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#811 2009 British Grand Prix

2022-01-04 00:00

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#2009, Fulvio Conti, Translated by Francesca Gentile,

#811 2009 British Grand Prix

Eight separate letters, one for each of the rebel teams, all with a secret content but sharing a common theme: a resounding rejection of Max Mosley's

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Eight separate letters, one for each of the rebel teams, all with a secret content but sharing a common theme: a resounding rejection of Max Mosley's invitation, the president of the FIA.

 

"Register unconditionally, and together we will write the rules for the new Formula 1, following your proposals".

 

However, the condition is that to reverse what Mosley decided with a solo move in the World Council on April 29 (cost cap, dual rule World Championship, technical concessions for non-offenders, and heavy restrictions for big-spending teams), unanimity is required. This essentially rules out any reconsideration, as a team that votes against returning to the old rules (like Williams, for example) would still find Mosley. Moreover, the FIA president turned his letter into an ultimatum, demanding that the eight rebel teams submit an unconditional and immediate entry by Tuesday, June 9, 2009. The response from the reluctant teams, with Ferrari leading the way, is firm and unyielding on the fundamental principles. The teams (they claim that the eight different letters are essentially photocopies, demonstrating unity of purpose) do not want to make their response public, but in summary, it is: you need to go back first, reinstating the 2009 rules, and then we will enter and discuss everything. This standoff will be sanctified by a FOTA meeting in London on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, during lunchtime. It will mark another counteroffensive, especially in light of a response received from the FIA in the evening, indicating that they found certain elements not entirely negative. This appears to be a sign of potential easing of the situation. It will soon become clear if this is meaningful, as the deadline for entries into the 2010 World Championship is still set for Friday.

 

It's worth noting Michael Schumacher's position:

 

"Formula 1 without Ferrari and the other major teams is unimaginable. Mosley cannot think of turning the world around in a day; it's impossible".

 

But now, we are moving towards threats. Bernie Ecclestone says:

 

"If the eight rebel teams try to create an alternative World Championship, they will face significant problems. They have contracts already signed, and I'm ready to take them to court. Not to mention all the money they would have to spend, let alone cost reductions. Legal actions would also affect circuits and organizers. As for the drivers, I think they want to win a real World Championship, not a title that is worth less, even if it means earning more money".

 

Stefano Domenicali, the team principal of Ferrari, also issues a warning:

 

"The FIA cannot automatically enroll Ferrari in the next World Championship because we are not bound by any contract, which became void after Mosley's rule change. Our participation in 2010 is still conditional. The FOTA has presented a package of cost reduction proposals. If an agreement is not reached, Ferrari will not be part of the registered teams".

 

The FOTA meeting in London has not changed the situation. Tomorrow, Ferrari may not be part of the list of thirteen teams registered for the 2010 World Championship. While Ecclestone threatens lawsuits and the FIA would like to enroll all the teams by default, on Wednesday, June 10, 2009, Max Mosley seems willing to negotiate.

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"We can agree that in 2010, everyone will race under the same rules, but the teams will have a budget cap, perhaps even at 100.000.000, but it must be there. The regulations already published will need to be adhered to, but it would be possible to cancel the technical and sporting advantages originally offered to teams that adhere to the cap. They should be replaced by an exchange of information and data between the teams that already compete in the World Championship and the newcomers, at least for 2010, possibly even for 2011".

 

Will this be enough to reach an agreement? It doesn't seem so, but at least there's an intention. On Wednesday, Mosley will meet with representatives from the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) to discuss his new ideas. At the moment, however, there seem to be no openings, as the gap between the FIA's demands and the teams' proposals for overcoming the major hurdle of the budget cap is enormous. In fact, more than five hours of intense discussions lead to no resolution, as has been the case in the last few tumultuous weeks. The FIA, represented by President Mosley, and FOTA, with four authoritative representatives, including Domenicali (Ferrari), Howett (Toyota), Horner (Red Bull), and Ross Brawn, meet in London, but neither side is backing down. The teams, especially, reiterate their uncompromising stance, sticking to the principles they've been championing for a long time: a strong desire to reach an agreement, but no to a budget cap, no to a dual-rule World Championship with technical concessions for lower-spending teams, no to continuing the venture without the signature of the Concorde Agreement that regulates commercial relations. They say no to the revolution that Max Mosley desires, which insists on limiting expenses to €45.000.000, and yes to cost reduction, but in a gradual, more appropriate manner, based on the teams' recommendations rather than the Federation's dictate. FOTA is unyielding, refusing the 2010 rules and insisting that they should decide how cost reduction should be implemented. Mosley has taken note of this hardline stance and has reserved the right to give a response. He is aware that the room for negotiation has been minimized, given that the FIA is required to formalize entries for the upcoming World Championship. To avoid a definitive breakdown, the FIA might publish a list of thirteen teams, with three new teams, Williams, and Force India, which have entered unconditionally, and an asterisk for the eight rebel teams that have joined conditionally and are ready to leave, moving to an alternative World Championship. This compromise solution could buy a few more days, perhaps until June 24, 2009, the date of the World Council meeting where Mosley could, in a dramatic turn, accommodate FOTA's requests. However, some speculate about a list with just five asterisks (McLaren, Toyota, Brawn, Renault, and BMW, not bound by the Concorde Agreement) and the automatic enrollment of Ferrari (which would infuriate the Maranello team), Red Bull Racing, and Scuderia Toro Rosso. These teams have renewed their agreement in 2005, and according to the FIA, they are obligated to participate in the World Championship, a claim that Ferrari contests, reversing the terms and accusing Mosley of violating the agreement. The last possibility is a list without the eight major teams, effectively expelling them from Formula 1.

 

"I ask everyone to remain calm, instead of slinging mud publicly or behind the scenes".

 

Bernie Ecclestone doesn't seem overly concerned about the standoff between the FIA and FOTA over the rules that is jeopardizing next year's World Championship. The Circus boss intervenes in the quarrel, appealing to common sense. But he doesn't appear too worried.

 

"I would like to ask everyone to remain calmer and let things settle. Let's stop slinging mud, whether publicly or behind the scenes".

 

Meanwhile, on Friday, June 12, 2009, the Federation officially enrolls Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, and Scuderia Toro Rosso in the 2010 World Championship, including them in a list that also comprises Force India, Williams, and three new teams. In the same list, the names of McLaren-Mercedes, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, and Brawn GP are accompanied by an asterisk:

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"These five teams have submitted entries with conditions. The FIA has invited them to remove the conditions after the talks that should conclude by Friday, June 19".

 

However, Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, and Scuderia Toro Rosso clarify that their entry is also conditional. The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) requests that the FIA adopts the current regulations in 2010, modified according to the teams' demands, and signs the new Concorde Agreement with the teams and Ecclestone, which would set commercial parameters and rules to ensure stability in the sport. FOTA also calls on the FIA's World Council to intervene to help resolve the crisis. However, Mosley's entourage appears to have labeled this initiative by the teams as ridiculous. They highlight that it was, in fact, the World Council that approved the rules that FOTA is now contesting.

 

"If I compare this enthusiastic and colorful crowd to the empty stands in Istanbul, I can't help but reflect, think that something is wrong in Formula 1".

 

Luca Montezemolo reflects. This is the meaning of Saturday, June 13, 2009, in Le Mans, at the start of the 24 Hours race. Red caps with the Prancing Horse logo appear from a backpack. Luca Montezemolo hands them out one by one and tosses them to the crowd, which applauds and waves flags. The fact that the caps, due to the contrary wind, can't even clear the protective net and require the photographer's help to reach the fans is ultimately a minor detail. Because what matters today are the actions and their significance. There is much meaning in those red caps flying to the crowd. This French day for Ferrari has the sweet flavor of a return to the origins. When the invitation to come to Le Mans to kick off the historic 24 Hours race arrived in Maranello, few understood the enthusiasm with which Montezemolo accepted it. The anniversaries (60 years ago, Ferrari's first-ever victory, 40 years ago, the start given by Gianni Agnelli) alone didn't justify that enthusiastic yes. Today, however, that joy was clear to everyone. Luca Montezemolo and Ferrari had things to say, and the best place to do so is Le Mans, where the stands are still packed with people who spend the nights in tents, where the paddock is still a haven for mechanics and fanatics who pat you on the back, where the race is an opportunity to touch the cars, listen to the engines, smell the gasoline. Where motorsport is still a sport. Here, the words of Luca Montezemolo are no longer part of the endless controversy over the budget cap imposed by Max Mosley. They point in a direction. The President of Ferrari, speaking about Formula 1 and its uncertain future, says:

 

"Formula 1 is in Ferrari's heart, it's our priority. We have it in our blood, in our DNA. That's why we are trying to save it".

 

The first step is to prevent it from turning into something else:

 

"What we ask to keep being part of the Circus is simple and logical. We won't allow it to become a Formula 3. We want stability, clear rules, and a transparent governance system that allows the teams to work on cost reduction".

 

Someone asks if Ferrari intends to leave the Circus. The answer remains the same:

 

"I hope that a solution can be found".

 

However, there's an enigmatic phrase added:

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"I'm sure there are responsible people within the FIA who understand the situation".

 

This refers to the FIA Senate (the only body capable of overturning Mosley's decisions), which received a kind of appeal in recent days. Only if this appeal falls on deaf ears and if all other ways fail, an extreme solution will be considered:

 

"I have one certainty: Ferrari's future will be on the track. Soon, this situation will have been resolved: so we will either race in an F1 that we like, or there will be something alternative".

 

Montezemolo, however, speaks little and reluctantly about this:

 

"We have the best cars, the best teams, top drivers, brands, and the ability to invest. If necessary, we will do what we have to do".

 

Including a thought about Le Mans. 

 

"In fact, it's been too long since one of our official teams won here... Come back? Certainly not with a Ferrari diesel, but with a hybrid, why not?"

 

The red cap is already in the hands of the fans. But Max Mosley continues to accuse the teams:

 

"An agreement was reached between FOTA and FIA last Thursday, but some FOTA members who were absent supported the opposite".

 

According to the FIA president, someone doesn't want to reach an agreement.

 

"I don't think it's useful to continue with controversies; everyone will make their own decisions".

 

When asked whether Ferrari will participate in the next Formula 1 World Championship, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, the President of Ferrari, responds:

 

"People don't understand what's happening, and very often, we don't understand it either. We don't understand why they want to ruin Formula 1 like this. Right now, we can only reiterate our position: we have set very clear conditions to participate in the championship. Our position hasn't changed since early May board of directors' meeting".

 

Regarding the statements of Max Mosley, the President of the FIA, who suggested that there are some teams working against the FIA's proposals, Montezemolo did not comment:

 

"I won't comment on them at all".

 

The FIA remains firm on the modification to the Formula 1 regulations, which includes a budget cap for teams of approximately €45.000.000 from next year. 

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The Federation reaffirms its commitment to this approach in a new statement on its official website, highlighting the inability of the proposals from FOTA to produce a concrete reduction in costs.

 

"As agreed in the meeting on June 11, on Monday, June 15, the financial experts from the FIA met with those from FOTA. Unfortunately, FOTA's representatives stated that they hadn't been given a mandate to discuss the new financial rules proposed by the FIA for 2010. Consequently, the meeting didn't achieve the goal of comparing the rules decided by the FIA with FOTA's proposals and reaching a common position".

 

An agreement that would prevent a complete rupture between the rebel teams and the Federation seems even further away.

 

"In the absence of a real dialogue, FOTA's financial proposals were discussed, but it appeared clear that they wouldn't be able to limit the spending of a team with more resources to invest than its competitors. Another financial arms race would be inevitable because the FIA's financial rules remain as published".

 

According to these rules, teams that exceed the budget cap would face significant technical and development restrictions, effectively leading to a two-tier World Championship. This situation does not please the major manufacturers, especially Ferrari, which has repeatedly explained that the new regulations distort the principles of competition in research and technology, which, according to Maranello, are the essence of Formula 1. The next day, Tuesday, June 16, 2009, surprisingly, the Formula 1 teams belonging to FOTA wrote a letter to the leaders of motorsport, requesting an extension of the registration deadline until July 1, 2009, to seek an agreement on the rules for the 2010 World Championship and to prevent damage. However, the FIA counters:

 

"First, register, then we can discuss the regulations".

 

The FOTA's letter, addressed to the FIA President Max Mosley and F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone, states:

 

"The time has come where, in the interest of the sport, we must all seek a compromise and find an urgent solution to the protracted debate regarding the 2010 World Championship. We hope that you consider this letter a significant step by the teams, all of which have clearly stated their commitment to the sport until the end of 2012. We would request you to consider these proposals and to try to avoid the potential exit of these teams from Formula 1. It is time to find a reasonable and rapid solution to the issues at hand".

 

A source from one of the teams says that the letter represents a last-ditch effort to reach a compromise before the Friday deadline when five of the FOTA teams must unconditionally register for the 2010 World Championship. The response from the FIA is crucial. According to the FOTA, the deadline should be extended to July 1, 2009, to allow for further discussions and the signing of a new Concorde Agreement. However, the FIA reiterates:

 

"Register first, then we can discuss. There's no time to discuss; we have to provide an answer to the remaining teams that have submitted entries for the 2010 World Championship by Friday. We will soon send a letter to each team. If signed and returned, the letter will constitute an unconditional entry".

 

Beyond the standoff over the dates, this new letter from the FIA contains conciliatory elements, and the tone is different from the one in the previous public statement. 

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Regarding the modification of the Concorde Agreement signed by the teams and the FIA in 1998, Mosley seems unwavering:

 

"As already explained in the meeting on June 11, if changes to the 1998 Agreement begin, a lengthy discussion will ensue. There's no more time because we have to respond to the remaining teams that have submitted entries for the 2010 World Championship by Friday".

 

At the same time, the FIA states that in the teams' proposals, there are elements they might agree with, but they need time to evaluate them. For example:

 

"Your proposals relating to the Concorde Agreement would require amendments to the FIA's statutes. Our proposal is that all parties accept the 1998 criteria by letter. Then, we can negotiate a new 2009 Concorde Agreement based on the 1998 one. After all, we've lived like this for ten years; a few more weeks or months won't cause difficulties".

 

On the financial front, the positions do not seem far apart when it comes to budget control mechanisms for the teams. FOTA has proposed that the limit be monitored through a methodology developed by a group of independent experts selected by the teams. The Federation should review the results annually.

 

"We see no reason why such a system, based on objective compliance checks, should not be accepted by all parties involved".

 

Most importantly, the FIA wants the teams to say yes to the rules that have already been announced:

 

"We propose that you accept the rules for 2010 as they have been published (a budget of £40 million) and on which we reached an agreement last year. If necessary, they can be reviewed in due course in governance discussions".

 

Another aspect: FOTA reiterates the need to use a single set of regulations in the 2010 World Championship, without exceptions or concessions for teams making their debut in the series. The 'established' teams are ready to provide low-cost engines, transmission systems, and technical support to the newcomer teams. However, FOTA does not want the engine rev limit for Cosworth engines used by debutant teams to be lifted. The FIA responds by saying:

 

"The Cosworth engines must be able to run without restrictions in 2010 (according to the 2006 rules) because Cosworth does not have the resources and time to redefine the engines. Any engineer will confirm that this will not give the teams any significant advantage".

 

In the fourth point of discussion, the FOTA believes that, to set out the rules theoretically  that also includes the holders of commercial rights, it would be appropriate to postpone the deadline for formalizing entries without reservations until July 1. The FIA is unwavering.

 

"We will shortly send a letter to each team. If signed and returned, the letter will be legally binding".

 

No use. Max Mosley made a final offer-attempt, but it's all in vain. During the night, a definitive break occurred between the major FOTA teams, gathered to evaluate the offer, and the FIA. The rebel teams, at the end of the evening-night meeting at Renault's headquarters in Enstone, near Silverstone, responded negatively to the offer and said they are ready to begin preparations for a new championship. 

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The new championship will have transparent governance, a unified set of rules, encourage the entry of new participants, and listen to the desires of fans, offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners, and all stakeholders. In this new championship, as assured by the eight FOTA teams, the best drivers, brands, sponsors, organizers, and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will be present. In the early afternoon, the rebel teams received Max Mosley's final offer to increase the annual spending cap from £45.000.000 to £100.000.000 for 2010 (then it had to return to £40.000.000). All in an attempt by the FIA President to resolve the political and sporting crisis and convince them to enter the next World Championship. In a letter sent to the teams, Max Mosley proposed to modify the rules published for 2010 so that the so-called budget cap would vary as mentioned. The FIA President also wrote to accept the teams' proposal and that the spending cap be controlled by a self-reporting system, and that suspected violations would be examined by a mutually accepted auditor. But it was all in vain; the teams are going on their own.

 

"Formula 1 is over, it will no longer be the same sport, I follow the teams and go to the new championship".

 

The final nail in the coffin of the FIA-FOTA dispute is hammered in by Fernando Alonso. And Flavio Briatore goes even further.

 

"The decision has been made, we no longer have any interlocutors. The World Council will deal with this matter on Wednesday, to which the FOTA President (Montezemolo, Ed.) will present our proposal, which is the one from Thursday (June 18)".

 

The end of negotiations, therefore, and of mediation attempts. The FIA's reaction is immediate, announcing legal action against all F1 teams.

 

"FIA lawyers have examined the threat of FOTA to start an alternative championship. The actions of FOTA as a whole and of Ferrari in particular constitute serious violations of the law, including the intentional interference in contractual relations, the direct interruption by Ferrari of legal obligations, and a serious violation of competition law".

 

So, on the eve of the start of the parallel championship, it is clarified once and for all that this is the real F1 because they have the cars, sponsors, and drivers. And they are the only ones who can guarantee the essential presence of spectators at various circuits and on TV. Meanwhile, the current Formula 1 goes on its way, and on Friday, June 19, 2009, the times of the first free practice for the British Grand Prix reveal nothing new, as usual: first is Sebastian (1'19"400), followed by Mark Webber, Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Fernando Alonso, and Felipe Massa. The same goes for the second practice with Vettel still ahead of everyone. Behind him is his teammate, Australian Mark Webber, 0.141 seconds behind, while German Adrian Sutil on Force India-Mercedes is third with a time of 1'20"141. The leader of the World Championship, Jenson Button, performs poorly, credited with only the fourteenth position, while the Ferraris of Massa and Raikkonen record the sixth and seventeenth best times, respectively. In this turmoil, Max Mosley, President of the International Automobile Federation, once again manages to amaze, showing optimism about the possibility of reconciling with the major teams. The source of Mosley's optimism remains a mystery: the teams have officially terminated negotiations with the Federation. And the latest opening by Mosley on Wednesday, when he proposed to increase the spending limit from £44.000.000 to £100.000.000, was vain: 

 

"These teams have no alternative but to start preparing for a new championship that reflects the values of its participants and partners".

 

This statement comes from the association that includes Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, BMW-Sauber, Toyota, Red Bull Racing, Renault, Brawn GP, and Scuderia Toro Rosso.

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"This championship will have transparent governance and a single set of rules. It will encourage the entry of new members and listen to the desires of fans. Furthermore, it will offer lower costs to spectators worldwide, partners, and shareholders. The most important drivers, brands, promoters, and companies traditionally associated with the highest level of motorsport will all be engaged in this new championship".

 

Here comes the strongest stance, which essentially marks the breakdown of negotiations:

 

"Our associates have refused to amend their entry with reservations for the 2010 World Championship".

 

Indeed, the terms for submitting entries for the upcoming season expire on Friday, and at this point, there is no room for further discussion. The teams say:

 

"But it's not our fault because since the formation of FOTA in September last year, the teams have cooperated and tried to involve the FIA and the holder of the commercial rights (Bernie Ecclestone) to develop and improve the sport. The global financial crisis, an unprecedented phenomenon, has inevitably presented the Formula 1 community with significant challenges. FOTA is proud to have adopted the most concrete measures in the history of our sport to reduce costs. In particular, manufacturer-affiliated teams have provided assistance to independent teams, some of which would not be racing today without FOTA's initiatives".

 

In addition to the damage, there is also irony because the teams have stated that they have still reached an agreement on a substantial voluntary cost reduction that guarantees a sustainable model for the future. In other words, all the chaos created by Mosley has been entirely pointless.

 

Furthermore, the statement continues with accusations, direct, precise, and ruthless:

 

"The FIA and the holder of commercial rights have acted to divide FOTA. The majority of the teams' requests are being ignored. Moreover, the holder of commercial rights owes tens of millions of dollars to many teams since 2006. Nevertheless, despite the hostile climate for an agreement, FOTA has transparently sought a compromise".

 

In short, get ready; a new era in Formula 1 is about to begin. Max Mosley's optimism seems entirely out of place. According to Stefano Domenicali, the team principal of Ferrari, two elements emerge from the matter:

 

"The unity shown by all the teams despite the very strong pressures and the consistency with the requests always put forward by FOTA".

 

On Friday night, after a very tough day filled with insults and announcements of legal action, Max Mosley contradicts what he had said earlier that day. In an interview with the BBC, the FIA boss says that the FOTA's position is a kind of farce.

 

"It is an announcement and a stance that will disappear before the start of the 2010 World Championship and before the opening race in Melbourne. Everything will be sorted out".

 

So, Mosley doesn't believe in the breakaway plans of the teams' association and thinks that the rift can be healed. 

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But then how does one explain the FIA's response that promises legal action for the teams' alternative championship in violation of agreements?

 

"We had to initiate legal action; it's part of the process. But as soon as they come back to their senses, everything will stop. They can't get the support they need, and they will return".

 

The support Mosley is talking about is that of circuits and sponsors. In reality, at least from the rumors circulating until now, it's a delusion: everyone is ready to follow the constructors. And not because no one else is capable of building an F1 car, but simply because there are gigantic industries behind these teams, from the Fiat Group to Toyota, from BMW to Mercedes. No sponsor and no driver would be so foolish as to slam the door in the face of such a giant.

 

On Saturday, June 20, 2009, the FIA-FOTA dispute continues with a back-and-forth accompanied by venomous statements from both sides, and despite talk of possible reconciliation, the parties involved seem increasingly far from reaching an agreement. FOTA, the association of rebel constructors, meanwhile, receives the blessing of Michael Schumacher:

 

"As a motorsport enthusiast, I want to see the best show with the strongest drivers and the most competitive teams competing".

 

And then it accuses the FIA, presided over by Max Mosley, of shortsightedness:

 

"It is simply incomprehensible that the teams share their vision of the approach to reform, and yet the Federation still wants to implement something different. At first, it may seem unbelievable, but this time all the major teams are united, making a new championship much more realistic; the alternative becomes real. I find it extremely unpleasant that in Formula 1, there has been so much talk of politics and so little about sport in recent times. I hope these political games end shortly; such situations made me nervous even during my career".

 

And for those who speculated on possible resignations of the FIA President, Max Mosley, they are contradicted by the statements of the man himself:

 

"If I left, there would still be no peace. The teams want power and would also ask for my successor's head. I don't want to continue for too long, but the problems they are causing me make it difficult for me to leave in October. FIA staff tell me that we have all this chaos, that we are under attack, and that I must stay".

 

And then he persists:

 

"If we were in a peaceful situation, and I showed willingness to leave in October, everyone would be kind to me. They would tell me to stay, but, all in all, they wouldn't be concerned, and someone else would take my place. Everything they are doing is counterproductive. I would be ready to resign if it were the solution to the crisis. But everyone knows there would be no peace. FOTA would want the head of my successor and then the one who takes over".

 

In short, the solution to the matter seems increasingly distant, and Mosley also involves Bernie Ecclestone, the holder of the commercial rights of Formula 1:

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"The teams' goal is one, they want to take control of the sport away from the federation. It would be the same with Bernie. You can't leave an organization in the midst of a crisis".

 

Finally, Mosley rebuffs the attacks of those who unequivocally label him a dictator:

 

"This description is a complete invention. I am the president, but I cannot act without the authority conferred upon me by all countries. We have 120 different associated nations, and each one is represented. It is a huge organization, and it is out of the question that everything depends on me. The teams want to take control and run everything. They want to control the money instead of Bernie and keep it. If there were another president in my place, he would defend the interests of the FIA. If my head fell tomorrow, someone else would take my place and behave in the same way".

 

At Silverstone, Bernie Ecclestone embraces an English drug dog and tries to smile for the photographers. Max Mosley spends the midday alone in the FIA offices, working on his laptop. Flavio Briatore stands like a sentinel, upright at the entrance to the Renault motorhome. McLaren is a ghost village by now for months. Only at Ferrari is there some form of life. The Maranello team offers fried dumplings and mortadella to celebrate the 600th Grand Prix of their record man, photographer Ercole Colombo. But the faces, even here, are not particularly enthusiastic. In the English twilight, the ruins of Formula 1 are swept by a cold wind. On Thursday night, the teams announced their intention to create an alternative championship. And suddenly, no one wants to talk anymore. It's time for action. As Max Mosley himself demonstrated:

 

"The lawyers are examining the situation. The actions of FOTA and, in particular, Ferrari constitute a significant contractual breach. The FIA will proceed legally".

 

A few days earlier, such news would have certainly triggered the usual reactions. But not on Saturday. The teams don't respond. Flavio Briatore says:

 

"Mosley is no longer our interlocutor. We don't intend to make any comments, also because on June 15, we initiated arbitration against the FIA for the same reasons".

 

It's not that the teams have really decided that an alternative championship is better than Formula One. But they have finally realized that dealing with Mosley is futile. So they have raised the issue differently:

 

"We have left. If you want us back, you know where we are and, above all, what we want: an F1 run by professionals, free from Mosley's whims".

 

The World Council will meet on Wednesday, June 24, 2009: those who need to understand, will. Mister Max has understood the situation and tried to open a crack, claiming optimism:

 

"I can't quit; the financial crisis doesn't allow me to. I'm sure that, in the end, the big teams will come back next year; they are acting this way now, but in March 2010, in Melbourne, they will be there. It's all an act on their part".

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In the coming days, a large-scale global survey will be launched on the websites of the eight secessionist teams to choose the name of the new series. It might all be an act, but it's well done. In the meantime, once again, the only hope of countering Brawn GP's dominance comes from Sebastian Vettel and the increasingly surprising Red Bull Racing. Given great form, Sebastian Vettel secures the pole position in the British Grand Prix. The German driver from Red Bull Racing sets the best time (1'19"509) in the third round of qualifications on the Silverstone circuit. Vettel, with his third pole of the season, will start ahead of the Brawn GP of Brazilian Rubens Barrichello. In the second row, you have the Red Bull of Australian Mark Webber and the Toyota of Jarno Trulli. The two Ferraris are further back. Kimi Raikkonen will start from the ninth position, in the fifth row. Brazilian Felipe Massa, on the other hand, will start from the sixth row. The other Brawn GP, that of Jenson Button, is only in sixth place. Third position for Mark Webber in Red Bull Racing, ahead of Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Williams' Kazuki Nakajima. Tenth place for Renault's Fernando Alonso, while the other Italian on Force India, Giancarlo Fisichella, will start from the sixteenth position. Just when boredom seems to overwhelm everything and reach to the heavens, the leaden gray darkness that envelops this circuit, all too English even at noon, suddenly sparkles with the white teeth of Sebastian Vettel. The German smiles as much as he can. Once again, he has left everyone behind and is preparing to attack Jenson Button in the British Grand Prix. Apart from the clumsy attempt to look a bit more mature than his 22 years (the beard he has grown in recent days seems drawn with a marker), he can do anything these days. His fourth pole of the season has the typical charm of a checkmate to the king, a brilliant and audacious move hovering between promise and threat. A charm that is not measured by the seven-tenths distance that keeps Button away. Nor by the extra ten kilograms of fuel carried by Red Bull (666.5 kilograms compared to 657.5). The difference between this pole and the others is well described by the somewhat disheveled reaction of the king who has just suffered the checkmate: Jenson Button, the one who, according to all the drivers (except Vettel), should be unbeatable.

 

"I'm glad for Sebastian; I have to say good job to this guy. I'm happy for him".

 

Then the British driver says to his team:

 

"During the last qualifying lap, they called me back. It was an unusual choice; I could certainly have done better".

 

What about compliments? What about congratulations? Nothing. It's unlikely that it's sheer fear. The margin of points in the standings (61 points against 29) is enough to justify absolute calm. But some nervousness is undeniable:

 

"I don't know what happened. This car is different from the perfect one I had in Turkey. I fought with it from start to finish; it was unbalanced".

 

Apart from Vettel, too many others have arrived in front of Button, his teammate Barrichello (second), the other Red Bull Racing of Mark Webber, Toyota's Trulli, and Williams' Nakajima. Basically, only the Ferraris did worse, which says a lot. The cars from Maranello, after deluding everyone in Monte Carlo, have returned to the pace they had at the beginning of the season, a walk. Raikkonen will start from the ninth position, and Massa will start from the eleventh.

 

"I'm very disappointed; the car is slow, and I made some mistakes".

 

Says the Brazilian driver, who tends to absolve himself, essentially shifting the responsibility for the lack of competitiveness onto the car. 

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"We are forced to drive at the limit, and in these conditions, you can make mistakes. It has happened to me often this year".

 

The analysis of the car is less clear:

 

"Why is it slow? If I knew, we would have had the pole".

 

Consistent with himself, Kimi Raikkonen appears unruffled. He doesn't betray any emotions, not even when he was told about Mark Webber's insults:

 

"He didn't move out of the way while I was doing a fast lap; I don't know what was on his mind, maybe he was drinking vodka". 

 

Says the Australian, referring to an old controversy.

 

If the day was bitter for Jenson Button, who dreamed of winning at Silverstone, it was even worse for Lewis Hamilton. The World Champion will start 19th, behind the two Force Indias. On Sunday, June 21, 2009, at the start of the British Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel made a good start, followed by Rubens Barrichello and Mark Webber. Then, Kazuki Nakajima and Kimi Räikkönen managed to gain positions with a brilliant move around the outside. Behind them were Nico Rosberg and Jarno Trulli. Jenson Button, who had a poor start, managed to regain the eighth position by taking advantage of a mistake by Felipe Massa during the second lap. After just two laps, Sebastian Vettel had already opened up a three-second gap over Rubens Barrichello and was consistently increasing his lead with each lap. In the meantime, there was a heated battle for the twelfth position between Nick Heidfeld and Fernando Alonso, with Giancarlo Fisichella driving well in eleventh place for the Force India team. By the tenth lap, Vettel had already established a commanding 12-second lead. Between the 15th and 23rd laps, the first round of pit stops took place, with Mark Webber rejoining the race ahead of Rubens Barrichello. Sebastian Vettel now enjoyed a 20-second advantage over his teammate, Mark Webber. Kazuki Nakajima, who was the first to pit, dropped down to ninth place, while Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa gained positions, with Massa moving up to fifth thanks to a delayed pit stop. With the Red Bull Racing cars out of reach, a battle ensued between Barrichello, Rosberg, and Massa. Sébastien Bourdais and Heikki Kovalainen made contact after Kovalainen changed his line, and Bourdais rear-ended him during braking. Both drivers retired after the incident. The next round of pit stops temporarily allowed Mark Webber to lead the race, with Felipe Massa securing fourth place ahead of Nico Rosberg. Jenson Button, finally with a clear track, posted some quick laps and managed to close the gap on Nico Rosberg. However, Rosberg responded to Button's attacks with relative ease in the final four laps. Sebastian Vettel won the British Grand Prix in dominant fashion, achieving his first hat trick, including pole position, fastest lap, and victory. Mark Webber finished second, followed by Rubens Barrichello, Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Jarno Trulli, and Kimi Raikkonen. Winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a dream come true for Sebastian Vettel, marking his second victory of the season. He achieved this victory by dominating the race but not without some effort.

 

"It's never easy; it was a long race on a fantastic circuit. It's a dream. It's the second time I've raced here, but I really liked it. These are fantastic sensations, especially after the checkered flag. An amazing atmosphere. It's almost surreal to think that I'm here and winning".

 

Vettel praised his team for providing him with an almost perfect car: 

 

"Everything worked perfectly. The car was incredible, and I pushed harder and harder. The tires also performed consistently. It's a great satisfaction. This result shows that we are on the right path".

 

Jenson Button didn't share the same view:

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"After yesterday's qualifying, I didn't expect to be fast. Also, the start didn't go well. I couldn't find a gap and lost positions. I tried my best, but it was very challenging. There's a bit of disappointment, but in the second part with a clear track, the car performed better. This is the problem when you don't have good conditions in qualifying".

 

On the podium, there's an animated character who manages to cry and laugh with the same expression. Half hidden by a Bridgestone cap and holding a magnum of Mumm, Sebastian Vettel tries to put on a serious face while the German national anthem plays. But he can't. He has achieved too much for a young man who is yet to turn 22: he won the British Grand Prix, brought the Brawn GP team back down to earth, and confirmed the impression of those who keep saying they see the young Michael Schumacher in him. Most importantly, he sent a strong and clear message to Jenson Button: you can't afford to make mistakes anymore. His race was flawless, and his weekend was perfect. So much so that the Silverstone crowd, who had gathered here to celebrate the changing of the guard between the two Englishmen, Hamilton and Button, in the world championship, stood up and gave him a long applause - a gesture of unusual warmth.

 

"I almost felt sorry for not being English because seeing all these people around the track applauding me was extraordinary".

 

In reality, the Silverstone crowd didn't have many reasons to thank Vettel. Thanks to him, the race lasted only ten laps—just a quarter of an hour. That's how long it took for his Red Bull to create an unbridgeable gap between him and the others. The rest was just waiting.

 

"It was just a matter of patience and waiting for the Grand Prix to end," Vettel said, waiting for Webber in the other Red Bull to distance Barrichello and secure the team's first one-two finish in Formula 1. Waiting for the Brawn GP team to realize it wasn't their day and to resign without causing any trouble. Waiting for Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso to settle their endless feud even at the bottom of the standings. And waiting for Ferrari to solve the season-long puzzle of their identity, securing fourth place for Massa and ninth place for Raikkonen. Vettel spent this wait as casually as sipping a glass of water, without taking any risks or exerting himself".

 

"I just called the team via radio to ask for updates on the track conditions".

 

He said.

 

The most challenging moment was when someone finally asked him in the press conference if the championship should be considered open again. The response is all in a smile. But Felipe Massa also achieved an excellent fourth place, despite starting from the eleventh position:

 

"It was a very good race, I didn't expect it, and I wasn't happy at all yesterday. Today in the race, I gave my all, a lot of myself. It was challenging because I had to push at the right moments, and everything was perfect. The track was good for us today, including the temperatures, and the car performed better than yesterday".

 

In other words, as Stefano Domenicali explains:

 

"The goal we had set at the beginning of the race was to score points and avoid mistakes. I have to say we achieved that since we brought home important points. I must say it was a beautiful race; they maximized the performance of our car".

 

Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari finished in eighth place at the end:

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"In the first part, the car wasn't bad. The problems came after the pit stop, and it became more difficult. I couldn't maintain the same speed, and I lost positions. But at least, we scored some points".

 

More bipolar than schizophrenic, the F60 is driving the men at the Maranello team crazy. One day it's undriveable and slow, and the next day, without anyone touching it, it's agile and balanced. Stefano Domenicali, the team principal of Ferrari, reviews the performance data of the car during this cold English weekend and shakes his head. On Saturday, with the car seemingly very slow, Massa finished no higher than eleventh, and Raikkonen ended up in ninth place. But beyond the placements, what was discouraging on the eve of the Grand Prix were the feelings. Felipe Massa summarized, certain that the race would bring him another small ordeal:

 

"We lack aerodynamic downforce and speed". 

 

But things turned out differently, with the Brazilian staging an incredible comeback.

 

"The car was well balanced, and it handled well throughout the race, keeping pace with the other teams, including Brawn GP". 

 

He said.

 

Stefano Domenicali is baffled by this:

 

"Yet during the night, the cars rest in the closed park, and the most we can do is adjust the tire pressure based on the track temperature..."

 

Understanding what happens to the F60 is not a secondary exercise. Much of the team's strategies depend on this. Regardless of what happens at the political level, Ferrari's top management is currently in the season when they have to decide whether to persist in this championship or give up and focus on the next one.

 

"If we had looked at Saturday, we wouldn't have had any doubts: we would have started working on 2010 from Monday. But then a day like this comes, and you wonder what's happening".

 

In short, starting today, the engineers will be engaged in a sort of small investigation. How they intend to proceed is not known. Certainly not through the input of the drivers, who seem to be groping in the dark more than anyone. Felipe Massa says:

 

"What's happening? I have no idea, maybe it has to do with the external temperature".

 

Kimi Raikkonen, as usual, does not go beyond the objective observation of reality:

 

"The car today wasn't bad. Better than yesterday's".

 

Excluding the drivers' input, there is nothing left but exegesis of the technical data, both from the track and from the simulations. However, this work is at risk of taking a long time. Considering that we are halfway through the season, too much time is already too much. In the meantime, Ferrari is organizing a sort of funeral, complete with a procession in the paddock, a requiem, and a burial, to bid farewell to the hated KERS, the 35-kilogram system that the FIA (with BMW's support) imposed on the teams for 2009. After Renault, McLaren, and BMW dismantled it, KERS remained only on the Ferraris, which cannot remove it because...

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"We built the car around it".

 

In Abu Dhabi, however, revenge will be exacted:

 

"We will bury it where the future Ferrari World (Ferrari-themed amusement park) will rise".

 

Meanwhile, faced with the teams' brutal stance, the Mosley-Ecclestone front seems to be cracking.

 

"Sign a contract committing you to stay in F1 for another five years, and we won't talk about budget caps anymore".

 

A terrified Bernie Ecclestone says, like a last offer at a grand bazaar. If it weren't very (too) late, one might think of another trap by the couple. But probably it's not. Nevertheless, the offer seems unacceptable. Because at this point in the game, it's not just the budget cap on the table anymore but something much deeper: the balance of power within the circus. The teams' goal is to finally free the sport from the power games of the so-called institutions. It won't be a last-minute offer that makes them change their minds. By now, to reject the idea of the alternative championship - becoming more real every hour - much more is needed: for example, on Wednesday, at the World Council in Paris, Mosley's position must be completely repudiated, and the role of FOTA recognized instead. Whether such a move leads to the president's resignation is considered irrelevant. If not, the alternative championship, whose project is already well advanced, will become a reality within a few days (some say the calendar could be ready in a couple of weeks). Finding teams and drivers won't be a problem. In fact, they are already there. There might be a bit more difficulty in finding sponsors; not all of those present in Formula 1 today are willing to follow the teams, and especially not at the same rates, at least initially. The key to this will be television. The FOTA is currently working hard on this front. Statements from Rai (which said in Monte Carlo that it would reconsider contracts with Ecclestone if Formula 1 turned into Formula 3) and the BBC (which says it is ready to do the same) are very reassuring.

 

"We will announce the calendar and regulations for the new championship in a few weeks".

 

Stefano Domenicali responds to Max Mosley. The FIA president told the BBC:

 

"We are close to an agreement". 

 

Ross Brawn responded even before Domenicali:

 

"We teams will go our own way". 

 

The impression is that at this point, the only way to avoid the split is the unconditional surrender of Max Mosley. In the meantime, he relaunches and writes in a letter to FIA members:

 

"In recent weeks, it has become increasingly clear that, according to the objectives of the dissenting teams, I should resign from the presidency of the FIA. Last year, you entrusted me with your confidence, and as I wrote to you on May 16, 2008, it was not my intention to run for re-election this October. However, in light of the attack on the mandate that you have given me, I must now consider whether my initial decision not to run for re-election was the right one without any doubt. It is up to the members of the FIA, and only to them, to democratically choose leadership. It is not up to the automotive industry and even less to the people that the industry chooses to manage the Formula 1 teams".

 

Bernie Ecclestone, the holder of the commercial rights to Formula 1, also speaks out on the matter.

 

"I think perhaps Mosley is right in the long term. If the lunatics go away and try to organize their own thing, all this will destroy Formula 1 and the project they are trying to realize".


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