MAX MOSLEY, the FIA president, last night put a price of $50 million (about £28 million) on the debacle of the US Grand Prix as pressure mounted on the seven teams that boycotted the Indianapolis race to come up with a package of measures to resurrect Formula One in America.
A day of intense activity that could have split the sport ended with a compromise of sorts at a hearing in Paris, with the teams — Renault, McLaren Mercedes, BMW-Williams, Sauber, Red Bull Racing, BAR Honda and Toyota — absolved of the worst blame for the race that never was.
But it became clear that they will be left with the responsibility of convincing Michelin, their tyre supplier, to accept the entire blame for them being forced to withdraw after the parade lap, and with helping to repair the enormous damage to Formula One’s reputation.
That would mean providing the United States with what amounts to a free race next season, with Michelin footing the bill for compensating the fans for their losses this year, supplying 120,000 free tickets for the 2006 race and paying the commercial price for staging the grand prix on behalf of the Indianapolis authorities. The FIA, the sport’s governing body, also wants Michelin to accept any future liabilities, such as the plethora of court cases that seem to be gathering pace in the United States.
It is a huge demand of a company that has admitted culpability and offered to refund about £9 million in ticket money for a race ruined because the seven teams were unable to use Michelin tyres deemed unsafe by the company.
Advertisement
Mosley accepted that, but added: “Michelin caused the problem 100 per cent and took a deliberate risk and should pay all of the foreseeable costs that arise from this. I have a feeling that if they get out of this for less than $50 million, they will have done well. It is not just a question of compensation, but we believe everybody should get to the race for free next year.”
For the teams, the alternative is draconian: they have ten weeks to squeeze Michelin into acceptance or face being hit with severe fines, which could amount to $5 million each, at an extraordinary meeting of the FIA’s world council on September 14. The fines would be used to compensate American fans and organisers in the absence of Michelin paying up. For Michelin, it could mean an expensive end to its involvement in Formula One.
At a time when feelings are running high, the FIA’s decision to push the blame towards Michelin was an attempt at a compromise that the sport could have done with on Sunday, June 19, as 120,000 fans filed into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for what they believed would be a race to inspire an American public lukewarm about Formula One’s arcane rules and obsession with sophistication over showbusiness.
The seven teams in the dock in front of the FIA yesterday pulled their 14 cars out of the race because Michelin could not guarantee the safety of tyres liable to burst over the unique final turn at Indianapolis, a 180mph banked corner taken flat out.
With dark mutterings that bans or heavy fines would lead to another boycott, this time of the French Grand Prix on Sunday, the FIA seems to have stepped back from the brink of confrontation with the teams to seek a better solution. But it was still not enough: the teams were found guilty of failing to ensure that they had suitable tyres, but with “strong, mitigating circumstances”, and of wrongfully allowing their cars to start the race before pulling into the pits.
Advertisement
Three further charges were dismissed, but the teams immediately gave warning that they would appeal and registered their “disappointment” that they would have to carry any guilt. A statement last night on behalf of the seven teams claimed that they were supported by 19 of Formula One’s 20 drivers — the exception being Michael Schumacher, who won the US Grand Prix in a race of only six cars.
It added: “In the light of clear and written advice from Michelin that it was unsafe to race at Indianapolis on the tyres supplied by the company, the teams had no choice but to decline to race. Any other decision would have been irresponsible. The teams are also pleased that Michelin have agreed to compensate fans who attended the race.”
At least there is a hiatus while both sides draw breath, with an immediate crisis this weekend averted. The question is whether enough has been done to save Formula One in the United States when the FIA meets again in September.