As Giles said, Ferrari
are F1. Like it or not, "Ferrari" is the first thing everyone in the world thinks of first when they hear "F1". Yes, they dominated for a few years, and this was boring - but they became synonymous with the sport.
The fact that stewards and WMSC judges appear to prefer Ferrari has nothing to do with FOM money.
Actually, I gather it's Formula One Management, not the FIA, who paid Ferrari.
Exactly. FOM != FIA - understand the differences, people!
Ferrari threatened to form a breakaway series together with the independent teams. To alleviate said threat, FOM (the company in charge of track-, team- and broadcasting-contracts) offered a handsome amount of cash. Simple as, and widely known.
Of course he doesn't! Together, the teams have quite a bit of power, and they usually resist the changes the FIA and FOM want to intoduce. If the teams were left to their own devices, the sport would be getting faster and more expensive; the exact opposite of what Ecclestone and osley want.
FOTA, the Team's Association, is perhaps the most united association of teams ever found in the sport. Mosley, at the same time, in his by-now famous "Spec-engine Letter", offered teams the option of a breakaway series, as long as it's FIA-sanctioned, should the teams decide to rid themselves of the FOM. Bernie is scared to death of this prospect, since a breakaway series would leave himself, CVC and FOM bankrupt and in debt. CVC indebted F1 with a gargantuan debt, and until F1 pays that debt off (which is basically impossible), they'll forever be bound to Bernie - unless they break off.
There's a distinct difference between Mosley's and Bernie's agendas. One, Max, is pushing for cost-cuts via spec parts and restrictions, and pushing a green agenda. The other is pushing for higher race-hosting fees, but not much else. Teams need the
FIA, just like every other sport needs a sanctioning body - but they don't need the
FOM. Teams on their own might not agree on rules, and some might spend beyond their means (those are things the FIA can and should care for) - but when things get hairy, like now, they'll unite against a bigger threat. The only thing the FOM does is, basically, take 50% off all TV- and track-contracts in return for managing them - the same thing the FIA could do on their own for less.
I'm shocked!
