F1 links: Ferrari loses FIA court case

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Here’s a round-up of F1 news and other interesting links I’ve found today.

If you’ve spotted a hot news story, interesting new website or just something funny from the world of F1, please share your links in the comments below.

Ferrari slams quality of new teams

"Shortly prior to finding out that it had lost its legal bid to prevent the FIA introducing a £40 million voluntary budget cap in F1 for next year, Ferrari vented its frustration at the teams hoping to make the step up to motor racing's premier category."

Tube considers KERS, but F1 rules ‘hurt innovation’

"KERS F1 technology could be introduced to the next generation of trains on the London Underground network, after Tube engineers were 'amazed' by the potential of the system following a visit to Williams F1."

Lewis Hamilton will have to grow up to gain respect

"The sooner Hamilton stops whining, accepts what he did was wrong and gets over it, the better." Daily Mirror's Oliver Holt goes after Hamilton again.

Valencia GP to be caught up in corruption case?

"Regional president Francisco Camps – who played a key role in convincing Bernie Ecclestone to switch the European GP from Germany to Spain in response to the growing popularity of F1 in the wake of Fernando Alonso's back-to-back world titles – is due in court today [Wednesday] to face charges of accepting 'bribes and backhanders' in exchange for awarding key 'contracts and illegal building permits'."

Commercial director Butler leaves Formula One leaders Brawn GP

"David Butler, commercial director at shock Formula One leaders Brawn GP has left the team. Butler is replaced by Bastien Hibon, formerly creative director at Friends of the Earth."

BRDC: Silverstone not for sale – and ready for 2010

"Silverstone is not up for sale – that it the emphatic message that has been sent out by the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) in the wake of speculation to the contrary, with the circuit's owners insisting that far from 'flogging' the track, they are in fact making sure that it is ready to continue hosting the British Grand Prix in 2010 should the need arise."

These are links I’ve bookmarked using Delicious. You can see my Delicious profile here.

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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72 comments on “F1 links: Ferrari loses FIA court case”

  1. Ferrari: Good Decision

    1. Ferrari: BAD decision. Now Max can do whatever he wants and invoke the ruling on FOTA…

    2. Correct decision. Ferrari did not use their veto and so cannot complain that it was ignored.

      The court case was a side issue anyway – whatever their decision, Max has to sit down with the teams and try to work out a compromise good enough to keep Ferrari in the game. Bernie will see to that.

    3. Stop & imagine Ferrari, McClaren, Toyota, Porsche & possibly Lola, They all sit down & devise their own sports car championship like the days of the Lola T70′ Ferrari P3, Porsce 917,simple rules, properly devised and agreed. If you ever saw these awesome cars racing -in the flesh you would understand what REAL racing was. Say they use 6 tracks, including, silverstone, spa etc -TWICE a year — 6 hour races, two or 3 drivers, maybe a final 12 hour race.Imagine – Awesome– who would watch F1??

  2. Currently, Ferrari is lying near the bottom of the points chart in the 2009 F1 championship. The team is white-washed by last year’s minnows-Mercedes Brawn(formerly Honda), Red Bull, Toyota, so Ferrari is lacking the confidence to face more minnows who can also squash them with a smaller budget. Ferrari can say they created F1 history; I would say they would be history if they behave like small children.

    1. ckwong, of the teams you mentioned, Red Bull (along with Toro Rosso) and Toyota will leave as well.

      I don’t see how this can be an issue of Ferrari being sore losers. You’re missing the whole point of why FOTA is going through all this hassle.

    2. My thoughts exactly ckwong. Honestly, I believe they are afraid of these new teams showing up and beating them next year on a much smaller budget.

  3. Correct decision. Ferrari did not use their veto and so cannot complain that it was ignored.

    Erm… I don’t think they were even given a chance to use that veto. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be going to court, would they?

    The court case was a side issue anyway – whatever their decision, Max has to sit down with the teams and try to work out a compromise good enough to keep Ferrari in the game. Bernie will see to that.

    Let’s hope you’re right…

    1. Vetoes are not the sort of thing you’re invited to use – you have to stand up and yell at the appropriate moment. And that moment was when the FIA first announced the new rules without first consulting the teams, including Ferrari.

      Ferrari’s best attack would have been to say that they were vetoing the rules by going to court, thereby muddying the waters on the timing issue. Not sure even that would have been successful, however.

  4. It would seem this issue of Ferrari’s failure at court has polarised most peoples opinions on here.

    maybe a poll is called for Keith?

  5. I’ve never heard of most of these new teams vying for a place on 2010’s grid.

    maybe Keith can do some background for us on each team.

    1. No prodrive in that list either, shame.

      Wirth Research: Simtek Reborn
      Lola: Lola
      USF1: USF1
      Epsilon Euskadi: No idea
      RML: No idea
      Formtech: No idea
      Campos and iSport.: GP2 teams, I think.

    2. David Richards has too much sense to tie himself to a series which could fold any minute & where the regualtions aren`t set in concrete & can be changed at will, ajokay

  6. Why is Oliver Holt even allowed to be a journalist?
    I thought journo’s were supposed to be unbiased.
    It’s totally obvious he has an agenda in hatred of Hamilton.

    Maybe it’s just simple Racism?

    I mean as the one who commented on the article itself said why is he writing about this stuff when their is one of the biggest issues in sport right now.

    1. Mark Hitchcock
      20th May 2009, 18:02

      Why is Oliver Holt even allowed to be a journalist?

      Because that’s the Mirror is a piece of trash.

      Maybe it’s just simple Racism?

      No.
      People really need stop shouting racism when there isn’t any. It’s a serious thing that gets belittled by stupid accusations like this.

    2. I agree with you scunnyman, it is racism. I find it annoying that people think it doesn’t exist in society or journalism.

      I wonder why the supposed former F1 world champion doesn’t identify himself. Lewis continues to be misquoted and picked on in the British media. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had stuff hurled at him at Silverstone this year as the media have whipped up such a campaign of hate against him.

    3. I don’t think there is any racism involved ( but of course I can’t be sure). The paper is pretty lightweight, and to be honest all are looking for increase in circulation and web hits. So, what better way that writing something negative about Lewis Hamilton. If Lewis does well this weekend it will be Lewis the great from the same journo.

    4. I thought journo’s were supposed to be unbiased.

      Nope. Ever watch Fox News?

    5. It’s a pathetic excuse for an article in a pathetic excuse for a newspaper.

      It baffles me how these clowns get accreditation some times.

  7. About the Brawn GP appointment — does anyone find it curious that, while yes, a commercial director presiding over the “Earth Dreams” campaign and the current conspicuous lack of livery ought to be let go, they picked another person with environmental credentials?

    Not that it cannot be made to work, but it will take a while before F1 is considered a green sport.

    1. Maybe the first thing that Brawn should do is get KERS – at least it tries to develop green technology. But then again I’m sure they won’t.

  8. If they lose Valencia as the European Grand Prix then maybe with a lot of luck , so everyone on F1Fanatic keep your fingers crossed, we could get MOTORLAND ARAGON instead and have what looks like a really good circuit in spain. Get rid of Barcelona too if you like.

    1. One of the GP2 teams was staying in the hotel next to us for Monza last year. They were still sporting enormous mosquito bites from Valencia. They totally detested the place.
      From a viewers` point of view it was like watching an F1 race in a trading estate. I was waiting for B & Q or Allied Carpets to appear ;)

    2. Scunnyman- I like the Motorland Aragon idea- didn’t some random dude clue you in about that place on the forums last week ? ;)

      persempre- Thanks for the unique insight, that’s the kind of stuff we don’t hear very often from the teams in the politically-correct world of mainstream F1 journalism.

  9. Commercial director Butler leaves Formula One leaders Brawn GP.

    AND??????????

    some news article. How about a bit more indepth. Like why???????

  10. As i have said in a previous comment. I didn’t think the sale of Silverstone to Ecclestone had legs.
    Personally i don’t care which track in britain host the Grand prix. Just that Britain does host a race in the championship.
    Just as some people say Ferrari should be in F1 because of heritage then so should Britain.
    Bernie should not be allowed to dicate formula one as he does.

  11. Woww as I said yesterday we will now see GP3 in F1 outfits. Great stuff Max to the top.

    Who’s buying tickets for next year’s GPs? Think again – don’t waste money – go for a vacation somewhere else.

  12. I wonder what toys and threats Ferrari will throw next…

    1. Chaz
      Please, just for a minute step back from that attitude.
      Instead of insults why not ask why it is that in the past Max & Bernie have been so eager to keep Ferrari on their side?
      M & B have run the sport on Divide & Conquer for decades. The fact that Ferrari is disliked by so many just plays into M & B`s.
      Since the advent of FOTA & a strong team association they are running scared that the teams will pull together enough to become the real power behind the sport. That the racing will take precedence.
      I, for one, hope that happens. I hope the teams can maintain a united front even if fans get over their old issues.

  13. Official Ferrari press release

    Maranello, 20th May 2009- Ferrari has noted the verdict of the Tribunal de Grande Instance with regards to the request to suspend with all haste the consequences of the decision taken by the FIA World Council on 29th April.

    The existence and validity of Ferrari’s right of veto, as sanctioned in a written agreement with the FIA Senate, were recognized by the Court, as was the fact that this dispute is of a contractual nature. Consequently, it was also recognized that the dispute was not a matter for the internal tribunal of the FIA, but rather a matter for normal civil courts. The Court believed that the right of veto should have been exercised during the World Council meetings of 17th March and 29th April. It therefore chose to let the civil law courts rule on the urgency of the matter.

    Such a decision, which is not prejudicial to the outcome of the matter, allows the FIA to impose on those teams entered in the 2010 world championship, regulations that have been drawn up unilaterally without respecting the agreed procedures. In the final analysis, Ferrari has been forced to use its right of veto, in defence of its own interests and those of all the teams participating in the Formula 1 World Championship.

    While continuing to evaluate whether or not to continue with this legal action already underway, Ferrari confirms its commitment to work within FOTA in conjunction with the FIA and the Commercial Rights Holder to ensure that Formula 1 is a series where the rules are the same for everyone and which benefits from stability in the regulations, while continuing the work of the past few months in moving forward methodically and gradually towards reducing costs.

    If it is not possible for all parties to reach agreement, then in line with the decision of the Main Board, taken on 12th May, Ferrari will not enter its cars in a competition that, with the planned scenario in place, would see a watering down of the characteristics that have endowed Formula 1 with the status of the most important motor sport series and that have specifically led to the Maranello marque’s uninterrupted participation in the world championship since 1950. In this situation, Ferrari will continue to compete in races of a calibre worthy of the marque, matching its level of innovation and technological research.

  14. “For me, it is strange that no one sat down and thought how we are damaging the sport, how much damage the sport has had in the last two months. To have those three or four new teams and losing seven of the big manufacturers I cannot understand – and not losing only seven manufacturers but losing the 10 best drivers in the world. It becomes no more interesting, F1.”

    Alonso

  15. You could not make it up! Ferrari fires off a blank squib, Max can crow and humiliate Ferrari and FIAT by extension. So that’s how inadequate people negotiate.

    Ferrari cannot stay in the FIA championship after this, Their rights are dead and gone.or they will deeserve everything they get if they do.

    Please someone start a genuine motor racing world championship named after something other than baby food.

  16. I wish some people on this site would get over the Ferrari bashing.
    I am no lover of Ferrari. But this issue is way bigger than just Ferrari not liking the rules.
    It’s obvious budgets have to come down but Max Mosley and bernie Ecclestone have just gone too far. They need to be reigned back before they collapse F1 as we know it.

    1. A (scunny)man who understands. :)
      Maybe some people don`t realise how important for the future of F1 this really is?
      I think I`ve read that you are a Brit living in the US? What is the coverage of the issue like over there?

    2. persempre,

      I’m also here in the USA. Today the story about Ferrari losing their lawsuit was on the front pages of some sports websites. That’s the most we’ve heard in the regular sports media- it’s a bit of a busy time with the NBA playoffs in full swing, as well as the triple crown of horse racing and some big NFL stories.

      On the dedicated motorsports media outlets here, the issue has gotten a good deal of attention. We’ll see what else comes out about it in the next few days and weeks.

  17. persempre

    I think we see eye to eye pretty much on this issue.

  18. persempre i made that last comment before reading yours lol.

  19. Well persempre I don’t really read the papers over here and have no television reception at the moment. So all the news i get on F1 is from websites, and Keith’s site covers most stuff for me.

    If you want to cantact me to discuss things sensibly my email is Scunnyman38@yahoo.co.uk

  20. thanks Ajokay maybe now we can get an indepth look at these teams to see which deserves a chance of getting into f1.

  21. Ok Mark Hitchcock

    maybe not simple racism,

    but maybe simple journalism

    Instead of informed journalism

    ok?

    1. Let`s be honest the normal dailies care not a jot about F1. They`d sell their grannies for readership figures so they`ll print whatever they think will achieve that end.

  22. And i agree about the comment about the Mirror. i never read that rag when i lived in the uk. Nor did i read the Sun or the Star. Even the Daily Mail isn’t that good.

    1. The Daily Mail and the Times are even worse than the Mirror.

  23. Eddie Irvine
    20th May 2009, 18:36

    I really think Ferrari is looking for a reason to quit Formula 1 without hurting their fans due to the economic crisis. They can understand that the budget cap is the only way to save F1, without destroying private teams like Williams.
    Also I am happy that the unfair advantage that Ferrari gain from Fia the last 15 years is now coming to an end.

    1. You raise a good point and some outstanding logic, but I would not apply that to Ferrari. Now with Toyota, I could absolutely agree if that was the excuse, and Red Bull could also use it to finally dump Toro Rosso. But I feel Ferrari dose want to be in F1- if they aren’t there, they can take their money and go elsewhere.

  24. This is the final straw. The FIA is digging F1’s grave, and it’s been getting bigger and more prominent….

    1. I Couldn’t agree more.
      And it’s sad that these are the facts. This is the hell that we the fans, the teams,and everyone else have to take from “El Presidente de Mosly” and his menions at the FIA.

      Something must be done NOW.!!

      FOTA and Ferrari have my full support.

  25. Ferrari slams quality of new teams

    that’s a whole lot of sour grapes. how quickly they have forgotten the days where they couldn’t execute a pit stop to save their lives. they simply want nothing to do with the possibility of getting smoked by some newcomers with a small fraction of their budget.

    “Looking at the list, which leaked yesterday from Paris, you can’t find a very famous name, one of those one has to spend 400 Euros per person for a place on the grandstand at a GP (plus the expenses for the journey and the stay) [to see].”

    i wouldn’t pay 400+ euro now. if, by some miracle, there were a US race next year, i wouldn’t pay more than about 200 USD (about what i’d spend for an evening at a casino), and that’s with pit access for the weekend. if they think they are providing more entertainment value than that, they’re bananas. just because they can get a bunch of italians and brazilians to hand over a month’s wage (for essentially nothing) doesn’t mean others are willing to do the same.

    to be blunt, F them.

    1. What they mean is that they can`t see any F1 fan wanting to spend 400 Euros + (Bernie`s prices) to watch a sport with no big names in it.
      Hands up who thinks F1 is value for money?
      No. Nor do I but that`s not Ferrari`s fault. That`s down to Bernie.

  26. Erm… well… I meant to sound kind of dramatic :P. But this is a big step towards driving the manufacturers away.

  27. What absolute arrogance on the part of Ferrari slagging the teams against whom they might be competing next year! The feudal lords are losing power and look down their noses at the riff-raff moving into the neighbourhood…. how utterly pathetic.

    News flash: F1 already is a two-tier sport. The only reason Ferrari don’t want a capped budget is because they can’t face the prospect of playing on an even field with 13 other teams.

    1. Maybe not the most tactful way they could have put it, no.
      Rather reminiscent of Lewis Hamilton`s “monkeys at the back”, comment isn`t it?

    2. Very very very well put in your second paragraph Maciek. I’ve been saying the same thing as you…

    3. News flash: F1 already is a two-tier sport.

      How is F1 already a two-tier sport? There’s one set of rules…

    4. Question – there may be one set of rules but who decides those rule to suit them? Ferrari have a technical veto, get more F1 pie money, etc, and thats whats being begrudgingly leaked and reported. I’d really like to know the full extent of bias and then I’m sure we’d get far more raised eyebrows if not vitriol…

    5. Agreed, Chaz. Keith: two-tier in the sense that those with budgets that resemble those of small countries are in a tier to which the smaller teams simply cannot aspire. Not to mention the Ferrari veto that goes against all the fundamentals of what “sport” is supposed to be all about.

      I don’t know if a cap can work, but to have true competition in F1, something has to be done. I’ve said this here before: lose all the electronics and make racing cars instead of computers on wheels.

    6. two-tier in the sense that those with budgets that resemble those of small countries are in a tier to which the smaller teams simply cannot aspire

      That’s not the same as having regulations that allow teams to operate under two different sets of rules. I doubt any two teams in F1 have the same budget – by your definition F1 at the moment is a ten-tier system.

    7. Keith, I feel that you’re splitting hairs. You know well what I mean. Sure all teams have different budgets, but, to paraphrase Orwell, some are more different than others. Question of degree. What I mean to say is that the playing field is not level, even if it is so on paper.

  28. Now S Hughes regarding Oliver Holt it may or may not be racism but the man certainly has a downer on Lewis.

  29. The fact that people like Oliver Holt can make a living writing absolute trash makes me feel sad.

    1. John H, I agree with you, but that’s what it is a living. Negativity sells, also Lewis is giving the press the cold shoulder and no exclusives, so they are not happy. As much as Jenson is winning, you don’t see the big spreads for him. The press want Lewis, but he’s not playing ball, so they write rubbish and hope for the hits.

  30. HounslowBusGarage
    20th May 2009, 21:24

    Actually, I feel quite sorry for Oliver Holt.
    You don’t go into journalism because it’s a choice between that and working at MacDonalds, you choose journalism because you want to write earth shaking news! Become an enquiring and investigative reporter! Win the Pulitzer prize an’ all that!
    Imagine then having to write manure like that for a paper like that . . .
    No wonder journalists have a reputation for drink.

    1. The last few times I’ve seen Holt’s column in the Mirror it’s had “sports columnist of the year…again” or similar words at the top.

  31. What has Oliver Holt done to deserve “sports columnist of the year”?

    1. Holt, the judges declared “ticks all the right boxes with a style of writing which encourages you to read to the very last word”.

      So writing bs is fine, as long as it encourages people to read it.

  32. HounslowBusGarage
    20th May 2009, 23:18

    @ Keith.
    Doesn’t say much for the rest then, does it!

  33. Bigbadderboom
    20th May 2009, 23:57

    Oliver Holt has only ever written sensationalist bull for the red tops, you have to laugh really at his self interest in the articles he writes.

    As for the Courts decision with Ferrari v FIA, I think we are going to see a substantial increase in the budget cap that they will look to reduce over the coming years, Dave Richards knows this and has already stepped back his proposed interest, also the FIA know there are now more interested parties, so they can afford to loose 1 or 2 new teams. I can’t see USF1 puling out, you can bet they can dig very deep into some patriotic stars and stripes sponsors to raise their budget to 100 million of need be!

    My bet is the same as i previously stated, £140 million budget 2010 down to £75 million after 3 seasons, and all the teams racing this weekend will start next season.

  34. Yes Gman you could be right about the forum thing. I also had to go back to that forum to remind me of what it was called lol.

  35. While I am no fan of Ferrari and don’t agree with them having a technical veto I am disappointed they lost the court case as I thought it might stop the stupid idea of two-tier F1.

    I still think some sort of compromise deal will be reached, but this strengthens the FIA’s hand in negotiations.

    When you see an article in something like The Mirror you know before even reading it that it will be a load of sensationalist rubbish.

  36. I was doing som e meanering around the net today and found this interview with Keith Collantine from january 2007.
    Some of you might find this quite interesting and informative. It’s quite relevant to current events too.

    http://blogf1.co.uk/2007/01/17/interview-keith-collantine-from-f1fanatic/

    1. My b***dy keyboard!!!!!!!!!!! keeps missing letters.

  37. Oh Keith, what happened to your Grand Prix Masters Fanatic site?

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