19/08/2004
NEWS STORY
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We are all aware that in recent years there have been countless accusations of Ferrari bias at the FIA. Look at almost any forum or message board and you'll see the sport's governing body referred to as FIA(T) and Max Mosley as Maranello's puppet.
Whether it be 'bargeboards', 'Jerez 1997', 'the Michelin tyre saga of 2003' or just about any other 'incident' in recent F1 history, the FIA, along with Ferrari and Satan is, according to some, part of some unholy triumvirate.
As the teams dither over the new rules for 2005, certain 'interested parties' are once again fanning the flames, accusing the FIA or conniving with Ferrari, allowing the Italian team to influence the rules in a way that will favour its cars in 2005 and beyond.
Are we to seriously believe, in the wake of the Hungarian GP, an event that is widely recognised as one of the most boring of all time, that the FIA would do anything to allow the current state of affair to continue?
After the first couple of races, various newspaper editors, in the UK at least, told their F1 correspondents that unless the season picked up, and someone else started winning, it would be pointless covering the remaining races. Cue a whole load of very unhappy journos.
Thankfully, Jenson Button and BAR came good, the British media sensed another 'Our Nige' or 'Damon' and consequently rediscovered F1. Now, with just a few races remaining, Button has lost his shine, and once again newspaper editors are questioning the true value in sending journalists to China, Japan and Brazil, merely to cover another Ferrari yawn-fest.
This is just one example of the crisis that F1 faces, if the mainstream media turns its back on F1, the sponsors will surely follow. Does anyone seriously believe that the FIA would do anything to encourage this?
As we saw in last week's Friday press conference, the technical directors are a pretty good bunch. At heart they are all racers, and want nothing more than to see their cars out there battling for wins. They live for the fight, and knowing that they produced the best, whether they be working for Ferrari or Minardi, these guys are competitive.
The team principals, on the other hand, are a totally different breed. Massive egos, deep pockets and interested only in one person, numero uno.
Whereas the technical directors are eager to move things forward and would therefore happily sit down around a table and thrash out the right formula for F1, it would take the team principals a week to decide whether to have sparkling or still water.
The 'sources' in some of the current stories, complaining of the cosy relationship between the FIA and Ferrari can no doubt be traced back to plush offices in Surrey or Oxfordshire, these are nothing less than leaks from interested parties.
If a few of these team principals spent a little more time pushing the right buttons, motivating their teams, and working for the benefit of the sport, and a little less time politicking and fanning the flames, perhaps F1, and indeed their teams, might be in better health.