Formula One reaches agreement for the 2010 season

June 24, 12:25 PMFormula One ExaminerTerrence Connolly

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Common Sense Takes a Checkered Flag

In a surprising moment of common sense between massive egos, FIA President Max Mosley announced today that an agreement has been reached between the FIA and the FOTA teams for the 2010 season. The agreement will end the FOTA threat to create their own breakaway race series and F1 will continue under the 2009 rules without a two-tiered budget system that had been previously proposed by the FIA.

"There will be no split. We have agreed to a reduction of costs," said Mosley. "There will be one F1 championship but the objective is to get back to the spending levels of the early 90s within two years."

However, it appears that part of the reason for the agreement is that Max will no longer be involved with the FIA, he also made the following statement, "I will not be up for re-election, now we have peace."

F1's chief honcho Bernie Ecclestone seemed very pleased, as did Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo. Ecclestone said that he was "very happy common sense has prevailed" , while the Ferrari President, who is also the chief of FOTA ,said "I think the decisions we have shared this morning are important. We will have the rules of 2009, same rules for everybody. It means that we have stability."

So it is with a huge sigh of relief that the teams, drivers and fans can get back to the seriously fun business of trying to chase down the Brawns and Jenson Button for the World Driving Championship. I am amazed that this dispute seemed to get solved so soon after the British Grand Prix, with the German Grand Prix almost 3 weeks away, there was still plenty of time for the egos on all sides to grandstand and flaunt their complete disregard for the fans of F1. Somehow, common sense has prevailed, and with that every F1 fan can just settle back and enjoy the 9 remaining races in 2009 to see if Sebastian Vettel, Rubens Barrichello or possibly even Mark Webber can make Button sweat before he claims the World's Driver's Championship in 2009.

FIA Statment in full:

All currently competing teams have committed to the FIA Formula One World Championship.

There will be no alternative series or championship and the rules for 2010 onwards will be the 2009 regulations as well as further regulations agreed prior to 29 April 2009.

As part of this agreement, the teams will, within two years, reduce the costs of competing in the championship to the level of the early 1990s. The manufacturer teams have agreed to assist the new entries for 2010 by providing technical assistance.

The manufacturer teams have further agreed to the permanent and continuing role of the FIA as the sport’s governing body. They have also committed to the commercial arrangements for the FIA Formula One World Championship until 2012 and have agreed to renegotiate and extend this contract before the end of that period.

All teams will adhere to an upgraded version of the governance provisions of the 1998 Concorde Agreement.

The following teams have been accepted for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.

TEAM / CONSTRUCTOR
SCUDERIA FERRARI MARLBORO / FERRARI
VODAFONE McLAREN MERCEDES / McLAREN MERCEDES
BMW SAUBER F1 TEAM / BMW SAUBER
RENAULT F1 TEAM / RENAULT
PANASONIC TOYOTA RACING / TOYOTA
SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO / STR TBA
RED BULL RACING / RBR TBA
AT&T WILLIAMS / WILLIAMS TOYOTA
FORCE INDIA F1 TEAM / FORCE INDIA MERCEDES
BRAWN GP FORMULA ONE TEAM / BRAWN TBA
CAMPOS META TEAM / CAMPOS COSWORTH
MANOR GRAND PRIX / MANOR COSWORTH
TEAM US F1 / TEAM US F1 COSWORTH

In view of this new agreement and with the prospect of a stable future for Formula One, FIA President Max Mosley has confirmed his decision not to stand for re-election in October this year.