With the FIA set to publish next year’s entry list on Friday, time is running out for the teams and the FIA to find a solution to the on-going political war.
However, the FOTA teams, which include all the existing outfits barring Williams and Force India, have made it clear that if their two conditions - next year’s championship to run under the same rules as this year’s and for a new Concorde Agreement to be signed by June 12th - aren’t met, they will start their own series.
Ecclestone, though, has warned them they could face heavy legal action should they do so.
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“If they do try to set up their own series - and I don’t think they will be able to - there are big problems ahead for them,” he said.
“That would be inducement to breach contracts and I don’t do that myself so I won’t stand back and let it happen. Any action could run to hundreds of millions of pounds, who knows how much?”
The main issue behind the fight between FOTA and the FIA is Mosley’s proposed budget cap, which the FOTA members are opposed to. Ecclestone, though, believes this year’s championship race, which sees Brawn GP and Red Bull leading the pack, is proof that money doesn’t buy success. Sky Sports
In a letter, International Automobile Federation (FIA) president Max Mosley said the conditions could not be met by Friday, when the governing body is due to publish the entry list.
He advised them to enter fully, and submit their own draft rules by close of business on Tuesday, before further negotiations.
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“We are ready to begin discussions immediately with a view to signing an agreement without delay,” he wrote.
“However, there is no possibility of this being concluded in advance of settling the 2010 entry list, a draft of several hundred pages having been produced at the last moment.
“Also, the FIA will need to know who to discuss the draft with,” added Mosley.
“There will certainly be new teams in 2010 and it presently seems unlikely that all of the 2009 teams will participate in 2010.” The Star
A FIA spokesperson said: “The FIA has received a letter from FOTA, the contents of which are not entirely negative and we are currently examining the details.”
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The eight remaining members of FOTA - Ferrari, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, McLaren, Red Bull Racing, Toro Rosso and Brawn GP - are moving in the right direction. Initially, all 10 teams submitted a conditional entry, only for Williams and Force India to since enter unconditionally due to contractual obligations. This is London
Until now, while issues of governance have been playing a role in the dispute with Max Mosley, it was believed that the teams’ threats to quit Formula One were based primarily on their distaste for the new regulations.
But French carmaker’s CEO Carlos Ghosn said: “It is us who make the show, who bring the technology, the engines, who engage the pilots, so if we make the show, it is necessary that the income returns to us.” F1-Live.com
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