F1 meeting was 'a waste of air'

F1 bosses met on Thursday to discuss the sport's future, but as Ecclestone had predicted, the most that was agreed upon was the date of the next meeting. File photo: Xavier Galiana/Reuters.

F1 bosses met on Thursday to discuss the sport's future, but as Ecclestone had predicted, the most that was agreed upon was the date of the next meeting. File photo: Xavier Galiana/Reuters.

Published May 15, 2015

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London - Formula One’s divided rulers spent Thursday locked in talks intended to solve the sport’s financial chaos - and agreed absolutely nothing.

It was just as Bernie Ecclestone predicted. “We might set the date of the next meeting,” he had said. So Formula One’s decision-makers will meet again next month for another ozone-threatening waste of hot air.

The chances of a breakthrough then? Zero.

Force India’s Bob Fernley, the leading and most eloquent rebel, believes the prize-money should be spread more equitably between the teams.

According to figures produced by the respected Autosport magazine, Force India received £37.4 million (R694 million) for finishing sixth in last year’s championship. That was a yawning £23.7m (R440m) less than McLaren got for finishing just a place higher and way off the £102.3m (R1.89bn) Ferrari was awarded for coming fourth.

Ferrari’s pot was far greater than Mercedes’s payment of £78.6m (R1.45bn) for winning the title. Red Bull, which came second, also received more than Mercedes (£97.2m/R1.8bn).

HERITAGE IS LUCRATIVE

This crazy distribution is partly a result of ‘heritage’ payments paid to the old, illustrious teams. Ferrari get about £60m as a flat fee, while Williams, one of the most successful F1 teams of all time, get just £6m.

Ferrari’s massive payments, it could be argued, have made it easier for Ecclestone to count on their support at crucial moments in the sport’s endless political machinations.

Ecclestone insisted he could do nothing about the scale of payments because the contracts are signed. “It was probably my mistake,” he said. “But my hands are tied.” They will remain so until 2020, the year he turns 90.

Yesterday’s pointless gathering was staged on the west camp of Biggin Hill, the part of the aerodrome owned by Ecclestone. He hosted the meeting, alongside Donald Mackenzie, chairman of CVC Capital Partners, Formula One’s owners who employ Ecclestone to run the sport for them.

VESTED INTERESTS

Six of the major teams and the FIA, officially the sport’s governing body, were also there. This assortment of vested interests is laughably called the strategy group. Votes are divided equally between Ecclestone, the teams, and the FIA. The chances of these people, who are so sharp-toothed they inspired a book called the Piranha Club, finding common interest is negligble.

So what else could the delegates disagree about on Thursday? Notably, Ecclestone’s idea of running three-car teams and customer cars (that is, cars sold by the richer teams to poorer rivals to save them the expense of constructing their own).

That would ensure the number of cars on the grid remains high even if the less successful teams were to fold.

Although customer cars have been known in Formula One - Williams ran the March 761 in 1977 and Toro Rosso are helped by senior team Red Bull - opponents of the idea believe the integrity of the constructors’ championship must be protected.

The meeting did not decide on any engine changes or reduction in the use of wind tunnels. Nor could the FIA even produce a statement on the day’s proceedings.

Daily Mail

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