The uneasy ‘truce' called between
F1 chiefs
Bernie Ecclestone and
Max Mosley already seems to be in danger of degenerating into open warfare once again, with the former ridiculing the latter's plans to resurrect the long-defunct Formula Two feeder series as of next year.
The announcement – made towards the end of last month [see separate story –
click here] – was initially seen as a means for Mosley to undermine his long-time friend and ally, with the pair of them continuing to do battle over the future of
Formula 1, in a fraught power struggle that is threatening to tear the sport apart.
Ecclestone was one of the two key driving forces, alongside
Renault F1 managing director Flavio Briatore, behind the launch of the GP2 Series – not officially sanctioned by the
FIA, of which Mosley is President – three years ago. Should it materialise, Formula Two would enter the fray in direct competition.
The sport's commercial rights-holder, however, has been dismissive in his reaction to Mosley's claim that a prospective campaign in Formula Two would cost as little as €200,000 per car.
“A season of karting costs more,” the 77-year-old scoffed in an interview with Germany's
Auto Motor und Sport magazine. “Maybe he will use lawnmower engines, but would that really be a feeder series for Formula 1?”
GP2 team bosses joined in Ecclestone's derision and disbelief, ridiculing suggestions that any professional racing team could operate a high-tech single-seater on such a comparatively paltry budget
“It's bullsh*t,” blasted one industry insider, speaking to
GPWeek. “Even if everyone worked for free and we set ourselves up as a registered charity, the team's travel expenses alone would be more than €200,000.”
Another insisted that Mosley and the FIA are ‘barking mad' if they honestly believe they can have the new series up and running by 2009, adding: “What they don't realise is that they're playing with our lives and our careers.”
