Toyota boss John Howett has warned Max Mosley that should the FIA decide to remain committed to a Specification engine model for F1 in 2010 and beyond; Toyota will leave the sport.It is understood that BMW, Honda, Mercedes, Ferrari and Renault have all shared a similar concern and reaction to the Spec Engine idea as floated by Mr. Mosley. Furthering the concept that the FIA’s relationship with the teams, now FOTA, is one of point-counterpoint or disjointed agreement at best.
It was suggested that Max is required to make large, sweeping changes in order to prompt the teams into action and then seek a common ground. Oddly, this seems a bit daft as negotiating can be done with less bravado and paper waste if both sides can check their pride, egos and wallets at the door. Irrespective of the issue of Spec Engines; I think the teams have called Max’s hand on this and trumped his put-up-or-shut-up method of negotiating. A sign that FOTA is working and may just start to affect this sport in a more meaningful and realistically prudent manner instead of the bleeding under the whimsical and pragmatic machinations of Mr. Mosley over the past decade.
UPDATED:
Ferrari, less than an hour after Toyota’s announcement to Autosport, fired a shot across the FIA’s bow today warning they would reconsider their involvement in F1 (they have been in F1 since 1950) should Max continue this charade of Spec engines. While McLaren may find that good news, the F1 world surely can see this for the warning…scratch that…the strong warning that F1 is in grave danger with Max at the helm of governance of F1.
Bernie has created commotion with his recent endorsement of Max and his negotiations with race tracks of late (Namely Canada) but unless he can reign in Max’s bizarre excersize in illogical pragmatism and legacy building; Bernie’s beloved sport may retire in the night and cease to see the light of day when markets stabilize.
“Whilst reiterating its wholehearted commitment to a substantial and needed reduction in costs in Formula One, starting with propulsion, the Ferrari Board of Directors expressed strong concerns regarding plans to standardise engines as it felt that such a move would detract from the entire raison of a sport with which Ferrari has been involved continuously since 1950, a raison d’etre based principally on competition and technological development,” said the statement.
“The Board of Directors expressed the opinion that should these key elements be diminished, it would have to re-evaluate, with its partners the viability of continuing its presence in the sport.”
