Looking at the future of FOTA

For proof of just how fast the world of Formula 1 moves, look no further than Google News: In June, searching for the term 'FOTA' returned a result of around 300 news stories related to the latest activities of the Formula 1 Teams Association. It peaked at around 700 stories during the British Grand Prix weekend.

This week, though, the top 'FOTA' story is the tale of new arrivals, including a baby siamang gibbon, a colobus monkey and a ring-tailed lemur, at a similarly-named wildlife park in County Cork, Ireland.

The top FOTA (as in F1) news snippet is the five-day-old story (broken by AUTOSPORT) that Williams is seeking a new engine supplier for 2010.

When exotic creatures overshadow FOTA patter on Google News, the obvious question is whether or not the teams' alliance is a spent force.

In the wake of the Concorde Agreement's signing, this column questioned precisely that, and the notion received impetus when no FOTA meetings were scheduled for the Valencia race weekend despite an enormous number of behind-the-scenes activities since the previous race in Hungary at end-July.

For starters, not unrelated to the renewal of Concorde, BMW announced its exit from F1 at season's end. For another, Ferrari's request to permit Michael Schumacher to undertake a full-on test session ahead of his then-intended return to the cockpit, despite a blanket ban on such activities between the first and last races of the season drew negatives from one or more teams.

Given that the testing ban between the first and last races of the season was primarily a FOTA initiative rather than an FIA regulation, and that three teams - Toro Rosso, Ferrari and Renault - have been forced to send ill-prepared drivers into battle, the situation surely merited a re-visit, and where better than Valencia?

Then, during Wednesday's FIA Technical Working Group, Sam Michael of Williams voted in favour of retaining KERS in the 2010 (and beyond) technical regulations, which flies, of course, in the face of the agreement struck between FOTA members.

Williams had been suspended from the alliance back in May when the team lodged a 2010 entry - a similar fate befell Force India - and obviously FOTA needs to consider whether their memberships should be reinstated now that peace has broken out.

The membership status of the three newcomers (plus one or two hopefuls - facilitated by BMW's withdrawal and pending litigation driven by N-Technology and Stefan GPs against the FIA) requires equal consideration, so it was somewhat of a surprise to learn that no FOTA meeting - executive or otherwise - had been called.

FOTA vice chairman John Howett, though, dismissed notions that FOTA was a spent force facing disbandment when interviewed in Valencia, stating that diaries were compared in order to schedule a meeting in Belgium this weekend. In addition, he advised that the organisation was preparing for the election of office bearers towards the end of the year, and provided pointers to future activities of the organisation.

"We have mixed emotions over the developments of the past four weeks," said Toyota's motorsport vice-president. "Firstly, fairly constructive because we have now signed the Concorde Agreement, which provides a sound document which establishes governance. I think the main task now is that we follow up and implement all the procedures that are there.

"I think everybody is sad that we lost BMW, from our perspective it will be a loss to the sport and I think now we need to look at integrating the newcomers and re-integrating Williams and Force India (into FOTA), and move forward to the most important issues."

Howett believes that the primary reason behind BMW's exit was not so much one of cost as one of value for money - effectively 'bangs for bucks'.

"I personally don't believe it is to do with cost, but fundamentally (to do with) the value a brand can receive from the sport," he said. "Unfortunately for the past 18 months we have probably focused on issues that are of importance, but not of fundamental importance, and hopefully we can now work in partnership with the federation and the commercial rights' holder to focus on some of these issues."

The BMW Saubers at Valencia © XPB

(When Howett's hypothesis was put to a senior BMW source, he effectively agreed: "For sure cost was a consideration, but had F1 offered better value, then it would probably have been more difficult for our board of directors to reach the decision.")

One word dominated Saturday's interview - 'balance' - and it is clear that Howett firmly believes FOTA's mission to have F1 governed by an equilateral triangle structure, with each of the three parties having a more-or-less equal say in the running of the sport has been achieved.

Variously he spoke about a 'balanced' document and 'balanced' governance, adding: "In common with FOTA's membership I don't feel we have a unique right to control everything, and I think we now have a balanced document which enables us to develop future strategies."

Is Howett fazed by Williams's decision to vote for the retention of KERS? "I think we need to discuss with them why (they voted in favour), if it happens. Fine, but we are still in the interim phase because the regulations were fixed, but from now on it is quite possible to use the governance process to achieve the right balance to achieve the regulatory direction I believe the majority of stakeholders want."

Based on the foregoing it is clear that Howett firmly believes that FOTA has a future. "I sincerely hope so and believe so; the bigger task facing us now is filling the stands, to understand how we can offer a better total product to our fans and the media. I know they expect a lot, however it can't be done overnight and there needs to be some patience as we develop the best activities in order to respond to their needs."

Cynics suggest that FOTA should already be in discussions about the 2013-onwards Concorde Agreement, for the current one took close to five years of bitter negotiations to reach signature, and given its lifespan of a little over three years, has FOTA given the new covenant any thought?

"OK, but it is only about ten days since we officially exchanged the documents, so you have to give us a little bit of time, but in fairness, in the new agreement there is a clause that we should immediately start discussing with (CRH) CVC what the possible future opportunities are."

One of the thorny issues in the paddock is whether or not the Concorde and Resource Reduction Agreements (the latter being the matrix that controls team spending from 2010) will be placed into the public domain, particularly given the new spirit of transparency said to reign in the sport.

"Well, the Concorde Agreement is a confidential document and there are clauses there that prevent anybody from doing (releasing) it, and the Resource Restriction Agreement is an internal confidential document, which has already been leaked.

"That has been problematic for certain teams due to their labour laws, and it is something that should be treated with a bit more respect," he says of the leak. "There needs to be a proper balance (that word again), if you understand what I mean as the information which has been released is basically correct but taken out of context, which has caused problems. There needs to be a counterbalance..."

Apart from F1's 'shutdown', August traditionally also brings with it the (driver) 'silly season' and calendar discussions, and while Toyota's 2010 driver situation received widespread coverage, the shape and form of next year's F1 fixtures list has received scant attention to date.

The Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan Mosque in Abu Dhabi © LAT

Although Howett would not be drawn on the Concorde's provisions in this regard, it would appear that the teams have greater control over the calendar through clauses in the agreement.

Other sources have indicated that the CRH can schedule 17 or less races without reference to the teams, provided no less than six come from an 'A' list containing a mix of traditional events, 'blue-chips' and at least one Middle East event.

Teams would, though, need to grant permission for the CRH to go beyond 17 races, with 20 being the absolute limit. No more than 50% of races on any calendar can be 'non-European' - falling outside Europe and, strangely, North America - while all events are ranked according to their successive durations in previous FIA championships in order to prevent (past) farcical situations whereby, say, France was ranked as 'newcomer' (thus saving the CRH on travel benefits) while China was not...

Already the calendar has started taking shape, with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation last week distributing a special offer brochure listing 25-28 March as date for its race. A quick perusal of hotel sites shows unusual pressure on hotel availability in the area, with a similar picture developing in Malaysia a week later. Thereafter the picture is less clear, with most hotels in Bahrain being N/A for three straight weekends.

Bernie Ecclestone remains hopeful of retaining a race at Hockenheim, but was unable to strike a deal with the circuit during this year's Nurburgring round after politicians failed to meet with him in the wake of his controversial Hitler comments.

However, if he succeeds in persuading the town and local government to up their commitment (and, crucially, lowers his demands, particularly given that the Germany contributes 25% of the grid's helmeted headcount, with Nico Hulkenberg likely to make it six drivers in the sport next year), then the country which invented the car (and internal combustion, compression ignition and Wankel engines) could well remain on the calendar.

Canada, too, seems to be back on track, although, say sources, not in Montreal. Could the race be returning to Mont-Tremblant, that picturesque circuit, scene of the 1968/70 Canadian Grands Prix, nestling in the gorgeous Laurentian Mountains approximately an hour's drive north-west of Quebec's capital?

Whether Silverstone or Donington, Britain seems certain to have a race, but same cannot be said of France, which once again seems destined to be grand prix-less despite having given the very word to the world.

For the rest it should be pretty much business as usual, with their calendar slots being similar to those occupied this year, save that Canada will likely slot in between Turkey and Britain, and Belgium be brought forward a week to enable Valencia and Monza to be back-to-backed in early September in order to provide a cooler, off-season for the former venue.

Should Germany be retained, there will be 18 races, with the calendar likely to be as follows:

28 March     Australia
4 April      Malaysia
18 April     China - thought to be the last race
                     unless the CRH strikes a deal with Beijing
25 April     Bahrain
16 May       Spain - with, allegedly, an official test
                     session in Spain preceding the race
30 May       Monaco
13 June      Turkey
27 June      Canada - Mont-Tremblant?
11 July      Britain - possibly followed by a week-long
                       test session if Silverstone
25 July      Germany - if...
1 August     Hungary - subject to Calendar Commission
                       permission as it falls within August
22 August    Belgium
5 September  Europe
12 September Italy
26 September Singapore
3 October    Japan
17 October   Brazil
31 October   Abu Dhabi

Such a calendar is also said to satisfy a Concorde clause that demands there be at least 14 weeks between the last race of one 18-race season and the first race of the next.

See, FOTA is not only about monkey business...