Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany leads the field into turn one at the start of the British Formula One Grand Prix at the Silverstone racetrack, in Silverstone, England, Sunday, June 21 2009. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
So Formula 1 is at peace, or so it seems. The breakaway threat lasted all of a week. The manufacturers have signed on and there will be only one series. But the same old hostilities are still bubbling away and it appears to be a very tenuous peace.
The compromise deal made sense for all. Max Mosley leaving his post in October was crucial to the compromise with FOTA as they could simply not work together.
Had Formula 1 finally applied some common sense to its dealings?
The peace didn’t last long.
Mosley, unhappy at being portrayed as a dictator and appearing to be pushed out, has threatened to reconsider his decision.
Like schoolboys arguing over who won an after school fight, this latest pickle is as childish as it gets.
To think this whole deal, made to save F1, could be scuppered by hurt feelings and how they are portraying one another to the media is perhaps the best indicator of how deluded they have truly become.
In the past week Formula 1 has been dragged through the mud in headlines across the globe.
How much more damage can be done for the sake of egos?
Last week eminent Formula 1 journalist Peter Windsor, on the Channel 10 coverage of the British Grand Prix, asked Red Bull team manager Chris Horner, if the breakaway happens, was he not concerned about leaving the heritage of the FIA Formula 1 series?
What heritage?
Classic venues have been dropped, the likes of the Canadian, French etc, iconic races that contributed much to the Formula 1 story.
The heritage remaining lies with the teams and their contribution to the sport.
Therefore the manufacturers have the power, as long as they stay united.
As Horner responded, would the same numbers watch the EPL if it wasn’t for the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and co?
Assuming the deal stands, there are still many questions left unanswered.
How will Mosley’s successor be welcomed into the Formula 1 paddock and will it really result in a more diplomatic FIA?
And what of the commercial side of the sport and more importantly, for us at least, the sports strenuous relationship with its fans?
They need to start getting something back.
Grandstand tickets are ludicrously overpriced, access to drivers, while improving, is still limited and the show the sport puts on on-track is not good, ignoring the off-track soap opera that rivals anything Neighbours can dish up.
Even the FOTA back down has raised the ire of some fans that thought this was the prime opportunity for the sport to start righting its wrongs, to start again from scratch on stronger foundations.
They were promised transparency, accountability, more equality in regulations, better racing and better television and Internet coverage.
FOTA should not stop working towards this goal despite the fact a deal has been done.
Encouragingly Flavio Briatore, the worldliest of F1 team bosses, will work in closer association with the commercial arm of the sport and he will be pushing Ecclestone for a greater share of the F1 revenue, over half of which leaves the sport.
But what emerges out of this deal remains to be seen and the fact is this peace is tenuous.
There are three distinct yet interrelated powers in Formula 1 at present.
They are the governing body, the FIA, the commercial rights holders, Formula 1 Management (FOM) led by Bernie Ecclestone and the manufacturers, united under the FOTA umbrella.
These are three distinct organisations, all with their own agendas, in a sport trying to balance the interests of manufacturers, teams, corporations, banks and fans.
Is it any wonder the sport is in a constant state of chaos?
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