Ecclestone warns Ferrari of legal action

[John S]

Bernie is getting the big stick out to help Max out.

Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has hinted that Ferrari could face legal action if it walks away from the sport at the end of this year.

Ahead of crunch talks between teams and FIA president Max Mosley in Monaco today, Ecclestone has upped the ante by suggesting that Ferrari would be in breach of contract if it did not enter F1 in 2010.

It comes after a French court ruled this week that agreements in place between Ferrari, Ecclestone and the FIA, which locked the team into F1 until 2012, were valid.

Ecclestone told The Times newspaper that he was in no doubt that Ferrari had a commitment to be in F1.

"We would always respect our contracts," Ecclestone said. "And all the teams that have signed contracts with us would expect us to respect them, and we would expect the same from Ferrari. They are saying they are going to walk, we are saying we hope they respect their contract."

There are also suggestions that Ecclestone has written to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo telling him that television rights money paid to the team, believed to be worth hundreds of millions of pounds, may have to be returned if the team breaks its contract.

By Jonathan Noble, Today autosport.com

[Dare]

If that's the case why didn't they go after
Honda when they quit?

[Ian]

Threat and counter threat Dare, Max and Bernie will lose too much money if they all pull out, and the teams have already probably spent millions on R+D for next season, there will be a compromise, after all £40m is a bit low.

[Alianora La Canta]

They didn't go after Honda because Brawn should have had its entry if the FIA had followed their own rules of succession. Team transfers have never been subject to penalties, so all Ferrari would have to do is give their entry to a paper tiger and they'd be off the hook.

[Jericoke]

If that's the case why didn't they go after
Honda when they quit?

Well, Ferrari's court case was based on the fact they had a separate contract, giving them veto power.  Surely Ferrari is required to do something (i.e., be part of F1 for a duration) in order to get this veto power.

I'm guessing Honda had no such contract.

The teams have been racing on a year by year arrangement since Concorde expired, haven't they?

[lkjohnson1950]

I think this shows that Bernie is finally getting worried because the teams haven't cracked as they have always done in the past. No doubt he will put a flea in Max's ear and try to budge him on the cap. Even so, if the teams leave, I wonder if Bernie can afford court costs to go after them all.

Lonny

[Alianora La Canta]

Technically speaking, Concorde applies until an equivalent new contract is signed, otherwise the FIA technically has no power over F1 whatsoever. However, the FIA have ignored this and therefore would have been unable to stop Honda from leaving F1 whenever it likes. In theory a team could even quit between races without sanction because it's only the Concorde Agreement that bans multiple races from being missed in a season.

[Number 38]

F1 is political SPORT .......... with some motor racing thrown in on weekends.

Hasn't the previous 'Concorde agreement' EXPIRED ...... does any of it really apply AFTER the end date? Aren't the teams VOLUNTEERILY following the agreement pending the new one? I hate to see Ferrari go but question if they can be required to stay? If they were bankrupt ala Super Aguri there'd be no fuss. And I hear no such threats from the supremo about others leaving....... hmmm?

[Steven Roy]

On TV Bernie said that if Ferrari quit they would not be eligible for this year's TV money.  So all the talk of law suits is just his usual bull.  It just means that he is money grabbing as usual

[Jericoke]

On TV Bernie said that if Ferrari quit they would not be eligible for this year's TV money.  So all the talk of law suits is just his usual bull.  It just means that he is money grabbing as usual

At least we always know where Bernie stands!

[Alianora La Canta]

Number 38, there is a clause in the 1998-2007 Concorde Agreement (at least from what I've heard) to the effect that in the absence of a replacement agreement of a similar nature, it continues to apply. No replacement agreement has been made, therefore it continues to apply.

Steven, Bernie is speaking the truth. TV money only vests at the end of the year following the year in which it was earned. Though Bernie is probably money-grabbing as well.

[cosworth151]

At least we always know where Bernie stands!

But it's still very hard to tell when he's standing! 

[Scott]

At least we always know where Bernie stands!

But it's still very hard to tell when he's standing! 

Or where, if he is in a crowd.   

[Ian]

If he's in a crowd, hopefully the tallest person you can see is standing on him. 

[Chameleon]

Tsk tsk, to pick on someone for so small a matter.  Especially a person of such stature in F1 as Bernie who dwarfs those around him.  Well, his bank account does.  It's a minor issue anyway, without the weight to concern those of higher intellect.  Far be it from us to minimise the tiny details of the sport; we should shrink from so small-minded a policy.  Let us not ignore the lower forms of motor sport, the midget races and so on - it would be s-elfish of us to claim greater insight from some imagined and lofty height.  Remember that economising is the important subject of today and, while Max may be economical with the truth, no one surpasses Bernie with his excellent saving of space.  We should aspire to greater things than the belittling of one so challenged and appreciate the fact that Bernie stands closer to hallowed ground than any of us.  Let's be kind to the stunted little bastard and only talk about his hairstyle.