Like many others, despite all the recent politicking and press statements, I always believed that the FIA and FOTA would reach some sort of conclusion to allow all teams to race in the Formula 1 World Championship next year.
However, the Formula One Teams’ Association’s move, on Thursday night, “to commence the preparation for a new Championship, (one) which reflects the values of it participants and partners” is a marked departure from events in the past.
It is plausible, given the number of aggrieved circuits around the world (Silverstone, Montreal, Indy, Imola, Magny-Cours among others) that a new series, albeit a shortened one, could be put together in time for 2010.
One of the major problems would be governance, however. Could eight teams run themselves in the ultimate competitive environment with millions at stake? On that issue I do agree with the FIA – any series needs an independent body to ensure equality and fairness.
However, the regularity with which rules are changed, how they are changed and the timetable for the introduction of the same changes are all massive issues and all have caused grief in recent seasons.
Several teams have said, repeatedly, that they are in Formula 1 so that the technology developed can be passed on to their road car division, so KERS was heralded as the coolest new gadget, which also happened to be eco-friendly. However, its development has cost millions and its introduction (seeing as it is voluntary) has been slow, with talk of it being abandoned altogether.
Budgets are an issue, especially in the current economic climate, but all efforts to limit spending by tighter regulations have also failed (on that too I agree with the FIA), and those same regulations have made innovation and clever engineering a thing of the past.
Ask more Formula 1 watchers what they want to see and their answer will be along the lines of mine I think.
I want to see better, less finance-dependant racing. I want to see the sport’s biggest names (including Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Williams and BMW) racing at the best circuits, including at least two in North America and one in France, Britain, Germany, Spain and Italy.
I want to see a return for in-season testing, in order to allow pecking orders to change. No matter the revelation of Jenson Button and Brawn GP, I don’t want to see ANY team dominate a Championship.
And I also want to see fans and supporters respected for a change – so no more silly stewarding decisions that affect the racing, no more politics ruining the sport - it is not right that circuits have to go begging to Ernie Ecclestone in order to host a race.
Oh, and lower those ticket prices please.
Let us know what you think via the comments panel below... can a breakaway series be formed in a handful of months and maintained in the coming years?