1302 replies to this topic

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

Montezemolo set to quit FOTA role

Tuesday, November 17th 2009, 12:49 GMT

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says he is likely to step down from his role as president of FOTA at the end of the year.

The Italian took the role when the Formula One Teams' Association was formed back in July of 2008.

Di Montezemolo says, however, that he is set to quit FOTA to focus on his role as Ferrari and Fiat president learning to drive.

"I took up the president role because I felt it was good to have teams competing on the track, and talking out of it like sports professionals," di Montezemolo told Autosprint.

"This is what we did. However, I have another job and I can't do everything. So, I really think that I will step down at the end of the year."

Wonder who will replace Luca in FOTA. Certainly not the Flav or Ron 'Integrity' Dennis.

[Dazed1]

I'm not quite sure what that is supposed to represent..

Small pointy butts?

[Redliner]

Small pointy butts?

puckered a-hole!

I don't know if FOTA has much presence anymore...they were about the mftgs. Now that they're all gone...

[_R_]

I don't know if FOTA has much presence anymore...they were about the mftgs. Now that they're all gone...

I'm not sure there was a point to FOTA at all after seeing how powerless they really were last season...
the idea was there, but the FIA and FOM didn't really see them as anything... kinda like let them play in the sand box and pretend they have some control type thing...

[Redliner]

How do you guys feel about all the new F1 teams coming in? Is it good that independent teams that exist only to race are now racing? Or is it better that we have the mftgs that are in the sport for the money?

I mean, we went from teams that have history in F1 to teams that have zero history whatsoever and quite honestly, I don't know how I feel about everything...sure every team had to start somewhere and Williams/McLaren were independent teams too but these new teams feel empty to me (Campos/Manor/USF1).

Everything just seems so volatile to me and we're racing now with teams that I'm unsure will enhance or hurt the image of F1. If it'll benefit the sport as a whole...I just don't feel any connection to these new teams at all. Hopefully i'm wrong and I'll warm up to these teams later on but I can't help but miss the mftgs a little bit right now

[DrDickAction]

Better than the alternative I suppose. It has certainly made for some interesting story lines anyways.

I think 2 issues are being mixed here though. Big teams leaving = bad. New teams = good. It just so happens that both are happening at the same time. If toyota and bmw had stayed, and it was only USF1 and Manor coming on board, I don't think anyone would be concerned.

Can these teams stick around and help to solidify the sport? I sure hope so.

I'd rather see a grid with 13 teams, 5 of which are fighting for their very survival, then 8 or 9 big bloated teams.

[Dr. Jimmmah!]

How do you guys feel about all the new F1 teams coming in? Is it good that independent teams that exist only to race are now racing? Or is it better that we have the mftgs that are in the sport for the money?

I mean, we went from teams that have history in F1 to teams that have zero history whatsoever and quite honestly, I don't know how I feel about everything...sure every team had to start somewhere and Williams/McLaren were independent teams too but these new teams feel empty to me (Campos/Manor/USF1).

Everything just seems so volatile to me and we're racing now with teams that I'm unsure will enhance or hurt the image of F1. If it'll benefit the sport as a whole...I just don't feel any connection to these new teams at all. Hopefully i'm wrong and I'll warm up to these teams later on but I can't help but miss the mftgs a little bit right now

I'm all for independent teams, but unfortunately it has been the norm in recent years to buy/build a F1 team that often doesn't last very long and ends up being sold/closed without much to show for. The only real exceptions have been Red Bull and FI, which are backed by wealthy billionaires who are willing to throw their own money into the pot. Teams that are backed by investment corporations tend to drop like flies once they realize F1 is not a good place to invest if you want to see a profit. It results in F1 constantly being under jeopardy, and the business drama takes away from the racing/technological aspects of the sport that I hold so dear. In that sense I'd rather manufacturers in the sport than these independent teams. But if it takes a bunch of little one-and-done teams to fill the grid then I'll take it over nothing.

[Redliner]

I'm all for independent teams, but unfortunately it has been the norm in recent years to buy/build a F1 team that often doesn't last very long and ends up being sold/closed without much to show for. The only real exceptions have been Red Bull and FI, which are backed by wealthy billionaires who are willing to throw their own money into the pot. Teams that are backed by investment corporations tend to drop like flies once they realize F1 is not a good place to invest if you want to see a profit. It results in F1 constantly being under jeopardy, and the business drama takes away from the racing/technological aspects of the sport that I hold so dear. In that sense I'd rather manufacturers in the sport than these independent teams. But if it takes a bunch of little one-and-done teams to fill the grid then I'll take it over nothing.

The irony is that mftgs have been almost as foolish as those independent teams. I mean the drama recently has been focused around the mftgs, hasn't it?

[DrDickAction]

It's official :

Kimi Raikkonen will not be in Formula 1 in 2010. Steve Robertson, one of his management, told the Finnish newspaper Turun Sanomat on Tuesday that negotiations for a drive with McLaren were over.

Raikkonen may try to come back again in 2011 when there will be other drives available, possibly at Red Bull Racing. Robertson told the newspaper that Raikkonen will do some rallying next year and may race in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The news could be interpreted as confirmation that Jenson Button has a deal with McLaren, but it is hard to imagine that Brawn would be happy with Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg, neither of whom has won a race. It still makes so much more sense for Button to stay at Brawn and Heidfeld join Hamilton at McLaren.

Mercedes has just splashed out to buy a top Formula 1 team and it is hard to imagine that it will allow the World Champion to walk away over a few million dollars.

http://www.grandprix...ns/ns21984.html

[draobpi]

Goodbye Kimi. Goodbye F1 (and your drama).

WRC will surely be awesome now.

Does anyone have that article from Autosport about how that editor wrote WRC is coming up in the ranks now?

[yonson]

It's official :



http://www.grandprix...ns/ns21984.html

I saw this earlier but refused and still refuse to believe/post it...

[DrDickAction]

I saw this earlier but refused and still refuse to believe/post it...

The conjecture about him rallying for RB then maybe coming back to replace webbo in '11 is pretty .

[vietlol]

but it is hard to imagine that Brawn would be happy with Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg, neither of whom has won a race

why does every website post this? Button hasnt won shit before this year except lucking into a win in 06 then spending 2 years fighting for last place with boobens, now he finally gets a dominant car and suddenly he is some sort of driving god? I swear the journos are retarded

[kngrsll]

he should go to the new merc team

[DrDickAction]

why does every website post this? Button hasnt won shit before this year except lucking into a win in 06 then spending 2 years fighting for last place with boobens, now he finally gets a dominant car and suddenly he is some sort of driving god? I swear the journos are retarded

Because they're british.

[vietlol]

well...so long kimi you had an offer and you didnt take it

shinigami suicide watch

[vietlol]

oh almots forgot, this means that the Bearded one is now guaranteed a drive at macca or merc since only Button is faffing about


excellent

[Dazed1]

Goodbye Kimi. Goodbye F1 (and your drama).

WRC will surely be awesome now.

Does anyone have that article from Autosport about how that editor wrote WRC is coming up in the ranks now?

Now to find the wrc schedule and make sure I can set it on scheduled recordings

[_R_]

about the new teams: as long as it's not like Jag, I mean Spyker, I mean FI... then I'm okay with it... I want long term stuff not a couple teams having a budget for a couple seasons then selling themselves to the next highest bidder... if that's what it comes down to, I'm done with F1...

about kimi: oh well Vettel now has my full backing with Senna as my backup... good luck kimi with whatever you do next...

[chiuey]

F1 is quickly turning into a "batshit insane, attention whoring, needy girlfriend"

But it's the only competitive sport that I watch at all these days so

[_R_]

F1 is quickly turning into a "batshit insane, attention whoring, needy girlfriend"
But it's the only competitive sport that I watch at all these days so

you should take a look at MotoGP...
close racing, racing personalities, no real off track drama, great fan interaction...
everything F1 should be...

if you can get Catalunya race of this season... that's a good starting point... epic battle...

[yonson]

you should take a look at MotoGP...
close racing, racing personalities, no real off track drama, great fan interaction...
everything F1 should be...

if you can get Catalunya race of this season... that's a good starting point... epic battle...

MotoGP is VERY fun to watch, hell even my Mom seems to enjoy watching it!

I'm still not believing anything about Kimi till he tweets about it...

[More&Faster]

well...so long kimi you had an offer and you didnt take it

shinigami suicide watch

[More&Faster]

friendly update: james allen is running a contest on his blog where if you name the same best drivers of the season as him, he'll send you a free signed copy of his book. takes just a minute to post up.

the most popular lineup seems to be button, hamilton, boobens, vettel, and webber. just happens that's what i went with too.

http://www.jamesallenonf1.com/

[chiuey]

you should take a look at MotoGP...
close racing, racing personalities, no real off track drama, great fan interaction...
everything F1 should be...

if you can get Catalunya race of this season... that's a good starting point... epic battle...

I tried before, I'm just not into bikes.