The Price of Success
In the “stick & ball” sports success breds a mass exodus of players in both monetary poaching by other teams, or players just moving on for a variety of reasons. The recent success of the Boston Red Sox is a prime example. All have proclaimed the “Ruth hex” is dead. The loss of players to other teams willing to pay more for their services argue against that being true.
Formula One has had it’s share of drivers shifting teams or owners poaching drivers. The recent tussle over the rights to Jenson Button displays both forms of political and monetary infighting. As a result of Ferrari’s decision this week to remain with “Bernie’s boys” we see another price of success, F1’s version of Mutiny on the Bounty. It’s version is called, “Mutiny at Heathrow Hilton’s Jacuzzi.” It’s the story of the “principals’” attempting to do something lounging in 120 degree water they can’t do on the track, beat Ferrari:
(GMM — Jan.26) Ferrari, on Tuesday, were further isolated from their grand prix rivals at a principals’ meeting inside Heathrow Hilton (London).Not only did they shake hands on a 30-day test limit, a letter agreeing to leave Ferrari in the cold as the only team to (so far) sign Bernie Ecclestone’s new ‘Concorde,’ was signed.
They also asked FIA president Max Mosley to delay a planned Friday meeting, slated to discuss another radical overhaul for the technical code, including a tyre monopoly.
Among other proposed (by the FIA) changes are the elimination of telemetry, standard brakes, a mandatory engine rev-limiter and two-day GP format.
In the letter, it said teams need a few grands prix - maybe up to seven or eight - to first evaluate the 2005 regulation set.
Ferrari did not attend the meeting.
And why would Ferrari be consorting with a bunch of mutineers?
On second thought: It could also be a F1 version of Survivor, and Ferrari just got “voted off the island.”
UPDATE:
(GMM) Ferrari will not join every other F1 team in agreeing to limit testing to a 30-day programme in 2005, we can verify. Team spokesman Luca Colajanni said the scarlet marque would push ahead with their own 15,000km cap, to save around 3 million Euro.”We’re doing our own project,” he reiterated.
Minardi’s Paul Stoddart, though - after a landmark teams’ meeting west of London - warned Ferrari that going against a nine-team agreement is risking credibility.
”One day (Ferrari will) realise they can’t race against themselves,” said the Australian, the nominated spokesman. 50-year-old Paul Stoddart also confirmed that Ferrari had been invited to Heathrow, but failed to turn up.
What’s Italian for “Up yours!”
Cross posted @ SportsBlog
