Are Arrows bringing F1 into disrepute?

Fighting to survive
By Huw Alban
September 2 2002

Over the course of the Belgian Grand Prix weekend there have been two main reactionary story threads concerning Arrows. The first is the FIA’s demand for an explanation, and the second is a loose comment from Bernie Ecclestone on Sunday saying that he’d had enough of the team.

Several F1 news sources have covered the irritation now being felt by the FIA over Arrows withdrawing from the Belgian Grand Prix at short notice, including this site. Because the sale of the team could not be completed in time, they were advised to pull out of the event, and several reports indicate that the FIA feels actions like this are bringing the sport into disrepute (!).

Bernie Ecclestone has now joined in on that theme. When asked on Sunday, before the Belgian Grand Prix, whether he’d had enough of the Arrows saga, he said “Yes.”

“They are saying they are not here because it’s force majeure and it’s out of their control,” he continued. “If they can prove that then maybe they have got chances to hang on, but if they can’t they probably won’t go to Monza.”

The Concorde agreement, the secret contract between all the teams that compete in Formula One, lays out some pretty stiff penalties for teams that miss races. After Arrows missed the last Grand Prix in Hungary the general feedback from the paddock was of continued support for Arrows’ cause. This time round the paddock has been quiet - it is the bosses that have been vocal, and their words have been very stern. The team have until tomorrow (Tuesday) to provide a written explanation as to their actions leading up to and beyond the British Grand Prix, which is where the team’s problems first got thrown into the public light.

The FIA have indicated that any action they take will be based on the explanation provided by the team, and there is a general feeling that the sport’s governing body would prefer to retain the team to ensure that the F1 field does not shrink any further.

This site questions, though, whether the actions of the team do constitute bringing the sport into disrepute? OK, so there isn’t a general love of Tom Walkinshaw out there, but why punish the whole team because of this? In addition this site believes that Tom is doing everything he can to keep the team afloat, even if it is driven by his own desire to earn money (an opinion made clear by the fans that frequent this message board). Arrows is fighting for it’s survival at the moment, and if that entails the team missing a few races then so be it. At the end of the day this site would prefer the team to continue racing into the future rather than making Spa 2002 it’s last ever race.

If you have a view (and we’re sure you have) then express and discuss it on this site’s message board.