Barely a week after F1's Strategy Group revealed its vision for the sport's future, there is dissent in the ranks.

And why wouldn't there be? After all, the proposal that the sport should consider customer cars - built by the likes of Red Bull at a time the team is threatening to leave the sport - would effectively drive some of the current teams, including at least one on the Strategy Group, out of business.

Force India's Robert Fernley, never one to hide his feelings, was not pulling his punches yesterday.

"I don't think the Strategy Group is fit for purpose and we should be looking at something where we have a clear programme that delivers results," he told reporters in Monaco.

"We've had eighteen months or two years of Strategy Group work with nothing coming out of it," he continued. "I think we need to look at the system in a better way.

"In days gone by, with Max and Bernie in charge, there would be none of that. We would know exactly where we're going. I don't think you should have the teams making decisions on where Formula One should go. The teams should be told where Formula One is going."

Barely had the words passed his lips than Christian Horner perfectly encapsulated the root of the sport's problems...

"It's rather predictable," he said. "Bob's going to ask for more money, Toto's going to not want to change anything and we want to change engines.

"Every team has its own agenda and it's going to fight its own corner," he continued. "The sport is governed by the FIA and it's promoted by FOM. It's those guys that need to get together and say 'what do we want Formula One to be?' Yes, we want it to go quicker, we want cars to be more aggressive to drive - but you're never going to keep everybody happy.

"Bernie and Jean need to get together and say "this is what we want the product to be, this is how it needs to be governed," and then give us the entry form and see if we want to enter or not. Because I think putting it in the team's environment to try and agree a set of regulations - you're never going to get everybody on the same piece of paper.

"The only thing the Strategy Group has unanimously agreed on and implemented this year is the fact that the drivers should wear the same crash helmet for the entire season," Horner added. "Is that success of the group? Not really. Is it a worthwhile forum? I think it is - but I think the structure of how regulations are implemented, that's what we need to look at.

"The promoter, he's promoting the show, he's got to sell a product and that product's got to be appealing to the fans. And he needs to be listening to the people. The people around the world: what do they want? What do they want Formula One to be? And then as teams, as competitors, we have to abide by a set of regulations that the FIA should write. Sporting and technical. And at that point you have a choice: whether you want to be in or be out. But every year, the entry form comes out and we all sign on the dotted line."

As Bernie Ecclestone prepares to fight the British tax authorities, which are demanding £1bn from the F1 supremo, Toto Wolff called on his colleagues to stop knocking the sport.

"I think we must stop talking the sport down," said the Austrian. "I've mentioned that a couple of times in here. And one of the rules we have established - and Bob is new to the group so maybe we have to reemphasise this - is that we shouldn't talk the sport down. We should push the sport up.

"We need all of you, plus us, to re-emphasise on the good points, on the attractive bits of the sport and try to make it better. It's not always an easy exercise."

Agreed, it's not an easy exercise, not when the sport is (seemingly) forever embroiled in scandal, when self-interest dominates the agenda and those viewers that tune into the sport every fortnight witness swathes of empty seats, diminished grids, cars almost devoid of logos and the powers-that-be telling them how good it really is.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by MKI, 28/05/2015 14:23

"Rob Fearnley gets to the crucial point, one which everyone will have to take on board eventually. As he says "I don't think you should have the teams making decisions about where F1 goes. The teams should be told where F1 is going".

No sport other than this one allows competitors to frame rules. The final decision is, rightly, the governing body's. The clue is in their job description. It may be a complex problem for F1 to return to a traditional governmental structure but it is fast approaching a make or break matter. It also requires the FIA to attract seriously competent people able to analyse how best to direct the sport (or else we'll get a repeat of the 1980's FISA/FOCA rebellion). Now if Mr Ecclestone was working for the FIA instead of FOM........

"

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2. Posted by The stogie, 24/05/2015 0:26

"Louder cars would be a great start. If they get any quieter they will sound like the 'E' cars and that is NOT a good thing. "

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3. Posted by Jonno, 22/05/2015 16:48

"Force India are in deep financial poo. I detect a short hand pushing them to make these comments, no doubt with a financial reward if Robert Fernley kills off the Strategy group. We've seen similar sabotage before, if the teams fall for it, more fool them.
These games are becoming more and more tedious. It's time there was a clearout at the top of F1.
"

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4. Posted by Gilly58, 22/05/2015 12:01

"Give the Fans their say - It’s not the rules that need changing – Neither do we require expensive refuelling or pit passing back on the agenda! My tuppence worth…

I believe that it is absolutely right to debate this issue now, as continuing numbers of F1 fans world wide, have, are, and continue to be out priced by escalating ticket prices, weekend packages and unaffordable pay TV viewing packages. Add this to the current disappointing absence of “on-track” competitive excitement and general entertainment value, throw in the increasing lack of access to the drivers and teams that many fans were once accustomed to, and you have a recipe for “melt down”. One only has to read the response to most the press articles and F1 forums, to realise that the authorities do not unfortunately seem to be taking a blind bit of notice of those passionate fans wishing to voice their opinion, especially when so many of them make very sound and constructive points.

The F1 consortium has in my view, concentrated for far too long and way too much lately on the corporate side of business and it seems to be obsessed with rule changes etc, etc. They simply seem to choose to ignore the army of loyal supporting fans and their concerns. We have collectively expended billions of $’s, £’s and €’s over the years supporting the sport we adore and should therefore, rightly be entitled to a voice, especially when it is us that contribute considerably to keeping the show on the road. It would be a very hard sell to put on a show of any kind without the viewing fans, be it live at the race track or indeed, the live TV viewing audience. This seasons’ live TV coverage by the BBC has also dwindled down to just a few races, and free TV coverage in general, is becoming less and less accessible year in year out. I am certain that should this remain the case, the sport will inevitably suffer even more than it is doing now.

I was first introduced to F1 by my grandfather who himself, was an avid race fan way back in the sixties. I was immediately bitten then, and continue to be to this day, although it has become a struggle as the whole package is now way too expensive and far less attractive. Like many others, I’m sure, I am unfortunately unable to attend any live European races as I once used to, and have done almost every year dating back from my very first live race at Silverstone in 1968, due to the unaffordable costs.

Although F1 has moved with the times, and has undoubtedly improved in many security and safety aspects, it still has in my view, lost the real intimate interaction with its supporters, the drivers and teams that it once had in abundance. It would now seem that, unless you have an open check book or are part of the corporate circus you have little or no chance of getting remotely close to your desired driver/team. Add this to the predictive and somewhat procession racing (if you can call it that) plus the ever decreasing European races falling off the annual calendar year in, year out, not to mention Germany this year, which, I fear, will have serious consequences for F1 and its followers in the longer term. I could never imagine Great Britain not being on the F1 calendar but equally, remember the palaver and hype in 1999 surrounding the announcement by Mr Eccelstone of the switching of circuits from Silverstone to Brands Hatch from 2002, and again in 2008 when he again announced that Donnington Park would host the UK GP from 2010. The later never happened and I think that we all understand the corporate sponsorship piece and even the accompanying politics to a degree.

I believe the sports magnets (FIA – FOM), along with the constructors, teams and drivers should get together with an elected fan base, in an open forum, sooner rather than later and come up with a concept that addresses, and is able to put right the concerns and proposals of all parties. I am sure that there are enough intelligent folk out there, that remain passionately involved enough with the sport to be able to work out a fairer priced ticket system for the fan faithful, but also, and more importantly, be in a position to put proper competitive ‘wheel to wheel Racing’ back on the agenda without compromising the health and safety regulations. I am personally not interested in refuelling, or any other dreamt up scheme to give a driver and team track position without actually having to overtake out on the circuit. How can it be that the F1 cars are 8-10 seconds a lap slower than they were a decade ago? It will in my view only be a question of time before the GP2 cars will become faster than the F1 cars. If you are going to advertise Formula One as the ‘Pinnacle of Motorsport’ then you seriously need to think hard and come up with what the fans, and now even some of the current drivers, have been saying openly for sometime. It seems like an eternity since we witnessed the Williams cars flat out, and racing wheel to wheel against each other at Brands Hatch.

It’s not rocket science and shouldn’t break the bank, but bring back the competitive on track excitement before it is to late, at an affordable and accessible price, with unhindered TV coverage and we’ll all be happy once again

Here’s hoping Stevie G
"

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5. Posted by scf1fan, 22/05/2015 11:55

"I have a bit of an issue with Christian's comments . . . particularly in the differences between how he views his and Toto's issues compared to R.Fernley's. RB knew what the engine requirements were going to be and yet they made the choices they made (to go with Renault) and then they are still the ones crying about leaving the sport due to lack of engine performance; MB (along with Ferrari) probably don't need any of the prize purse to remain solvent let alone stay at the front and yet they are seemingly unwilling to give up any advantage for the betterment of the sport; where as FI needs a few breaks (or at least some money) in order to stay productively in the sport.

I would say that there is a bit of a difference in priorities there . . . "

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6. Posted by Darvi, 22/05/2015 10:36

"I agree with Bob and Christian's views that the FIA and FOM should step up to the mark and plan a future for Formula 1. The big issue is that Bernie doesn't seem interested in the fans, he appears to be interested only in the sources of income, i.e. TV companies, advertisers, sponsors and, to a lesser degree the circuits and teams.

Without interest from fans there will be no Formula 1 and it is time that Bernie and Jean Todt started to do something about establishing what we, the fans, are looking for. Sadly, he won't care about my views as I don't buy Rolex watches."

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Strategy Group... not fit for purpose

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