The FIA has decided to put the exclusive supply of fuel and oil to F1 out to tender. In the name of Great Zeus, why? It appears to be a grubby little move to grab money.

You can make a case for a single tyre supplier because tyres affect performance. Alas, we have seen that apparently decent motive corrupted, not by Pirelli, but by instructions issued by the FIA.

You may not know this, but champagne houses pay to be associated with Formula One and to provide the podium bubbly. For a time it was Moet et Chandon, but when their contract expired they decided not to renew. Their champagne was then bought for the podium to maintain the illusion that supplying had value, until someone else could be persuaded to pay for the glamour.

To ask for tenders for a single supplier of oil and fuel is another matter entirely. Ferrari and Shell are intertwined, pay for your fuel at a Shell station and you will be served by someone in replica Ferrari uniform. I like that.

Fuel and oil companies have long been a staple of motor racing. When I was a teenager, I sent off for the 'Achievements' booklet published every year by Castrol. It told of Castrol's involvement in many areas of motor sport and it was free. I have liked Castrol ever since,

Mobil supplies McLaren and that is good enough for me, I trust Mobil, I cannot be the only person who trusts brands associated with racing. If an F1 team uses a particular product, it has to be okay, no amount of sponsorship money will persuade a team to use an inferior product.

Today, every company provides fuel of an acceptable standard at the pump. Those supplying racing teams will often brew a batch from a particular source because oil varies in density. Think of whisky: what we buy at the pump is a blend, Formula One gets a single malt, but of the same strength.

In Britain until 1953, no matter what it said on the pumps, the motorist was served 'pool' petrol, it was part of the aftermath of WWII. This fuel was of such low quality that racing drivers used to try to obtain basic aviation fuel which was 80 octane.

In the 1950s, Jaguar used to offer high compression (8:1) pistons as a performance option, but these worked only in markets with decent fuel. Less well known is that Jaguar fitted low compression (6:1) pistons for locations where the fuel was inconsistent.

Despite being kept on hold by the British government, oil companies had continued their research. As soon as the reins were off, they released vastly improved products and what was sold at the pumps and in oil cans really was better and by a huge margin.

Oil companies provided 'trade support' in the days before overt sponsorship was allowed. Esso supported Cooper, BP had Stirling Moss to promote its products. At a time when Team Lotus consisted of selected private owners racing under a common banner, BP paid to give a drive to Cliff Allison, who was soon snapped up by Ferrari.

Elf. owned by the French government, sponsored Team Tyrrell and after Jackie Stewart started delivering World Championships, Elf filling stations began to appear in the UK.

Then Elf combined with Renault to encourage French driver talent in the 1970s. There was a long spell when there was no French driver in F1, suddenly they were everywhere.

It is oil the lubricant, particularly with the arrival of synthetics, which concerns engine builders. Oil suppliers learn from motor racing and the people who benefit are you and me. Most of us drive bogmobiles and any high grade oil will do, but when a manufacturer recommends a particular type, it is as well to take notice.

I thought it was pretty much flapdoodle, like a manufacturer recommending a particular polish. The McLaren F1 came with a valet kit developed by Autoglym. I reckoned it was standard polish in a fancy bottle, then I visited Autoglym. The chief chemist told me the problem they had with the F1 was that carbonfibre dissipates heat at a different rate to steel or aluminium. At the back of the factory were the front and rear panels of a McLaren F1, given to Autoglym to develop a special polish.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by D-type, 08/10/2013 7:11

"At a time when teams are struggling for sponsorship this move can only be to the detriment of [Formula 1] racing.
Obviously, the FIA has messed up its budgeting so that its planned expenditure exceeds its anticipated income. If this sounds familiar, it is because it has followed the example of several governments. Unlike a government, the FIA can simply clip some of its more extravagent plans. "

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2. Posted by kiwi2wheels, 04/10/2013 11:48

"FIA, not that far off "FIFA"..........and VERY similar in their levels of administrative corruption and incompetence. Plus both are mismanaged by two poison dwarfs.

A candidate with the background (and integrity ) of Dr Mike is what is needed. to return F1 to a proper race series, where cars like the Brabham Fan Car would be encouraged, not like todays glorified spec racing.

Formula E ? Gimme a f*****g break !!"

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3. Posted by AMG, 04/10/2013 8:17

"Do you really think that the oil in the tin is made by the company whoose name is on the outside of the tin. This is F1."

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4. Posted by K1w1, 03/10/2013 19:11

"As always, well said Dr Mike.
I though JT was going to be good for motorsport when he got the reins. Unfortunately I (we?) have been proven very wrong."

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5. Posted by Hardliner, 03/10/2013 10:34

"Well said. Todt is Balestre-Lite, a nightmare at organisation and vision with none of the compensations of being a strong leader. E-cars will bomb"

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A Grubby Little Move

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