11/08/2005
NEWS STORY
It would appear that Bernie Ecclestone is leaving nothing to chance with regards the future of Formula One.
He might only have three teams - Ferrari, Red Bull and Jordan (Midland F1) - signed up for the new Concorde Agreement which runs from 2008, he might be under increasing pressure from the banks and indeed the manufacturers behind the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association and a number of teams, but Bernie hasn't given up on F1, even if it is a slightly different from to we currently know it.
According to a report in London's Evening Standard, by Christian Sylt and Caroline Reid, Bernie has filed a trademark application for the GP1 logo as part of his "contingency plan" should Formula One, as we know it, run into problems, which it seems it might.
Ecclestone's own firm, Formula One Promotions and Administration (FOPA), has applied for the pan-European trademark covering 16 categories including organising and staging sports events, broadcasting, sportswear and timing equipment.
It's worth noting that FOPA has already applied for the trademark to the F1 'feeder series' GP2.
Having 'lost' 75% of F1 to three banks - BayernLB, JP Morgan and Lehman Brothers - and the other 25% owned by the Ecclestone family trust, GP1 would give Bernie 100% of the brand new series, which would start with a clean slate and at least 3 teams, including Ferrari.
Interestingly, SLEC, the company which 'owns' F1's commercial rights - being made up of the three banks and the Ecclestone trust (Bambino Holdings) - hasn't applied for the pan-European trademark to the words 'Formula One' or 'F1' in sports. If it did it could find itself up against opposition from other forms of Formula 1, including 'Formula 1 Pylon racing' (air racing in which Red Bull is involved), 'Formula 1 Powerboats' and even 'Formula 1 power-lifting'.
All of which is sure to lead to more confusion for Pitpass readers as they try to discover where the dedicated F1 (motorsport) stories are hidden away. (Don't ask!)