FOTA teams to leave F1, start own series

[Skybird]

I am sceptical. Ecclestone has long-lasting contracts with the major TV networks, and has established a system to as lasting contracts with tracks as well. He has an onfrastructure to run the show, and a reglement. The new series has so far no rules and reglemantions - who will be the one to form one? who will control and enforce it? Who will serve as neutal referee?

I do not say the series will not take place. I do say that I see many "ifs" and "maybes" and "eventuallys".

and it is not as if FIA would just give up and shut down. It will try to run its own show. With existing TV contracts. Track contracts. 7 or 8 necomer teams on the ready to jump in. An established infrastructure.

In chess, there was such a thing, too, for different reasons (political ones), and for some years, the world champion of that era, Kapsarow, had founded a Professional Player Association that split away from FIDE. Nevertheless, the attempt did not succeed and failed to generate sufficient public and player interest, and Kasparow today says it was a mistake. His association has gone since then, and only FIDE is there again.

Of one thing I am sure: there is not enough interest, money and room for two competing formula one series. Even more since there is no major attractor like Schumacher - in good and bad - has been.

[Max2147]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I am sceptical. Ecclestone has long-lasting contracts with the major TV networks, and has established a system to as lasting contracts with tracks as well. He has an onfrastructure to run the show, and a reglement. The new series has so far no rules and reglemantions - who will be the one to form one? who will control and enforce it? Who will serve as neutal referee?

I do not say the series will not take place. I do say that I see many "ifs" and "maybes" and "eventuallys".

and it is not as if FIA would just give up and shut down. It will try to run its own show. With existing TV contracts. Track contracts. 7 or 8 necomer teams on the ready to jump in. An established infrastructure.

In chess, there was such a thing, too, for different reasons (political ones), and for some years, the world champion of that era, Kapsarow, had founded a Professional Player Association that split away from FIDE. Nevertheless, the attempt did not succeed and failed to generate sufficient public and player interest, and Kasparow today says it was a mistake. His association has gone since then, and only FIDE is there again.

Of one thing I am sure: there is not enough interest, money and room for two competing formula one series. Even more since there is no major attractor like Schumacher - in good and bad - has been.

Ecclestone has long-term contracts with *some* of the major TV networks and circuits. The FOTA series can just sign contracts with other TV networks and other circuits.

And there aren't as many newcomer teams as you'd think. Since it became clear that a breakaway would happen, two of the teams that would have filled the F1 grid have pulled out (Lola and N Technology), since they didn't want to be in F1 without the big teams. A lot of the other applicants were simply empty shells. For example, the guy who owns the Lotus name submitted an application, even though he doesn't actually have a racing team.