What Iran can learn from the FIA

It looks like common sense has prevailed, with Max Mosely leaving the FIA and Formula 1 finding new stability.

This seems to be a very good lesson for the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; When your choices are stick with a bad president and drive headlong toward splits within the country and the risk of civil war or alternatively ditch the unpopular president and make your position all the more secure by seeming to be accessible and understanding (even if you’re not) then even a hardline ruler like Berni Ecclestone can make the right decision after a week of protesting!

So now hopefully with the risk of a break-away series fading away we can focus on the horrific human rights violations, and mockery of free speech and democracy in Iran!

• BBC News – F1 deal ends threat of breakaway
• BBC News – Iran “will not yield” over poll

Watcha gonna do now Berni?

Formula 1 championship leader Brawn GP, Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso have all decided enough is enough and have threatened to walk out and launch a new championship series in 2010.

• BBC News – F1 teams drop breakaway bombshell
• The Telegraph – Formula One breakaway series only option, say FOTA eight

So it looks like Max and Berni’s attempts to squeeze yet more money from the F1 golden goose may have back fired.

What will happen next?

This is almost more exciting than the races this season!  Is there time to get a new series set up by next year?  Will Berni come back to the table to renegotiate?  Will Max be sacrificed to try and save the crown jewels of motor sport?  I’m on the edge of my seat!

Austrailian GP 2009 – Go Brawn Go!

Congratulations to Jenson Button and the Brawn GP team for managing not just an inspiring pole position on their debut race, but also the amazing final result of first and second place on the podium.  This was a great start to a new season of Formula 1. (BBC News – Button seals dream Australia win, Telegraph – Button wins in Australia)

However as I watched the race a few thoughts crossed my mind;

Formula 1 in 2009

Okay, before I begin, watch this:

Now, most of this looks like exciting stuff.  More down-force on the nose for better handling, plus slicks to give better grip and hopefully the end of the stupid “must use both compounds” rules.  Narrower cars, with less fins and boards, so lighter, faster, slipperier cars.  High rear wings in clearer air, hopefully this will allow the grip to be put down, whilst still enhancing the slippery aerodynamics.

Wait a minute though, have Berni and Max been playing the Xbox too much during the off season?  DId I hear Vittel say they were getting a BOOST BUTTON???  Now I agree that Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems sound like a great idea, and will hopefully allow for more advanced technology to be developed and hopefully silence the smug Prius owners in their boring cars. However, did they have to call it a BOOST BUTTON???  Maybe it is just me, but I reckon this will make the sport more exciting, but at the same time make the commentary sound like a group of gamers.  Just imagine….

Oh no, he’s not braked enough to build up his boost and now he just can’t sprint to the line in time.

Next thing you know they’ll be introducing time attack checkpoints!

2009, a quiet year for motorsport

The casualties so far:

Suzuki and Subaru have pulled out of the World Rally Championship, leaving just Ford and Citroen for 2009 season

Honda has pulled out of Formula 1, and Max Mosely has proposed a raft of cost-cutting measures (BBC Sport – The Battle to Save Formula One).

Jaguar has been in  discussion with the British government looking for state aid (BBC News – Government confirms Jaguar talks) but don’t worry it has been overseen by Business Secretary Lord (Peter) Mandelson and he’s never had any problems with cah donations!  Even George Bush has stated that he will not allow a disorderly collapse of the US car industry (BBC News – No ‘disorderly’ US Car Collapse).  Yes, in his last 32 days of power any collapse will be very orderly and well organised.  Somehow Bush’s statement doesn’t fill me with cheer!

Of course we’ve also got Berni Ecclestone announcing he wants to change how the drivers championship is scored in Formula 1, replacing points with medals, but will that matter as more and more teams have to pull out to cut costs, and when the sponsorship dries up as all the investment banks battle to stay afloat.

I’m quietly optomistic.  The next few years will be very hard on motorsport, but I think it will bounce back better than ever.  Looking back over the years I’ve watched racing and the highlights for me were in the slow growth years immediately after hard times.  The early 80′s, the early 90′s.  In recent years the sport has become too fat at the highest levels, with F1 being endlessly manipulated for money by it’s Machiavellian management. A1GP failed to make a huge impression on the global media, but could become more of a shining light since it is insulated from some of the development and money issues of F1.  Best of all the more grass-roots levels of racing will gain in popularity as people look for a budget racing experience.  The important, but under invested, classes like touring car and karting will hopefully gain from the loss of the upper eschelons and in three to five years time this grass roots investment will pay dividends.  All we’ve got to do is wait!