FIA – Tribunal de Grande Instance

The President of the FIA has consulted the FIA Senate and the FIA’s lawyers about the decision of the Tribunal de Grande Instance de Paris of 5 January. It was unanimously agreed that an appeal would be prepared.

In his election campaign last summer, FIA President Jean Todt and his team announced that new measures for constructive change, including a disciplinary procedure, would be introduced. Work on this is well advanced. Once in place, this will address the issues in the Court’s judgement. Nonetheless, an appeal is merited.

While the appeal is underway, the Word Motor Sport Council’s decision of 21 September 2009 remains in full effect. However, in view of the uncertainty that this may create for drivers who may be affected by this decision, the FIA President and FIA Senate have decided that, pending the outcome of the FIA’s appeal, Superlicences will continue to be issued to qualifying drivers in the usual way.

The FIA President, the FIA Senate, the World Motor Sport Council, and the FIA’s Member Clubs from all countries will take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the continuing integrity and safety of the sport.

Sauber Confirm Launch Date for New Car

Sauber plan their launch, whilst Bernie welcomes Briatore.

Today is the 6th January 2010 and this is F1 Minute.

Good news to start with, the ex-BMW team Sauber have confirmed the launch of their 2010 car – it will take place at Valencia on the 31st January, which is the day before the first test of the year. They are the first team to announce a launch date, I hope we’ll hear more from the others now.

Back to the unpleasant Briatore business unfortunately, the Italian has suggested that he will be taking legal action against the Piquet father and son duo, saying “The bad that has been done to me won’t be forgotten in one day.” He also has another go at Max Mosley while he’s at it. Meanwhile, Bernie Ecclestone would be ready to welcome Flav back to the paddock with open arms, saying: “He was a great character in F1 but I am not sure if that’s what he wants to do now. I think he will move on from that.

That’s all for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

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06-Jan-10: Sauber Confirm Launch Date for New Car

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Today is the 6th January 2010 and this is F1 Minute.

Good news to start with, the ex-BMW team Sauber have confirmed the launch of their 2010 car – it will take place at Valencia on the 31st January, which is the day before the first test of the year. They are the first team to announce a launch date, I hope we’ll hear more from the others now.

Back to the unpleasant Briatore business unfortunately, the Italian has suggested that he will be taking legal action against the Piquet father and son duo, saying “The bad that has been done to me won’t be forgotten in one day.” He also has another go at Max Mosley while he’s at it. Meanwhile, Bernie Ecclestone would be ready to welcome Flav back to the paddock with open arms, saying: “He was a great character in F1 but I am not sure if that’s what he wants to do now. I think he will move on from that. It’s good for him but it is not good for the FIA when you read the verdict.”

That’s all for today, please join me tomorrow for another F1 Minute.

Quotes Roundup – Week Ending 20th December

The very best from the mouths of those in the know.

Virgin Announcement

A pre-launch launch from Virgin…

• “It feels great to be here, it’s a dream come true for me after two years of being a test driver, and from that and from GP2 I feel I’m ready and am very confident in this team. We’re here to race, not to do politics or mess around, we’re here to race.” Lucas di Grassi
  
• “”I have 20 years’ experience working with drivers. I have been privileged to work with some fantastic drivers in that time and I hope that’s helped in giving me an eye for a good driver. The four drivers we have here are the four we wanted in our line-up, they’re the perfect drivers.” John Booth, Sporting Director
  
• “I am immensely proud to be part of a team that isn’t simply ‘making it to the grid’, but which has surpassed even our wildest expectations – technically, in our racing operation and also commercially.” Nick Wirth
  

Genii Capital Buy Into Renault

Renault find a way to stay in the sport…

• “Altogether, we look forward to competing again at the highest level in Formula 1. Today’s announcement also confirms Renault’s commitment and trust in the sport’s governing bodies to improve the green credentials of Formula 1.” Bernard Rey
  
• “Together with Renault, we intend to run the team with the same values as any of our other investments, prioritising ambitious performance targets without neglecting cost efficiency. We strongly believe that on-track performance can be compatible with business performance, and we will use all our entrepreneurial spirit and commercial know-how to achieve this goal.” Eric Lux
  
• “We would like to know about Genii Capital and who is doing what in the team – a partner can be a sleeping partner or a controlling partner. The cards have changed in respect of when we signed and it’s important Renault give us full information.” Daniele Morelli
  

Briatore vs. Mosley

The pair hit the headlines once more…

• “It is difficult to ascertain whether Mr Mosley is just losing his temper while waiting the decision to be issued by the French courts or if, after having lost his position as a key person in Motor Racing, he is just eager to regain media coverage by making provocative attacks against myself, amongst others.” Flavio Briatore
  
• “Briatore should be the last person to complain that the FIA has not treated him fairly. The FIA has repeatedly given him the benefit of the doubt.” Max Mosley
  
• “Once the FIA had a sworn statement from Nelson Piquet Jr confirming that he was ordered to crash, a full professional inquiry conducted by outside lawyers was inevitable. That inquiry, like Renault’s own investigation, established Briatore’s responsibility beyond question. The suggestion that all this was somehow manufactured for reasons of personal vengeance is a desperate and unsustainable argument.” Max Mosley
  

FIA Election

Following today’s meeting to agree procedures for the upcoming FIA elections, Ari Vatanen has withdrawn his court application.

At the meeting, chaired by FIA President Max Mosley, both candidates endorsed the fairness of the FIA’s proposed voting procedure. The following elements of the procedure were confirmed:

-  The presidential elections will be supervised by a Huissier de Justice throughout the entire procedure.

-  There will be a private voting area for marking ballot papers available for those voters who would like to use it.

-  Each candidate, along with their speakers in support, will be given an opportunity to present their case to the General Assembly for a maximum of 15 minutes. Mr Todt and his team will take the floor first.

FIA – Concorde Agreement

Following approval by the World Motor Sport Council, late last night FIA President Max Mosley signed the 2009 Concorde Agreement, heralding a renewed period of stability for the FIA Formula One World Championship.

The Concorde Agreement – a contract between the FIA, F1’s Commercial Rights-Holder and the participating Teams – sets out the basis on which the Teams participate in the Championship and share in its commercial success.

The WMSC has also approved a slightly revised set of stable Sporting and Technical Regulations (to apply from the 2010 Championship onwards), which have been agreed by the FIA and the Teams and which will be published shortly on the FIA’s website.

The new Concorde Agreement, which runs until 31 December 2012, provides for a continuation of the procedures in the 1998 Concorde Agreement, with decisions taken by working groups and commissions, upon which all teams have voting rights, before going to the WMSC for ratification.

In addition, as agreed in Paris on 24 June 2009, the Teams have entered into a resource restriction agreement, which aims to return expenditure to the levels that prevailed in the early 1990s.

With the 2009 Concorde Agreement and the resource restriction agreement in place, the FIA looks forward to a period of stability and prosperity in the FIA Formula One World Championship.

FIA Safety Commission

FIA President Max Mosley has asked the FIA Safety Commission to prepare a report on the recent debris-related accidents in the FIA Formula One World Championship and FIA Formula Two Championship.

The FIA Safety Commission, which is made up of medical and technical representatives from all areas of motor sport, will submit its report and recommendations to the World Motor Sport Council.

Preliminary findings suggest the helmet being used by Felipe Massa may have played a significant role in limiting the injuries sustained. The FIA 8860 helmet, which took eight years to develop by the FIA and FIA Institute, provides increased protection in all key impact areas.

FIA – Concorde Agreement

Following the completion of negotiations with FOA and all 13 Formula One teams by FIA President Max Mosley and FIA Deputy President for Sport Nick Craw, the members of the World Motor Sport Council have been sent a copy of the proposed new Concorde Agreement for their consideration.

Subject to the approval of the WMSC and on receipt of confirmation that a satisfactory cost-reduction agreement is in place, the new Concorde Agreement should be ready for signature at the end of next week.

15-Jul-09: Mosley Reveals Todt as Preferred President

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Welcome to F1 Minute, it’s the 14th July.

We’ve heard this before, about thirty times, but Max Mosley has written to the FIA member clubs confirming that he doesn’t want to stand for re-election. However, this time it does seem slightly more final, as Mosley has put forward Jean Todt as his preferred candidate for the presidency in October. In the letter, Max wrote: “If he agrees to stand, I think he would be the ideal person to continue but also to extend the work of the past 16 years. He can be relied on in all areas where the FIA is active. I very much hope you will give him your support.”

Elsewhere, it’s not very often that you find someone in favour of this year’s regulations but Williams technical director Sam Michael has said they are the reason that his team have managed to improve and stay consistent. He said: “Because of the change in the rules, the cars are very different to before… We never really got the FW31 developed under the old regulations to the same level as everybody else.”

That’s it for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.

07-Jul-09: Max Mosley Could Face Competition for Presidency

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It’s the 7th July 2009 and this is F1 Minute.

It’s politics catch-up day today, with news that there may be someone to stand against Max Mosley when the FIA presidency is up for grabs in October. Former rally champion Ari Vatanen admits he is considering standing, saying: “I think it is time for a change. At the moment I am consulting the member clubs and am already seeing positive feedback.” He says he would stand even if he wasn’t sure of success, which is good because Mosley keeps on reiterating how much support he has to attempt another term as President.

Elsewhere, some of the teams that weren’t chosen for the 2010 entry list have been questioning how the decision was made. Reuters reports that one of the heads of a team said that he was advised: “for my application to have any chance of success, I would need to report Cosworth as my engine supplier for three season.” Of course, the three new teams do have Cosworth as their supplier but there’s no proof the company asked for or were given special treatment.

That’s all for now, I’ll be back tomorrow with another F1 Minute.

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