Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

And yet they still manage to bank roll Ferrari F1!

r32

Industrial debt, which excludes debt from financial services, soared to 5.9 billion euros ($7.66 billion) last year, shocking investors and sending shares in the maker of cars, trucks and tractors down 11.35 percent to 3.9450 euros at 1339 GMT, their lowest level in around 15 years.

'They are burning cash ... It's awful,' said one Milan broker.

They have (currently if its not withdrawn) access to 5.0Billion Euros of credit to allow them to continue in business..

Italy's Fiat SpA (Milan: F.MI - news) slashed its profit outlook for 2009 by about a third and revealed a debt pile three times its own forecasts, sending shares in Europe's sixth-biggest automaker nearly 12 percent lower.

Leslie

Thats a pity, there has been some very good racing especially recently. The new rules have lessened the aerodynamic effect of following another car. Its so happened that the Spanish track does not lend itself so much to close racing. Your bias is misplaced.

Don't think Ecclestone can have that much effect on individual results, but if he flogs off the British GP to some foreign country,he might be better off to stay out of the UK!

I fully expect McLaren and Ferrari to make more of a comeback eventually, but in the meantime I am enjoying the success of the other drivers and marques, especially Button of course who I have always reckoned to be a top driver.

Les

GC8WRX

I agree with your point of view, but to me, any sport that changes the rules constantly, and finds snide little reasons to dock points from other teams, just to let one team win is bollocks, once you get to this level, its 50 percent car and driver, 50 percent kick back to the men at the top for "helping" you out.

And if F1 loses its uk status, i hope you all stop watching it (which it will do, as ecclestone only cares about his kickbacks, not uk motor sport, and we werent willing to line his pockets or bow to his daft, expensive rule changes, so he will let it go as if to say "i am the all seeing all knowing F1 god, dare to challenge me and ill take your track away")

**** him and the sport, it will only get worse!

Leslie

I don't disagree with your first point, and that sort of thing is very bad for the sport.

As far as the next bit is concerned, motor racing has been a lifelong interest and F1 as the pinnacle is of extreme importance as far as i am concerned.

I feel that it is above the creepy management leader and the FIA man too in importance. They won't last for ever and in the meantime I will continue to follow it and patiently wait for better people to take over from them.

Les

jonc

No, not really, 5 races of which they've won 4 doesn't make a champion or season, there's plenty more races left on the calendar and with the rules cleared regarding diffuser design, the championship is still up for grabs as other teams catch up as refine their cars. It's nothing like watching Ferrari/Maclaren procession for the past several years.

Leslie

Good points jonc. But even when the others do catch up, if they do manage to beat the Brawns, with the lead Brawn have, and the fact that they should still be scoring points as well will still make for a close fight in the end.

It should make for a very interesting season, and there are no prizes for guessing who I support to win the Championship!

Les

RA Dunk

Force India?

Petem95

'Ferrari taking the FIA to court' - Planet-F1 News - from planet-f1.com

Sounds like this budget issue isn't going to get resolved in a hurry. F1 couldn't continue without the big teams like Ferrari, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull and Torra Rossa - who will all pull out if the 40mil budget cap comes into play.

I'm actually against a low budget cap, as F1 has always been a showcase for cutting edge technology - things like KERS is great IMO, as this is the sort of technology will end up on road cars (already used by BMW to an extent).

I think the outcome is going to be bye-bye Mosley - he seems totally unwilling to stand down, but I think he'll have to.

Prasius

iTrader: (1)

The budget cap is one of the few good ideas to have come out of the FIA of late. Big teams throwing huge sums of money and effectively buying the championship is exactly what has made it so bloody dull.

Adapt or die. By the sounds of it there will be plenty of smaller teams to take their place.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

The championship has gone to the wire for the last 3 seasons, but even leaving that aside how can a budget cap make it more exciting?

It isn't a budget cap that is needed, but a sensible review of the regulations. Max downforce limits, any engine config as long as it 2.4 litres, no diffusers to create dirty air etc. etc.

It's so simple it's almost embarrassing the FIA keep screwing it up.