F1 Breakup?!

JMeissner · 4 Apr 2001, 21:06 (Ref:77454)

From Autosport:

"Manufacturers vote for breakaway series

Is ACEA's decision designed to call Kirch/EMTV's bluff?

The fabric of Grand Prix Racing could be torn apart following a decision from the five European manufacturers involved in Formula 1 to form a breakaway single-seater championship at a meeting in Italy today (Wednesday).

The European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) is concerned that German media giants Kirch and EMTV, which have got the green light to buy 75 percent of the commercial and television rights to F1, will make all Formula 1 TV coverage pay-per-view. As such ACEA has voted unanimously in favour of withdrawing from F1 to start up its own series.

Some Formula 1 insiders believe the ACEA's decision is a symbolic gesture designed to force guarantees from Kirch and EMTV that Formula 1 will remain on terrestrial TV. The association's chairman Paulo Canterella was in fighting mood after the meeting.

The ACEA and Fiat chairman said: "As a result of recent developments,and in the best interests of motor sport, it has been unanimously agreed to set up a joint company, the purpose of which will be to establish, as soon as possible, a new open-wheels single-seat racing car series."

Should the breakaway championship go ahead, it would signal the end of F1 involvement for Ferrari (Fiat), Mercedes, BMW, Renault and Ford, and would leave the future of the teams which are currently supplied engines by the manufacturers in serious doubt.

The situation is further complicated by the manufacturers owning shares within the teams to which they supply engines, giving ACEA an amount of leverage from the inside.

The idea of a breakaway championship was first raised earlier this year, but following investigations by the German monopolies commission it was believed that the manufacturers' unease at the Kirch/EMTV majority had been significantly reduced, making today's decision something of a surprise.

The stance of motorsport's governing body, the FIA is that it would consider sanctioning any alternative series as long as it met its existing criteria on such matters as safety."

This sure seems alarming!

Tristan · 5 Apr 2001, 18:19 (Ref:77805)

This does indeed seem alarming. From what I gather, Bernie is toying with seeling the rights to F1 to EM:TV/Kirsch, a German company which would but on F1 races on a pay-per-view basis.

I for one wold be UTTERLY unwilling to watch this, and I'm sure many of you agree. The manufacturers, teams and (most importantly) sponsors all no this. Thus, if the TV deal goes through (which it won't, as I shall explain), the manufacturers will simply set up a seperate single seater race series based around current F1 specifications. Of course, it would not be called "Formula 1" but with F1 circuits now allowed to book whoever they like (before exclusive deals with F1 meant no other races of any significance could be held on designated F1 circuits) the change would be in name only. That is except that "F1" as it was once known would now be controlled by a self-regulating body of the MANUFACTUTRERS (businessmen again, basically).

However, THIS ISN'T GOIGN TO HAPPEN. If Bernie were to sell the rights HE TOO knows the manufacturers would walk. That's why he's selling to Kirsch, so that F1 can continue as a self-reg. body as it was before with no loss in TV ratings, yet he pockets the money from the "gullible" Kirsch group. Unfortunatley (or fortunatly depending on what side you take) Kirsch ARN'T that dumb to be buying effectivly nothing. It is thought that even the FIA is behind the split and would follow the manufacturers over endorsing the "new" race series. It may even still be called F1 as a result. Kirsch would therefore get NOWT!! The deal therefore can't happen. Or can it??

JMeissner · 5 Apr 2001, 20:00 (Ref:77843)

Well, with Bernie at the wheel I think anything is possible...

But it is as you say, it doesent make sense to buy a series when all manufacturers are leaving just as they have bought it (and then all viewers). But, the contract with the manufacturers lasts untill 2007. So maybe this is a coup launced by Bernie and Kirsch to make some fast money?

Tristan · 7 Apr 2001, 13:42 (Ref:78390)

I don't know, but there HAS to be more than this than what appears on the surface.