12/07/2005
NEWS STORY
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In recent weeks and months we've witnessed histrionics on a massive scale, as people who have made their names, and fortunes, from F1, seem hell bent on destroying it.
We've had talk of breakaways, threats to quit the sport, demands for resignations, threats of races being cancelled, cheating, race bans and finally the outrageous disaster that was the 2005 United States Grand Prix.
When he first came into Formula One, Flavio Briatore, who openly admitted to knowing nothing about the sport, was greeted with distrust, ridicule and in some cases outright contempt.
Yet at a time when our sport appears to be falling apart, or should that read, being torn apart, the Italian seems to be lone voice of reason.
Last week, Pitpass carried quotes from a spokesman for the manufacturers, who made it clear that despite reports to the contrary, the intention of the manufacturers and the teams isn't to create a rival series but to ensure the future of Grand Prix racing.
"We are working towards a future framework for Formula One," he said, "that will see more stability, greater transparency, a fairer share of the revenue created for the teams, and generally a better formula for the fans.
"Only if this cannot come about would we resort to 'Plan B'," he added. "If push comes to shove we know how it can be done, but this is not our primary objective."
Now, Briatore has spoken out and confirmed that he doesn't want to see the sport further damaged, far less destroyed, and urges all those involved to sit down and talk.
"All the people involved in Formula 1 should get together around a table like adults, and start talking to each other and working together as soon as possible," he told Welt Am Sonntag.
"The spectators are the people who matter most," he added, "and we must improve Formula 1 to make it safer and more entertaining. To do that, we need a strong FIA President like Mosley as a regulator. But for the unity and the attractiveness of the show, we need Ferrari too."
Finally, there is a calm voice of reason in the F1 paddock, lets hope that those involved listen to him.