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TokyoAussie
F1 Driver
Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 946
Location: Tokyo, Japan
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 Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 04:24 Post subject: FOPA is born |
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Faux pas (FOPA) is born.
This has been one of my pet whipping points for ages, so I am glad to see it happen, but with a caveat.
I don't see the FIA as the natural enemy of FOPA, regardless of what Walker seems to be saying. The circuit's all have a gun at their head, and it is called Bernie.
The circuits may be (or have been) upset about the FIA ruling on engines, but they are definitely up against it when it comes to race fees and their inability to gain any revenue other than through ticket sales, which doesn't and can't cover the cost of staging a race. When FOPA develops some balls and goes into collective bargaining with Bernie over the outrageous fees they have to pay, then we will see the true power of this organisation. |
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solarflare
World Champion
Joined: 10 Oct 2005
Posts: 3279
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| Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 12:27 Post subject: |
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One the one hand I see this as a good thing. Bernie has effectively been ripping the proverbial from the circuits for too long.
However, I do worry about the implication that FOPA are going to be trying very hard to influence the technical direction of the sport. By all means have some serious input, but let's not get too hung up on the noise issue.
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White Lightning
Site Admin
Joined: 03 Mar 2004
Posts: 5990
Location: London, UK
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| Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 14:43 Post subject: |
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It's probably a useful move, but I think I'd like to see it applied that all circuits are equal, but some a more equal than others.
The classics (Spa, Silverstone, Montreal etc.) need to band together, in a sort of 'Security Council' situation, where the most important circuits have the lion's share of the bargaining power. |
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solarflare
World Champion
Joined: 10 Oct 2005
Posts: 3279
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| Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 21:24 Post subject: |
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| White Lightning wrote: | It's probably a useful move, but I think I'd like to see it applied that all circuits are equal, but some a more equal than others.
The classics (Spa, Silverstone, Montreal etc.) need to band together, in a sort of 'Security Council' situation, where the most important circuits have the lion's share of the bargaining power. |
...signposting to Bernie where to go for the ol' divide and conquer tactic!?
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Ash
F3 Racer
Joined: 26 Mar 2011
Posts: 208
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| Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 22:33 Post subject: |
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We should remember that Bernie seems to be allied with the circuits so far. This seems a little odd, given that the circuits take all the risk and FOM take all the profit, but we can't underestimate the ability of BE to play the Game of Thrones.
It seems to to me that at this point he is playing off the circuits against the FIA - for his own benefit, no doubt. |
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The Rumble Strip
Grand Prix Winner
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Posts: 2066
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 17:55 Post subject: |
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Sorry but I fail to see what this will achieve.
Of course it is a lobby group but then so was FOTA, which I don't think was a success.
I would guess that FOPA would have even less clout. |
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solarflare
World Champion
Joined: 10 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 23:23 Post subject: |
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| The Rumble Strip wrote: | Sorry but I fail to see what this will achieve.
Of course it is a lobby group but then so was FOTA, which I don't think was a success.
I would guess that FOPA would have even less clout. |
They are always a good idea and always have clout right up until the precise point upon which one team/track or one subset of teams/tracks splits from the rest - either off their own back or because Bernie saw the opportunity to split the pack - and then inevitably the rest fall for lesser terms.
What would be interesting is if they collectively said "hey, we're not signing any new deals".
See WRC for an interesting (and v. current) example of what happens when the promoters take a collective stand. However the difference there is of course that the FIA came to them collectively whereas F1 at the moment has lots of tracks on different length deals that expire at different times.
To some extent it's moot though I think. You can pore over the official FIA gradings and come to the conclusion that there's only 7 or whatever other tracks that could host F1 but really, I doubt that's going to stop Bernie. Say FOPA went for the nuclear option and said "no races on our 20 tracks unless you give us, oh, 20% of the profits, since there's no F1 without us". I'm sure Bernie would dig up an appropriate approximate 16-20 race calendar from somewhere, even if it meant a few MotoGP/Indycar/other tracks and a quick spot of rejigging the homologation gradings. It'd be weaker minus Monaco, Silverstone/Monza/Spa/Montreal and maybe one or two more but he'd get something done that would avoid him having to cave to some other groups demands.
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The Rumble Strip
Grand Prix Winner
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Posts: 2066
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| Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 13:40 Post subject: |
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It's the same thing that happened with the supposed FOTA breakaway though isn't it.
Whilst the breakaway teams, or in this case tracks, might think that they've got the better product, there's no guarantee that fans will desert the original series. If you take A1 as an example then that never rivaled F1 despite what it thought it might do.
Ultimately, I doubt anything will ever come of it and all tracks will just fall in line. |
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