I would say that the only elements that give the sport a modicum of respectability are the corporate sponsors and, to a lesser extent, the presence of long-established volume manufacturers. Take that away and all you have left are liars, cheaters, and half-senile megalomaniacs and, well, bad governance. On that level it’s really easy to see why the teams felt the need to establish FOTA to show that someone was steering the ship (or bailing water?), but I guess it wasn’t enough…

First things first teams leaving F1 should be headache of FOM/CVC/Bernie and not the organization that is supposed to be governing body of “All the Motor sports”

FIA should be Federation Internationale de L’Automobile and
Not F1A – Formula One Administrators.

Its time that role of FIA to be limited as the body that helps Race Organizers like FOM/WRC/A1GP to a) Setup Sporting(Racing) Rules. b) Act as Ombudsman for Teams, race organizers, race track promoters, Fans participating in various racing events governed by FIA.

This entire business of FIA selecting teams on F1 grid, selecting Tire supplier, setting up of Car specs for F1 stinks. That is Bernie’s/CVC’s job whom them want to participate in their series.

If any any parties ( Teams, drivers, suppliers, race track promoters etc) have any concern about CVC/Bernie decisions they should go to FIA to seek clarification.

While the clearly demarcation of this role was wiped out in Moseley regime, Ari’s statement sound like if he was at helm he would have been jumping into F1 game without being asked to.

Did any of the team leaving F1 approach FIA with set of grievances against current F1 format before they left?? The answer is is Big NO. Their representatives in F1 like Theissen/Howett were on the contrary opposing the cost cutting moves till few months ago. And in light of that opposition these corporations giving economic climate as reason for leaving shows clear lack of communication between the then Fota memembers and their Boards at home base.

I have never ever backed Moseley and was not Fan of Todt given the way with Todt at helm Ferrari was operating with FIA assistance between 2000-06

But lets make peace with the fact that Todt is at helm,for all his vices he has management experience in Motorsports at all levels, give him a chance to prove his worth. And if Ari is that very concern with state of motorsports ( and his concerns are right) He can definitely take High road and offer his services to Todt to improve the state of mess in Governance rather than doing customary ” See I told you so” number in press.

This is what opposition parties in Politics world-wide to ‘Criticize’ all the while claiming that they are ‘ Opposition Party with Difference’

Us Canadians get a voyeuristic look into American politics, being so close and yet so removed. With Bush we were thinking “Oh, really? You voted for him? Well, let’s just see how that works out for you.” Then it was 8 years of vicarious thrills and feeling the pain for our brothers and sisters.

I have a similar reaction to the whole FIA thing. I love F1 but it’s flaws are undeniable and the potential and the path to sanity seem so close, yet there they go and “Oh really, you voted for him? Well lets see how that works out for you.” Problem is, the you is us. Neither situation will affect my life in terms of taxes, health care or being sent off to war, but hell, I really give a crap about these issues and the people involved. One can always hope that the tide changes next time…….

We should be enjoying the off season, waiting in anticipation of the first FOTA races at some classic circuits in 2010…instead we’re waiting to find out if another major team is going to drop out of our sport… I can’t believe the teams signed up for more of the same through 2012…