FOTA - Required anymore?

[axle]

Does F1 need FOTA anymore?

I'm on the fence, on the one hand we have a new concorde agreement and so that should be that. On the other having a permanent body that represents the teams and can speak for them is pretty handy for negotiations.

If FOTA must continue can teams survive outside of it without tearing the sport apart through disagreement. And surely the actual *rules* everyone must play by are the FIA mandated ones...so any that FOTA agree to additionally are just pointless as teams on the outside will do as they please.

FOTA was useful, but I'm erring to the side of me that thinks it's done the job it needed to do and now should go quietly into the night (till the concorde agreement is due to expire).

Your thoughts? And please, lets keep this thread civil!

[pgj]

It all depends in what role FOTA functions. In its present form it has been nothing more than the the GPMA and others, to make up the numbers. Its purpose seems to be taking Bernie and Max head on in a power struggle. If it stays clear of politics and ends being what it set out to [a trade association] it may find a useful purpose in life. We now have five of the teams on next year's grid that are not members of FOTA. That can only lead to more difficulties in the future. There is no doubt that the Technical Working Group that was sponsored by FOTA was reasonably successful.

If FOTA tries to control F1 then the answer is no, otherwise unequivocally yes.

[raceman]

I agree.

F1 teams are there to race; keep racing, there are other people to handle things! If utterly wrong, raise a voice - simple!

[Vasco]

I agree.

F1 teams are there to race; keep racing, there are other people to handle things! If utterly wrong, raise a voice - simple!

The thing is that you need a body to represent the F1 teams. If there is no body or system, things will get messy and chaotic.

[pgj]

Agreed. A strong representation is one thing. However, having ambitions to control the whole bang-shoot is another kettle of fish altogether.

[Saribro]

If utterly wrong, raise a voice - simple! 8)

Simple? Really? Have you heard of Ecclestone & Mosley? ...

[WhiteBlue]

Simple answer: NO

The most important problem in F1 is Bernie/FOM/CVC taking too much money from promoters and srewing up the good venues. I don't expect FOTA to do something about or be able to do something.

[sknguy]

I would think so. A lot of important safety changes came because the GPDA began to protest. Tracks got safer, but more importantly, good drivers lived to drive another day. Look at what was done to some of the great drivers of the past.

Any system needs checks and balances. And it's naive to believe that the FIA, or FOM, or whomever else could really act as some omnipotent, benevolent authority. Money bears too much influence on the sport for that to happen. You need checks and balances, and I thought, good on FOTA for threatening a break away series. I just wish the GPDA had the exposure, or influence, it once had.