FOTA chose breakaway series!!

guugoo · Post by **guugoo** » 18 Jun 2009, 23:10

wow...didnt think this would happen...but they chose breakaway series...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76292

Popi_Larrauri · Post by **Popi_Larrauri** » 18 Jun 2009, 23:27

guugoo wrote:wow...didnt think this would happen...but they chose breakaway series...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76292

Oh... Damn them all! 60 years of tradition going down the drain.

An interesting case of self-destruction. Ok people, lets site authors choses a different sport and let's head that way. I propose Chess, but It could be soccer, since 2010 is world cup year.

Pilates?

PS: I go 10 to 1 that Sutil checkmates Button in Blitz.

Pedro_Diniz · Post by **Pedro_Diniz** » 18 Jun 2009, 23:49

Wow, I didn't think they'd go through with it... I'm not sure how I should feel, to be honest.

Life w12 · Post by **Life w12** » 19 Jun 2009, 00:00

It's like 1979 all over again

rffp · Post by **rffp** » 19 Jun 2009, 00:10

I thought they had the conditions to set up a breakaway series, but I imagined they would compromise to avoid a costly war of attrition that will begin. This is bad and crowns Max Mosley as ROTY of 2009 already! Will Le Mans become the top series in the future? Or Superleague?

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 19 Jun 2009, 00:14

I remain convinced that a FOTA series would be doomed to failure, and sincerly hope this is nothing more than an atempt to scare the FIA.

guugoo · Post by **guugoo** » 19 Jun 2009, 00:16

i will be watching N(ew)F1 when it starts. screw MM and BE. NF1rejects.com url squatting time. then sell it for one meeelion daalars. *raising pinky finger to mouth*

rffp · Post by **rffp** » 19 Jun 2009, 00:30

Captain Hammer wrote:I remain convinced that a FOTA series would be doomed to failure, and sincerly hope this is nothing more than an atempt to scare the FIA.

I really hope you are right and that FOTA is only playing chicken with FIA.

How fast will occur this failure? 1 year? 5 years? A decade? IRL vs. CART showed that two leagues can't co-exist for too long, but even if the FOTA championship is doomed, they will inflict heavy damage on F-1. If both Ferrari and McLaren join these breakaway series, then I believe we will be heading towards a long war.

LukeB · Post by **LukeB** » 19 Jun 2009, 00:33

Captain Hammer wrote:I remain convinced that a FOTA series would be doomed to failure, and sincerly hope this is nothing more than an atempt to scare the FIA.

I don't doubt they've managed to make the FIA crap it's collective pants. FOTA have apprently just gone all-in and I sincerely doubt the FIA can affored to risk calling them on it, they'll be forced to fold instead.
Now can Max hold onto his job....

StoneColdSpider · Post by **StoneColdSpider** » 19 Jun 2009, 00:37

oh snap.... i hope Captin Hammer is right... i hope this is just a scare tactic by FOTA......

deCrasheris · Post by **deCrasheris** » 19 Jun 2009, 00:47

i just hope this is a bluff by FOTA and they don't go through with this. Just look back at CART and the IRL split just to see how one powerful series could turn into two mediocre series (eventhough CART from 1996 to 2000 was good racing) and then eventually reunite into one mediocre series 13 years later with spec cars that are ugly, spec engines that don't have enough bhp and sound like a swarm of bees, and a bunch of pay drivers in seats while drivers with more talent but less money are on the outside looking in.

Chilled Phill · Post by **Chilled Phill** » 19 Jun 2009, 00:57

I get the feeling this is just a bluff.

But considering today, Friday, that the conditions of those "bad" teams have to be taken off or else then I doubt it isn't a bluff.

F1 should be taking a stance like they do in Le Mans. Manufacturers come and go, even Ferrari (unless I get corrected, of course), but no manufacturer is bigger than the event itself. The fact that Ferrari has been allowed to do so is both the FIA and Formula One's fault and I would certainly watch both series if I could, although it will be interesting to see if there will be any "accidental" meeting clashes and also broadcasting rights as well. Please god, don't let ITV get their hands on them... :cry:

BB01 · Post by **BB01** » 19 Jun 2009, 01:15

Chilled Phill wrote:I get the feeling this is just a bluff.

But considering today, Friday, that the conditions of those "bad" teams have to be taken off or else then I doubt it isn't a bluff.

F1 should be taking a stance like they do in Le Mans. Manufacturers come and go, even Ferrari (unless I get corrected, of course), but no manufacturer is bigger than the event itself. The fact that Ferrari has been allowed to do so is both the FIA and Formula One's fault and I would certainly watch both series if I could, although it will be interesting to see if there will be any "accidental" meeting clashes and also broadcasting rights as well. Please god, don't let ITV get their hands on them...

Why do you single out Ferrari?

SuperAguri · Post by **SuperAguri** » 19 Jun 2009, 01:21

It's likely to be a high stakes poker bluff, when the FIA wanted to introduce V8 3.5L engines for the 1989 season, senior Ferrari would have none of it and got Gustav Brunner to design an Indycar in late 1986. Threatening to leave F1 if there wasn't a V12. Ferrari got his way.

If there is a breakaway series, all the F1 teams would have Cosworth engines and Williams would win the 2010 championship... the breakaway series would probably get Prodrive and Lola to come in. Who knows maybe Paul Stoddard would being Minardi back?

I think one of the differences between CART and Indycar was the fact that Indycar still had the Indy 500 and even the big CART teams wanted to race in the Indy 500. CART collapsed due to pisspoor management, losing too many big teams back to Indycar and Indycar having the stronger hand.

A split would be bad, but I can see the following happening.

Max holding his ground
Max threatening to sue Ferrari and Red Bull
Bernie threatening to sue FOTA
Max coming under more pressure from the FIA
Bernie retiring
Max retiring
Paul Stoddard putting his name forward to be head of the FIA
PS getting elected
The FOTA teams rejoin the F1 championship after PS allows the FOTA proposals to become part of the concorde agreement
Grid expanded to 16 teams
Minardi come back into F1 after buying back Toro Rosso.

It could just what F1 needs.

Although even if it doesn't the FIA will find a way to get rid of Max and then beg the breakaway teams to come back for 2011...

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 19 Jun 2009, 01:52

deCrasheris wrote:i just hope this is a bluff by FOTA and they don't go through with this. Just look back at CART and the IRL split just to see how one powerful series could turn into two mediocre series (eventhough CART from 1996 to 2000 was good racing) and then eventually reunite into one mediocre series 13 years later with spec cars that are ugly, spec engines that don't have enough bhp and sound like a swarm of bees, and a bunch of pay drivers in seats while drivers with more talent but less money are on the outside looking in.

I do hope so. Everyone is bound to be conscious of the consequences of the IRL/CART debacle. But I'm beginning to think that what the FIA were saying about factions with FOTA may actually be true. Renault were widely tipped to be departing this season, and now on two occasions FOTA have met on Renault territory - first on Briatore's private yacht in Monaco and now at Enstone - and both times the negotiations have gone badly. I can't help but think Renault may be trying to blunten the impact uon themselves by taking as many other teams with them, but that may be my personal distates of Flavio Briatore showing through.

Pepys · Post by **Pepys** » 19 Jun 2009, 02:20

Why would a FOTA series have to be a bad thing? The manufacturers have all the real power, they have the real money. A FOTA series would make the FIA series look second-rate immediately. FOTA would simply become F1. They'd probably be a lot easier to deal with than Bernie and Max, who seem to care about their own personal glory above all else.

A series without Bernie and Max leaves hope for a series run with the intelligence of some of the world's other top class sports associations.

Gumby · Post by **Gumby** » 19 Jun 2009, 02:41

I've just finished reading the FOTA statement... I found it exciting !! They propose all the things that F1 used to stand for... The best manufacturers, drivers, sponsors and circuits in the world - The BEST competition in the world. All with a lower entry price for us supporters !! In short - FOTA propose a series which is the direct opposite of what Bernie and Max are giving us !! Yaaay

I just hope they can stay together and make it happen.

Cheers G

P.S. I'd be glad to see the return of "beautiful" cars to F1. This years cars are the most ugly i have ever seen competing in the highest level of motorsport.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 19 Jun 2009, 02:48

You know, I've just noticed something: twice now the negotiations have looked to be shaping up to a real resolution, and on both occasions things have fallen through and gotten worse. The one thing in common is that FOTA met on Renault's territory on both occasions. Firstly, in Monaco, they met on Braitore's yacht. Now, at Silverstone, they met at Renault's base of operations in Enstone.

Now, maybe I'm just losing my grip on reality, because I don't want this split to happen. And maybe I'm just letting my personal dislike of Flavio Briatore get in the way. But Renault were widely believd to be preparing for an exit from the sport this season, and it woul be pretty embarrassing for them if they elft but everyone else stayed the course. And Briatore has screwed over a lot of people in his time: Eddie Jordan, Dave Richards, Jenson Button and now Nelson Piquet. I wouldn't be too surprised if he convinced FOTA to break away simply so that he could stay in the sport under the banner of a FOTA series and save face while leaving the FIA championship.

LukeB · Post by **LukeB** » 19 Jun 2009, 03:11

Man, you gotta love the optimism people have about this.
"Wow, a bunch of rich guys backed by massive manufactures for whom racing is a marketing exercise, who have never agreed to anything ever, and have played their part in all the problems F1 has are coming together to start their own racing series? IT'LL TOTALLY BE AWESOME! Plus they say it'll be cheap and good, as opposed to announcing it'll be expensive and rubbish! Also, they have this bridge they want to sell me..."

Meh, maybe it'll happen, maybe it will be awesome. Or maybe, just maybe, if it does happen they'll go running off to the four corners of the globe chasing money and letting the sport stagnate relying on a lack of competition to keep them on top. We can call it F1 2: Electric Boogaloo.

Cynon · Post by **Cynon** » 19 Jun 2009, 03:37

I'd watch both series, the only problem is that one of them likely won't get any damn coverage in the States! :[

You heard it here first -- FIA and FOTA championships take over and the WTCC comes out of nowhere and steals the spotlight on the world stage.

F1 will have some interesting names on the entry list -- sort of like the IRL in 1996-1999. I like to see a ton of fresh new faces and see what they can do (or can't do! The CART/IRL split got Jack Miller and Shigeaki Hattori into racing -- arguably the most pathetic drivers in American racing history...). FOTAF1 on the other hand will have the stars and cars -- a la CART in 1996-1999 (and quite possibly with the same epic fails like the start of the first US 500...). Open wheel drivers in this time period will find it hard to make their careers respected, like Jimmy Vasser, Buddy Lazier, and guys like them...

eytl · Post by **eytl** » 19 Jun 2009, 04:53

Let me join the chorus of people hoping that this is just the biggest bluff in a high-stakes game of poker.

If not, it is a monumentally sad day for F1.

Just when it looks like Max was prepared to bow to all of FOTA's initial demands ($100M budget cap for starters, no two-tier system), FOTA does this. They've gone from wanting changes to the rules, to changes about the governance of F1. FOTA have kept changing the goalposts, and I think neutral observers can see that. And they don't like it. FOTA have no higher moral ground than the FIA does.

If the breakaway happens, I think FOTA are terribly misguided if they think, just by having most of the current players, they will win over the fans. Everyone uses CART/IRL as an example because it's true. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Neither side will win. Some other racing category stands to benefit big time.

Just think, what are FOTA's 'selling points'? To critique a few ...

"We took the fight up against the evil, arbitrary governance of the FIA." How many fans out there are directly affected by the way the FIA runs the sport to care about this one little bit? Indeed, FOTA look more like a bunch of hissy-fitting teenagers.

"We fought against the commercial rights holder who hasn't given us our fair share." Again, how many fans out there care?

"We are the big traditional names." Ferrari and maybe McLaren aside, tell me, how many rabid Toyota, Renault, BMW Sauber fans are out there? Passionate support for most of the FOTA teams is sorely lacking.

"We will have lower ticket prices." Oh yes, the man on the street REALLY trusts big multinational corporations. Most casual fans know that the manufacturers are trying to flog cars, and Red Bull are trying to flog dodgy energy drinks. And of course none of them are out to make money, are they?

"We will do more for the fans." OK, so paddock access for all instead of your corporate VIPs and commercial partners? When hell freezes over.

And then what about circuit deals? Yes F1 has moved away from its European heartland, but this has been by process of slow evolution which means that the calendar still carries a traditional shape - e.g. Australasian flyaways, then Spain/Monaco, Britain/Germany mid-year, Spa/Monza at the end of the Euro leg, flyaways to finish. A completely different shape to a calendar will be hard for fans to accept. Plus non-European countries e.g. Australia will never be able to afford two races in two different series. It's just not commercial. Frankly, how many European countries could afford it either?

And then there are TV deals. F1 has a global reach in terms of TV broadcasting. A new series will need to strike up deals from scratch. Smaller markets (again e.g. Australia) will hardly have enough broadcasters to televise both series, and it is unlikely that one single broadcaster will fork out twice.

So the reality is, the fans get short-changed, getting either one half-baked series or another half-baked series. If they get a choice between the two, people are too busy to follow two separate series. So both will lose their followings.

Stupid.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 19 Jun 2009, 05:38

eytl wrote:Just when it looks like Max was prepared to bow to all of FOTA's initial demands ($100M budget cap for starters, no two-tier system), FOTA does this. They've gone from wanting changes to the rules, to changes about the governance of F1. FOTA have kept changing the goalposts, and I think neutral observers can see that. And they don't like it. FOTA have no higher moral ground than the FIA does.

For me, the most telling thing - and, ironically enough, the most under-reported - was the FIA's willingness to abandon Appendix 5 of the 2010 regulations. For those who don't know what that is, it was an addendum to the regulations that basically gave the FIA the unconditional power to change the rules as it saw fit. Max was willing to sacrifice it to keep FOTA on-board. It's strange to me that just hours after Mosley sent that letter and with no response from FOTA, they take the drastic step of doing an about-face. I can understand that they might be upset over Cosworth being allowed to run unlimited engines and the deadline remaining in place, but the FIA gave two very good reasons for that: Cosworth couldn't change their design in time, and the FIA had to honour its other obligations to the unsuccessful applicant teams. Even with those in place, the removal of the two-tier system, the increased budgt cap and the abandoning of Appendix 5 should have been more than enough to coax FOTA around. There's not much I wouldn't give to have been a fly on the wall at Enstone. Something changed, and if this is deadly serious, it was something dramatic that we never heard about until now.

eytl wrote:If the breakaway happens, I think FOTA are terribly misguided if they think, just by having most of the current players, they will win over the fans. Everyone uses CART/IRL as an example because it's true. Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Neither side will win. Some other racing category stands to benefit big time.

I don't think FOTA will survive on their own because they don't have enough teams to match the FIA. There has been talk that some of the bigger teams could run three cars, but what happens when we have a return to the bad old days of 2004? Would anyone seriously watch races where the podium was consistently locked out by one team? It's bad enough that people complain about Button being the only man capable of winning; if ever three people from the one team became a common sight, I think fans would lose their patience.

eytl wrote:And then what about circuit deals? Yes F1 has moved away from its European heartland, but this has been by process of slow evolution which means that the calendar still carries a traditional shape - e.g. Australasian flyaways, then Spain/Monaco, Britain/Germany mid-year, Spa/Monza at the end of the Euro leg, flyaways to finish. A completely different shape to a calendar will be hard for fans to accept. Plus non-European countries e.g. Australia will never be able to afford two races in two different series. It's just not commercial. Frankly, how many European countries could afford it either?

I'm pretty sure that after the failed GPWC breakaway of 2004, Bernie Ecclestone would have moved to prevent all the current circuits from ever hosting a round of a top-class open-wheel racing series.

Jordan192 · Post by **Jordan192** » 19 Jun 2009, 05:41

It's all going to hinge on the next 12 hours. Either Max backs down on the entry deadline, and the negotiations can continue, or 5 more applicant teams are allowed in and legal proceedings begin against Ferrrari and Red Bull/Toro Rosso

As much as I desperately want to believe this is a bluff, an announcement of that sort of scale isn't something you can readily back down from.

Edit:
On the Renault link: Maybe this isn't about Flavio's spite (which we saw earlier this year was pretty substantial), but more about survival. If Renault are that unlikely to continue next year with F1, maybe he sees a breakaway as the only way to keep Renault on board a few more years?

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 19 Jun 2009, 05:47

Max can't back down on the deadline. He promised the potential 2010 candiates currently waiting on standby that he would tell them by this Friday.

In his letter to FOTA, he suggested that all teams sign on to the 1998 Concorde Agreement for a few extra months to allow time for a new one to be made. This was to protect them in the event that negotiations fell through; everything would simply revert back to the way it has been so that the teams don't lose out. It's really quite a sensible way forward, and quite funny actually, because until now everyone thought Max was looking to drive them away, but here he is saying they will be protected.

thehemogoblin · Post by **thehemogoblin** » 19 Jun 2009, 05:50

And on a day with an unparalleled F1 controversy about to come down to its deadline, it is also the four year anniversary of the 2005 United States Grand Prix debacle.

Just saying that today should be a wild ride, but it'll eventually end up with a few cars doing their own thing and calling it F1, while all of the other teams protest on the side.

StoneColdSpider · Post by **StoneColdSpider** » 19 Jun 2009, 06:07

well i guess both partys get what they want....

FOTA get the govenence they want when they run there own series and Max will get a good nights sleep not having to worry about FOTA stealing his power....

Jordan192 · Post by **Jordan192** » 19 Jun 2009, 06:08

Captain Hammer wrote:Max can't back down on the deadline. He promised the potential 2010 candiates currently waiting on standby that he would tell them by this Friday.

And FOTA will no doubt be well aware of that. Max's two options are either to slip the deadline - at which point FOTA wins because the remaining applicant teams won't hang around forever, leaving the FIA without a bargaining position, or to nail the coffin down and stick to the deadline and finally reject the FOTA conditional entries.

I don't know which way he'll go, and to be honest, I'm terrified.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 19 Jun 2009, 06:38

Or, alternatively, hw could tell the waiting teams not to wait any longer because the FIA intends to work wih FOTA to try and bring them back together.

Paul Hayes · Post by **Paul Hayes** » 19 Jun 2009, 07:11

They can't possibly let this happen. They've got to find some way of pulling it back from the brink!

I cannot believe both FOTA and the FIA have been so stupid as to allow it to go this far.

Debaser · Post by **Debaser** » 19 Jun 2009, 07:15

I'm not sure if FOTA are serious or if it is the ultimate bluff. Also the FOM sign all the contracts so they have to choose between the FIA and FOTA, and most of the contracts demand 20 cars on the grid. It makes no sense on either side, and I have a feeling the teams want more money and are using the cost cap to get that.

Captain Hammer · Post by **Captain Hammer** » 19 Jun 2009, 07:17

Four letters: GPWC.

Gumby · Post by **Gumby** » 19 Jun 2009, 07:21

You have to remember that the teams opposed Max being retained by the FIA as their leader... The teams were out voted by the well lobbied supporters of Mosely. So there is no love lost there. I'm saying that there is a strong under current of resentment for both Max and Bernie... I said it before - A new series would be wonderful. I bet both Max and Bernie are sitting quite uneasily at the moment

Debaser · Post by **Debaser** » 19 Jun 2009, 07:26

FOTA have no sponsors, no circuits, no broadcasting deals and no regulations for 2010, as the FOM sign all of those deals. And as them deals are mostly only in place if there are 20 cars on the grid, FOTA have 9 months to start up a whole new championship..which is almost impossible. I think this is be FOTA wanting more money from Bernie and the commercial side of the sport, I don't believe they'd start a new championship over regulation changes.

Jordan192 · Post by **Jordan192** » 19 Jun 2009, 07:44

Captain Hammer wrote:Or, alternatively, hw could tell the waiting teams not to wait any longer because the FIA intends to work wih FOTA to try and bring them back together.

Isn't that the same thing, though? if the FIA go back to FOTA without the capability to put on a series without them, there's not really any negotiation to be entered into.
Granted, it does annoy the pending applicant teams a bit less.

Yannick · Post by **Yannick** » 19 Jun 2009, 07:47

I just clicked on my preferred motorsport news site and the headline read (roughly translated) "Crazy: Pirate Series Resolved Upon"
My first reaction (translated) comes close to "Oy Vey" - German spelling "Oh Weia!"

It's not over yet, though. FIA is to present the final entry list for 2010 later today. Max can still accept the conditional entries and resign.

Kudos to Slavica Ecclestone for having seen it coming, and to Lola for withdrawing their intent to enter the FIA series in time.

And now: let's not talk about what the German press harmlessly calls the "budget dispute in Formula 1" anymore until after the British GP, shall we?

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 19 Jun 2009, 09:51

I'm glad I was sitting when I read this. It took me absolutely by surprise. I still believe there is no ground to do it, with no circuits, TV rights and whatnot; but it is high level bluff, Mutual Assured Destruction stuff: point the nukes at each other and swear to press the button if the other bugger does so.

As Yannick said, there seems to be a way:

Yannick wrote:It's not over yet, though. FIA is to present the final entry list for 2010 later today. Max can still accept the conditional entries and resign.

That might save it. However, this is a coup, an attempted regicide. This is a Regime Change. That's always a terrible risk, with unforeseen consequences.

This means next year the manufacturers run the show, either in their own series or in F1. I'm not so sure I want to see a manufacturer-run series. They'll be fighting each other soon, trying to stab the one with the best car all the time. If one of the manufacturers exits stage left - Renault, Toyota and BMW all seem shaky at the moment -, what's left?

I'm afraid I'm not optimistic at all. This has all the ingredients to become a catastrophe. Of course, said catastrophe could be avoided if anyone displays a modicum amount of sense. But, of course, so far no one has displayed any of it.

A final word for Williams and Force 1ndia: what a terrible mess you're in, boys. My two favourite teams on the grid. I'm gutted.

Jordan192 · Post by **Jordan192** » 19 Jun 2009, 10:02

Here's the two potential scenarios as far as I can see:

A) FIA climbdown, either by slipping the deadline, or outright turning away the remaining applicants to talk to FOTA. Max probably has to resign as a result.
FOTA win outright, cap gets scrapped, Campos, USF1, Manor don't make it to the grid next year as there's no way they can raise the funding needed to compete without the cap.
There are serious problems attracting new teams without the cap when the manufacturers who aren't winning start leaving, cap probably gets finally introduced sometime around 2014.

B) Remaining applicants on the list are allowed in, and the door closes, cap is introduced. There's 5 years of shambles, the FOTA series collapses when the manufacturers who aren't winning leave anyway, and no privateers will touch it due it costing 3x as much to do as F1. NASCAR becomes dominant form of motorsport worldwide.

Everybody loses! Hooray!

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 19 Jun 2009, 10:03

... and suddenly, everyone starts reconsidering their position:

Italian squad N.Technology has withdrawn its application to enter Formula 1 in 2010, AUTOSPORT can reveal.

N.Technology was one of several teams who were on the reserve list after not being included on the original one released last week by the FIA.

However, AUTOSPORT understands the team has decided to inform Formula 1's ruling body that it has withdrawn its application because the circumstances have changed since it applied and it no longer wants to be involved in a sport without the major manufacturers.

The move comes after the Formula One Teams' Association announced plans for a breakaway championship after failing to reach a compromise deal with the FIA.

from autosport (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76298)

Klon · Post by **Klon** » 19 Jun 2009, 10:14

rffp wrote:This is bad and crowns Max Mosley as ROTY of 2009 already!

Nonono, the only ones who get themselves ROTY for this stunt are the FOTA teams who willingly ignore the needs of a sensible sport and are the real egomainiacs in this story as they refuse to accept any of Mosley's more than acceptable offers which he's made lately. But I really want to believe that this is "just" a damn huge bluff.

CarlosFerreira · Post by **CarlosFerreira** » 19 Jun 2009, 10:18

Klon wrote:
rffp wrote:This is bad and crowns Max Mosley as ROTY of 2009 already!

Nonono, the only one who get themselves ROTY for this stunt, it's the FOTA teams who willingly ignore the needs of a sensible sport and are the real egomainiacs in this story as they refuse to accept any of Mosley's more than acceptable offers which he's made lately.

I'm closer to your opinion that rffp's, but I hesitate in thinking Max has been all that reasonable. He tried to push it in everyone's face, and only when the FOTA teams looked set to face him did he decide to try and negotiate. At best, the FIA and the FOTA all deserve to be vilified ex-aequo.