F1 chief enchanted by opening weekend
Max Mosley believes Formula One is set for a great season, both on and off track.
Mosley, president of world governing body the FIA, expects a thrilling title battle after Renault’s Fernando Alonso edged out Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher in Bahrain yesterday.
The Englishman also predicted an imminent end to the row over Formula One’s future, with a deal to shape the sport from 2008 onwards looking increasingly likely.
Speaking after an exciting Bahrain Grand Prix weekend which saw four teams emerge as potential race winners, Mosley predicted one of Formula One’s most exciting season’s ever.
He said: “It was a great start. It’s probably the most promising start to a season we’ve had actually. I’m sure we’ll have several winners this season.
“What’s good is it’s not like Ferrari are miles in front of everybody. It’s obviously super-competitive.”
Honda lived up to their pre-season billing as victory challengers thanks to a battling drive from Jenson Button.
The Englishman would have muscled in on Alonso’s fight with Schumacher had it not been for a slow start but Mosley believes his first win is fast approaching.
“I think it will happen,” he added. “Once he’s won the first one it will kind of break the log jam.
“It’s always the same, there’s a kind of psychological thing. Once you’ve done it you relax.”
An exciting start on track has been supplemented with progress off it as negotiations over the future of Formula One progress.
Five manufacturer teams – Renault, Honda, Toyota, McLaren and BMW-Sauber - have so far resisted signing a new contract to continue in Formula One beyond their current deal, which expires in 2007.
They want more money and a change to how the sport is governed – and have threatened to form a breakaway championship if their demands are not met.
But talks have continued over the winter and Mosley is optimistic of a resolution soon.
“I would be disappointed if we don’t get everything sorted out with the manufacturers in the next few weeks, maybe even earlier than that,” he said.
Mosley has sped up the process with a plan to open entries to the 2008 championship for just a week later this month.
Unless the teams enter then, they can have no role in shaping the sport’s new rules, and risk being frozen out permanently.
Mosley added: “The world council have got to agree but assuming they do we will start on March 24 and finish on March 31.
“They all understand why now. If we are going to make any adjustments to the regulations we need the three months to do it and we can only do it with people who are in the championship.
“If people in the championship want to discuss them we can do that once they’ve entered. Or they can not enter, wait and see what the regulations are, and then decide.”
