Racing News Digest

I admit, I need a lot of education here because I simple do not follow the Formula One Series. As I get more and more into racing these past years, I will flip over and watch a Formula One race, but I don’t know and have not idea of the in’s and out’s of the competition, rules or even what it takes to make those cars go around the track. I simply watch to see some racing.

So PLEASE, leave comments and educate me. I am very interested.

So as you can imagine, I have no idea what is behind the “two-tier competition”. I understand what has been proposed. But I don’t understand what is behind it. I would assume like any other motor sport or any sport for that matter that money is at the top of the reasoning some how.

If I understand right FIA has decided to do something along the lines of voluntary spending cap by the teams. This cap would be set at $40 mil. and does not include drivers salaries and other items. If the teams follow the capping then they will have a lot more flexibility in what they can do with their cars. If they don’t follow the spending cap, then they will have stricter guidelines to follow.

This will basically split the field into 2 different cars. Those that have more freedom with their design and those that can spend lots of money but are stuck to stricter guideline. Leaving you with the 2 tier competition.

I really can not imagine why they would do this. Why not make the spending cap mandatory for everyone? Once again my puzzlement is probably due to a lack of education of F1.

It sounds like Ferrari said no. They will leave if this rule sticks around. HERE

If these indispensable principles are not respected and if the regulations adopted for 2010 will not change, then Ferrari does not intend to enter its cars in the next Formula One World Championship.

BMW-Sauber could decide not to compete in F1 in 2010. They don’t think a 2 class F1 is attractive at all.

Toyota, Red Bull, and Torro Rosso have all also not happy with the new regulation.

As I was writing this I saw another headline that Renault has now released a press statement that they will not return after the 2009 season in large part due to these regulation statement. HERE

I guess I just don’t understand why FIA (or is FOTA–lack of education here) is doing this if everyone is against it.

What will be left of F1 if all these teams pull out? Will more teams emerge? Is there a limit on the number of cars on a team like there is in NASCAR?

I know nothing about FIA, FOTA or Formula One, but I hate to see any racing series possibly disintegrate.

So help educate me!