Modern day Fun 1 watchers will be horrified with the idea that Mr Mosley went to Ferrari to discuss the new ideas he had before going to the full meeting at Monaco. We'll soon hear all about The Red Team wrote the new regs!
Students of Fun 1 History will of course, realise that Mr Mosely is just doing what Ballastere never fully realised in the F1CA FOCA wars of the 70s and 80s. If you thought the pin pricks this year were bad you really need to find out why only Tyrell and Ferrari drove at Imola 1982 and everyone else stayed at home to watch Villeneuve and Pironi.
In those days there were the Manufacturers (eg Renault) and the Independents (Williams et al). And they fought tooth and nail over everything. Skirts on cars, Fuel Cocktails, water cooled brakes, suction fans. But one team never declared sides, and decided on issue as it saw fit. One week they supported at F1CA idea, the next their full weight was behind FOCA.
This team was the balance of power, and by ensuing it was neither with one side or the other, it could influence everything to their best effect. Because without them on board, a breakway championship would fail.
That Enzo Ferrari was a good poker player...
Posted by Ewan at May 5, 2024 10:30 AM