FOTA teams to leave F1, start own series

[Max2147]

I know we have a dedicated F1 topic, but I think this is big enough news to start its own thread: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76292

FOTA will launch a breakaway series in 2010.

FIA has got big problems...Maybe Mosley should have put more effort into keeping the F1 Constructors and Drivers on side than having orgies with prostitutes

[Schroeder]

Finally! I couldn't stand this Mosley/Ecclestone show anymore. Especially since they decided to kick classical racing circuits out of the season and replaced them with no name tracks in countries that are not even interested in F1 just to make even more money.

I hope the FOTA teams will really pull this through and maybe we will get some decent racing again soon.

[stabiz]

RIP F1.

[Skybird]

Da geht es dahin... und tschüss...

I don't give that series much chances. No tracks. No TV rights. No marketing contracts. And all this in a time of economic turmoil. eventually it will try, and try again - and then fade into the realms of meanignlessness, or simply die. No carmaker under financial pressure throws money after something that gives him no compensation of any form.

[Jimbuna]

Well, lets put it this way....rhere won't be enough finance available in the sport to cater for two rival entities.

This weekend will be crucial in terms of a way forward for the sport.

[Max2147]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Da geht es dahin... und tschüss...

I don't give that series much chances. No tracks. No TV rights. No marketing contracts. And all this in a time of economic turmoil. eventually it will try, and try again - and then fade into the realms of meanignlessness, or simply die. No carmaker under financial pressure throws money after something that gives him no compensation of any form.

Why would they lose money? All the sponsors will presumably follow them to the new series. They will sign new TV deals. The deals might be worth less than they were under Bernie, but Bernie kept 50% of the TV money and only gave the remaining 50% to the teams to divvy up. With the teams running the show, they will presumably divide up all the TV money among themselves. So they'll have 100% of a smaller pot of money instead of 50% of a bigger pot.

As far as tracks, it's unclear if there's a non-competition clause in the current tracks' contracts. If there is, there are still plenty of tracks around. A few off the top of my head:

Italy: Mugello
Spain: Jerez
UK: Silverstone (with the F1 race going to Donington)
France: Magny Cours (Bernie owns Paul Ricard)
Portugal: Algrave or Estoril
Germany: Nurburgring or Hockenheim, whichever isn't hosting the F1 that year. Lausitzring if neither are available.
UAE: Dubai
Moncao: Will likely follow the big teams
Australia: Adelaide
China: Zhuhai
Holland: Zandvoort
Japan: Fuji (Toyota owns it)
Canada: Montreal
USA: Indianapolis or Laguna Seca
Belgium: Zolder

So there's a 15 round season without repeating in any country. You could easily get to 20 rounds with repeats. All of those circuits have either held F1 tests, F1 races, or high-level open-wheel racing (Champ Car or A1GP) in the past few years. The only exception is Adelaide, but the streets used for the old F1 course are still there. Most of them have been used for a V8 Supercar race every year.

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Finally! I couldn't stand this Mosley/Ecclestone show anymore. Especially since they decided to kick classical racing circuits out of the season and replaced them with no name tracks in countries that are not even interested in F1 just to make even more money.

I hope the FOTA teams will really pull this through and maybe we will get some decent racing again soon.