraordinary, and almost certainly will come back to haunt him. One can hardly wait for the next installment of Nigel Roebuck's columns analysing the state of play in this sorry business.
One also presumes that the payment to which Eccs is referring is separate from the $100M that the CRH agreed to pay Ferrari in return for the latter's leaving the GPMA and signing up alongside the FIA and FOA to a new CA.
Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff