Sunset For The Old

[Autumnpuma 0]

I sit here in shock. Utter shock. Utter shock and amazement.

I have just read the transcript of the Max Mosley/Burkhard Goschel press conference outlining the future of Formula One. In a nutshell, the era of the Independent team is over. Formula One is now, officially, a Manufacturer Series. Innovation will be isolated to what the manufacturers feel is relevant to it's road car market. RPMs are going to be lowered. The racing will be delivered to the public in one big, safe, gift-wrapped package for easy consumption. Perfectly regulated to perform as designed.

The unique character of Formula One is gone. The legacy of brilliant idea-men like Gordon Murray has being shelved. The ghost of Colin Chapman has been exorcised.

I look around and see the last, hanging vestiges of a sport I love. Williams is still there, but maybe not for much longer. McLaren looks likely to be sold to Mercedes. The smaller teams like Super Aguri and Spyker will become satellite teams of the big boys, despite 'looking' independent. I look around and see a sunset for the Old Guard. Almost time, I fear, to hang up the combat boots and worn rifle to make way for the New Guard.

I ask you, when a sport loses what makes it beloved, is it the same sport, worthy of the same loyalty?

[Ctrl300 0]

I sit here in shock. Utter shock. Utter shock and amazement.

I have just read the transcript of the Max Mosley/Burkhard Goschel press conference outlining the future of Formula One. In a nutshell, the era of the Independent team is over. Formula One is now, officially, a Manufacturer Series. Innovation will be isolated to what the manufacturers feel is relevant to it's road car market. RPMs are going to be lowered. The racing will be delivered to the public in one big, safe, gift-wrapped package for easy consumption. Perfectly regulated to perform as designed.

The unique character of Formula One is gone. The legacy of brilliant idea-men like Gordon Murray has being shelved. The ghost of Colin Chapman has been exorcised.

I look around and see the last, hanging vestiges of a sport I love. Williams is still there, but maybe not for much longer. McLaren looks likely to be sold to Mercedes. The smaller teams like Super Aguri and Spyker will become satellite teams of the big boys, despite 'looking' independent. I look around and see a sunset for the Old Guard. Almost time, I fear, to hang up the combat boots and worn rifle to make way for the New Guard.

I ask you, when a sport loses what makes it beloved, is it the same sport, worthy of the same loyalty?

Stop your whining Mike. If you care to read up on the agreement FIA will push for more races in North America as that is the second biggest market for the manufacturers. Also, the calendar looks set to be expaned to 20 races for a posible GP on the Indan subcontinent (god help them), one more in the North East Asian region, and maybe one in either Africa (Brad and Wez can celebrate) or South America (probably Argentina, so Quiet One can have a blast). You see, tha manufacturers are pulling their weight to where the races are being held and the amount of races in porder to maximize the spread and reach of their marketing. Everbody wins besides from Spyker and Williams.

[F1 FANatic 1]

its 90% Max's fault. he is the one always wanting road relevent technologies and lowered rpm and bio fuel. all those changes were oposed by the teams but since the teams have no other alternative then Max and F1 he gets his way. Even with the resources a of all the teams. a breakaway series would need lost more money, and Burnie still holds the rights to most of the tracks so he could block any other Sports running there. Most teams i feel were bullied into this new era by Mad Max and Burning Burnie.

[Ctrl300 0]

its 90% Max's fault. he is the one always wanting road relevent technologies and lowered rpm and bio fuel. all those changes were oposed by the teams but since the teams have no other alternative then Max and F1 he gets his way. Even with the resources a of all the teams. a breakaway series would need lost more money, and Burnie still holds the rights to most of the tracks so he could block any other Sports running there. Most teams i feel were bullied into this new era by Mad Max and Burning Burnie.

What are you talking about? Hold the right to most of the tracks? Do you imply that permanent tracks such as Shanghai, Spa, Imola, Cataluniya, Sepang, Hockenheim, Silverstone etc don't hold any other 4 wheel races than the F1 once a year? Not true. Why should they not run GPWC races? It woudl possibly make some of them break even.

[bajo39 0]

I ask you, when a sport loses what makes it beloved, is it the same sport, worthy of the same loyalty?

Relax Mike, F1 is a series not a sport... When CCWS truly gets its act together, it will take over and provide us with real racing until the bosses of that series with their heads as fat as their coffers forget what got them to the top and then it will be on to the next series... I for one, cannot understand why IMSA has not come back with the glory it had in the '70s.

[Argento Reloaded 1]

The problem is not only the F1. Years ago the F3 and former F2 where very competitive and many F1 gained experience in those categories before the big jump. And forget LeMans series! It seems each manufactures has a schedule to win The 24 hours. So the year schedule for MB for example no other car maker is present. And competition? No, thank you. I

[pumpdoc 2]

Relax Mike, F1 is a series not a sport... When CCWS truly gets its act together, it will take over and provide us with real racing until the bosses of that series with their heads as fat as their coffers forget what got them to the top and then it will be on to the next series... I for one, cannot understand why IMSA has not come back with the glory it had in the '70s.

In a nutshell Dan it's like this in the U.S. as long as the 800lb. gorilla that is NASCAR continues to put up the #'s no series will regain past glory. The sponsor dollars dictate this..............

[bajo39 0]

In a nutshell Dan it's like this in the U.S. as long as the 800lb. gorilla that is NASCAR continues to put up the #'s no series will regain past glory. The sponsor dollars dictate this..............

I can't accept that Bruce.

The problem is not only the F1. Years ago the F3 and former F2 where very competitive and many F1 gained experience in those categories before the big jump. And forget LeMans series! It seems each manufactures has a schedule to win The 24 hours. So the year schedule for MB for example no other car maker is present. And competition? No, thank you. I

[Shane2 0]

MM has said he will try and protect the smaller teams and allow them a fair say. The thing that is continuing to destroy the small teams is that they cannot compete in budget terms with the big teams like they could before. Sad fact of life, but in the modern world, money talks loudest. I don't personally see McLaren being sold, McLaren is a corporate trademark in its own right

[Autumnpuma 0]

I'll give you the old forumla for, erm, Formula One:

Independent teams constructing their own cars, buying engines to put into those cars, and hiring the best drivers they can get to drive those cars. Qualify 22 cars for a grid, anyone too slow to be classified gets to sit in the bleachers and watch. Limited rules and a governing body that sometimes intervened.

Now I'll give you the new Max Mosley Formula One:

Manufacturers own the teams (and virtually own the satellite teams), build the chassis, and determine the drivers based on marketability. Innovation is restricted to what the Manufacturers want to develop for road cars. The governing body decides all matters with an eye towards everyone being 'equal'.

Now, tell me how the new is better than the old? I simply don't see it. Ulrik, with respect, I could care less about how many circuits are on the calendar.

I would look to ChampCar, but it isn't quite there yet.

[bajo39 0]

I would look to ChampCar, but it isn't quite there yet.

It's coming Mike, compare where it is today with where it was 5 years ago...

[Ctrl300 0]

I'll give you the old forumla for, erm, Formula One:

Independent teams constructing their own cars, buying engines to put into those cars, and hiring the best drivers they can get to drive those cars. Qualify 22 cars for a grid, anyone too slow to be classified gets to sit in the bleachers and watch. Limited rules and a governing body that sometimes intervened.

Now I'll give you the new Max Mosley Formula One:

Manufacturers own the teams (and virtually own the satellite teams), build the chassis, and determine the drivers based on marketability. Innovation is restricted to what the Manufacturers want to develop for road cars. The governing body decides all matters with an eye towards everyone being 'equal'.

Now, tell me how the new is better than the old? I simply don't see it. Ulrik, with respect, I could care less about how many circuits are on the calendar.

I would look to ChampCar, but it isn't quite there yet.

Mike, I do understand your nostalgic point of view, but those times will never return.

F1 will always be the apex of open wheel racing, but the current cost structures are appaling. $400m anyone? Thats almost more than the entire ChampCar grid spend a year.

Now that engines are homolgated costs will go down slightly (but hardly enough) as aerodynamics and other innovations will now become more important than ever. I am sure we will see the cars featuring more space age engineering, which will make all other series just look like soap box cars in comparison.

Now, if they can do something about the dirty air (pluss extra push to pass revs) so that we can have more overtaking I am sure we will have some of the closest racing seen in the years to come. That coupled with an expanded calendar and its happy days.

[cavallino 2]

That press conference is quite awful, two people suddenly pretending to be in complete agreement, telling us quite clearly that all the GPWC was about was getting more money, as longas that happens htey don't care who runs the sport or how it is run. Not a single mention of the basic problems facing the sport, all waffling about eco friendly road relevant bla bla.

[Autumnpuma 0]

That press conference is quite awful, two people suddenly pretending to be in complete agreement, telling us quite clearly that all the GPWC was about was getting more money, as longas that happens htey don't care who runs the sport or how it is run. Not a single mention of the basic problems facing the sport, all waffling about eco friendly road relevant bla bla.

100% Agree.

Ulrik, I know the old days won't return, but I have doubts that the future is an improvement. I don't know the solution, but I do know the proposals are not the solution.

It all boils down to the actual racing. If it delivers, then I can happily view F1 as just another racing series out there. I will remember Formula One in the same way I remember CART.

EDIT: I smell a Bernie and Max shell-game happening.....more to come as I mull over the conspiracy theory forming in my twisted noggin.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

F1 is always changing, far more than any other sport - we have to accept that we're currently in an era dominated by manufacturers - but on the positive side, we're still seeing some great races

[Shane2 0]

Money speaks, and the independant teams can no longer spend as much as the manufacturers (with the exception of McLaren which is owned 40% by Mercedes)

[Argento Reloaded 1]

Max Mosley is an attorney, isn

[Wez 0]

Stop your whining Mike. If you care to read up on the agreement FIA will push for more races in North America as that is the second biggest market for the manufacturers. Also, the calendar looks set to be expaned to 20 races for a posible GP on the Indan subcontinent (god help them), one more in the North East Asian region, and maybe one in either Africa (Brad and Wez can celebrate) or South America (probably Argentina, so Quiet One can have a blast). You see, tha manufacturers are pulling their weight to where the races are being held and the amount of races in porder to maximize the spread and reach of their marketing. Everbody wins besides from Spyker and Williams.

yes