Comments on: Why have the teams formed their own group and what does it mean for F1?

By: michael counsell

michael counsell — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 19:11:59 +0000

Seriously though it makes sense. Previously whenever teams get together to discuss things with the FIA and its various branches they all come with different intentions and end up getting nowhere. Maybe now issues between each other can be sorted out at their leisure allowng meetings with the FIA to be more streamlined and constructive.

I guess the reason everyone paints Max Mosely as some kind of dictator is that generally he is the only one who speaks to the media and he is the President. Ultimately others may make decisions but as President naturally he receives the criticism or the credit. Just like Adrian Newey may be credited for designing mnay great cars even if he didn’t design and develop each component.

By: Polak

Polak — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:22:54 +0000

FOCA is very similar to the polish word foka which means seal as in the animal. This word is also a slang term similar to chick or pussy when referring to women.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:18:49 +0000

Perhaps they’ll call it F1TA? FOCA was originally F1CA until someone apparently realised it looked too similar to something rude in Spanish…

By: michael counsell

michael counsell — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:17:00 +0000

FOTA already stands for FOrmula Three Association. I guess FTA stood for too many things already. Perhaps they need to call this FOOTA.

By: Noel

Noel — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:57:13 +0000

Alianora,

Do you have proof of this, or is it speculation?

I’m not disagreeing with you, I’m just curious.

By: Alianora La Canta

Alianora La Canta — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:41:18 +0000

F1′s decisions are meant to be made by committee, but Max Mosley has a tendency to either force the committees to go his way using outlandish threats or other dodgy argumentative devices, or else ignoring what they say.

By: M Smith

M Smith — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:11:12 +0000

I was slightly skeptical about the new FOTA because I only really read the headlines, but just having all the teams in the association inc. Ferrari (which has splintered off a few times in the past) this is a force to be reckoned with.

Mosley may have succeeded in weakening the Drivers Association, but if all the teams speak together with one voice, they will be listened to.

I agree with Noel though, we always paint Mosley as this evil dictator (I will believe otherwise when he quits next year tbh.) but surely other top people in the FIA are to blame for many of the stupid rules and events that occurred.

By: Kester

Kester — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:49:20 +0000

The only thing I hope for in all of this is that they don’t constantly bombard the drivers regarding this.

They’re racers not polititions, they could car less about the politics, as long as they get to turn up and race in a great car every couple of weeks.

By: Noel

Noel — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:47:59 +0000

Just playing Devil’s Advocate here, but aren’t the FIA’s major policy decisions made by a committie and not just by one man?

We (as in the general F1 community) tend to paint Max as the evil puppetmaster. But does all the blame lie with him as an individual or a group of people at the top of the Association?

No opinion offered, I’m just wondering what your thoughts are

By: Robert McKay

Robert McKay — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 07:27:40 +0000

“Here the teams agreed to form their own representative group called the Formula One Teams’ Association. The name has a clear echo of FOCA, the Formula One Constructors’ Association, which clashed famously with the governing body in the 1980s.”

Coincidence or statement of intent? Oh, to be a fly on the wall at the meeting when that name was mooted.