
The feud between Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley shows no sign of abating, with Formula One finding itself caught between a rock and a hard place.
Mosley's refusal to resign as president of the FIA in the wake of the publication of lurid details into his private life has served to highlight a power struggle between himself and Ecclestone.
After subsequently winning a ballot to remain in charge until the end of his mandate in October next year, Mosley now faces another behind-the-scenes battle.
This time he is attempting to prevent F1 from breaking away from the FIA, a move that could have disastrous consequences for his organisation.
The FIA are heavily dependent on a slice of the financial pie Ecclestone serves up every year through his commercial body's dealings with television and sponsors, understood to be around Ј30million.
That is a vast sum considering the FIA are merely regulators and whose brief it is to oversee and enforce the rules.
As Ecclestone points out, Mosley is not entitled to meddle in his financial affairs and dictate who should get what.
Mosley's problem is that at present the sport is being run without a Concorde Agreement, the commercial contract under which the teams race in F1 and is binding between them and the FIA.
As it stands, the teams - unhappy at the impact the Mosley scandal has had on the sport - could opt out and form their own series.
That is Ecclestone's warning to Mosley, who is apparently digging in his heels with regard to the new Concorde Agreement, much to the former's frustration.
However, Mosley's firm stance stems from his belief Ecclestone is attempting to wrest control of the sporting regulations from the FIA.
It is yet more mud slinging F1 could do without, but then F1 would not be F1 without a little bit of dirt to spice it up.
************
Formula One, and Toyota in particular, will this weekend pay its respects to a true gentleman of the sport, Ove Andersson.
The Swede was last week killed doing what he loved best as it was still in his blood - competing in motor racing.
Andersson was instrumental in the founding of Toyota Team Europe, ultimately leading the Japanese manufacturer into F1 in 2002.
That was after he had overseen the winning of four drivers' and three manufacturers' titles with Toyota in the World Rally Championship.
After stepping down as Toyota team principal in 2003, Andersson remained employed as a consultant.
But for a man who had indulged his passion for motor sport since an early age, he simply could not escape the thrill of being involved.
Sadly, whilst competing in the Milligan Vintage Trial in South Africa, Andersson was killed when the classic car he was driving was involved in a frontal collision around a blind corner. He was 70.
By way of homage, the cars driven by Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock at the French Grand Prix at Magny Cours will feature a black band around the monocoque, whilst the design of the team garage will also include black.
A book of condolences will be available in the team's motorhome for all Formula One personnel and media to sign before being passed on to Andersson's family.
They are small tokens of gratitude and appreciation towards a larger-than-life character.
************
You must really have had a pig of a day to want to sue organisers of a grand prix.
Strange as it may sound, but that is exactly what a group of fans in Japan are doing following their less-than-pleasurable day out at Fuji Speedway last year.
Admittedly, the weather was not the best as you may recall Lewis Hamilton winning a remarkable race in monsoon conditions as cars turned into boats, with many aqua-planing their way off the track.
For the television audience, the Japanese Grand Prix was arguably one of the sporting highlights of the year, but not for those rain-soaked die-hards.
But it was not so much the weather that dragged them down as the race returned to the circuit for the first time in years, after all that was an act of God.
No, for the 109 who have launched a lawsuit that has been filed at the Tokyo District Court, their complaint centres on a lack of toilet amenities and snack bars.
A few have moaned their grandstand seat view was obstructed due to bad planning, whilst others claim they were stranded in the rain after the race due to transport problems.
Overall, it adds up to 'emotional stress', with the group looking to the organisers to pay 32million yen (Ј150,000) in damages.
However, for most Britons, it sounds like a normal day out at any other sporting event.


No comments:
Post a Comment