Bernie Says!

[armin]

Bernie Ecclestone says F-1 Teams can miss up to three races a season. This is lookin more like NASCAR every year.I wouldn't doubt F-1 and NASCAR come to some agreement in future to trade drivers.

[RacerX]

Ridiculous...

As the global economy continues it's slide into oblivion, F1 is getting as desperate as everyone else these days. He will bend the rules for these new teams because he needs them desperately and he knows they won't be ready. He also knows that they won't be any good or any threat to anyone...ever!

My guess is that the established teams won't feel to good about this!

[Insighter]

Originally Posted by RacerX

My guess is that the established teams won't feel to good about this!

This isn't something that happened today, all teams agreed to it and it is on the Concorde agreement which was signed 6 months ago.

[skidmark]

I just wonder if Stephan GP will be allowed to run should any of the new entries not show up to the track.

[Insighter]

NEWS FLASH (FIA clarifies): http://fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pre...icipation.aspx

From a sporting and regulatory point of view, each Team that has registered for the Championship is obliged to take part in every event of the season. Any failure to take part, even for just one Championship event, would constitute an infringement both of the Concorde Agreement and the FIA Regulations.

So Bernie is full of it, or what?

Stefan GP reportly has shipped containers to Bahrain and Malaysia in order to be prepared to race those events, should they be allowed. Even though they haven't been given any guarantees.

[diamonddave]

if they miss the 1st or any...they shouldn't be able to race that year - imo

[Insighter]

The point of the rule is to prevent teams from 'cherry picking' races, deciding not to attend the more expensive venues. So I can see it being waived if a team is simply late getting started. But in general I agree with the rule, especially if there is a team waiting in the wings, ready to race and doesn't have a grid slot.