The FOTA vice chairman was quoted as saying to the Financial Times Deutschland that the breakaway series is not a “buried” subject. He also reiterated his belief that, if anything should go wrong in FOTA's negotiations with the FIA on the 2010 regulations, “we do have alternatives.”
The plans for a breakaway series seem more like a scare crow for the teams' alliance lately, as such rumors were actually what triggered the June 24 peace in the first place. What's interesting about Howett's recent comments, however, is the fact that it was issued prior to the problematic meeting between the two bodies on Wednesday.
While scheduled to talk about next year's technical and sporting regulations for Formula One in Paris, the two bodies did anything but negotiate. The eight FOTA members left the room shortly after FIA's Charlie Whiting reminded them that they do not have a veto right regarding the regulations as they “are not currently entered into the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.”
As argued by the FOTA in its latest press release, the peace between the two organizations is now under serious jeopardy.
“As endorsed by the WMSC and clearly stated in the FIA press statement of 24 June “the rules for 2010 onwards will be the 2009 regulations as well as further regulations agreed prior to 29 April 2009”. At no point in the Paris discussions was any requirement for unanimous agreement on regulations change expressed. To subsequently go against the will of the WMSC and the detail of the Paris agreement puts the future of Formula 1 in jeopardy,” added the statement from the teams.
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