Zoom Horner sees clouds on the horizon again

Prior to the declaration of peace this week with the FIA, the eight FOTA-affiliated teams were ploughing unapologetically towards a breakaway series.

Some of the bodies' leading figures, like vice-chairman John Howett, said at Silverstone that he felt "very happy" about their alternate plans aiming at establishing a new championship in direct competition to Formula One's, featuring no less than 80% of the current F1 grid, including star drivers.

That happiness, however, was replaced on Wednesday with happiness about the FIA accord, where an agreement between the existing official series' ruling bodies and the eight rebel teams was found to race ahead at least through to 2012.

Williams and Force India aside, unity was the strength of the FOTA position throughout the crisis, and it is this that is believed to have ultimately resolved FIA President Max Mosley to sit down and concede ground on multiple points.

But Friday was a new day: a furious Mosley is demanding that the Formula One Teams Association apologise for what he considers as a misrepresentation of the outcome to the media after press reports explained that FOTA had won the 'war. '

Hitting back harshly at the FOTA alliance, which he claimed has "no sporting ethics," Mosley also wrote in a letter to his colleagues that he fears the rogue teams will now kick-start their breakaway plans once more.

Having announced his retirement the same day that 'peace' was declared, the Briton is once again considering seeking another mandate as FIA President as he sees a new crisis looming on the horizon.

Red Bull's Christian Horner, however, believes re-opening the scab on Wednesday's apparently healing wounds and sparking a new war with the FIA would be a "disaster."

"To enter into more confusion and controversy would be a disaster for Formula One," the Team Principal is quoted as saying by the German news agency SID.

Horner said he appreciates the ground conceded by the FIA on Wednesday, praises Mosley for his "fantastic work in the area of car and circuit safety," and hopes the pact does not now fall apart.

D.B. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM