An empty space

Grandprix.com have managed to secure some scant details about the deal, but none of the evidence has been confirmed and apparently the news site has struggled to get further information on it. The basics appear to be that the TV money that would have been awarded to the Arrows may now be divided up between those teams that are struggling. In addition, Grandprix.com beleives that Bernie has agreed to pay out a bigger share of TV income in order to further benefit the smaller teams and keep them in business.

With the news today that engines manufacturers may be forced by the FIA to offer engines to more than one team, also comes a sniff that the smaller teams may receive certain guarantees over their capability to secure engine deals. As a result of the Arrows teams collapse and the outstanding payments owed to Cosworth, the Northampton based engine manufacturer is said to have introduced a number of strict guarantees itself in order to ensure payment for it's services in the future.

Whilst this rumour is good news for the sport, and an indication that the powers that be are taking the cash crisis in F1 seriously, this site cannot help but wonder why such moves didn't happen sooner. If Prost's TV was equally shared out at the start of 2002 then there might have just been a chance that this site wouldn't be looking at immenant closure with the almost certain break up of the Arrows team's assets. At the beginning of 2002 all the warnings were there, and there wasn't one race commentary last year that didn't mention the financial meltdown being experienced by the sport. Why did it have to take the demise of another team for the sport to do something to help the smaller, grass roots teams ?

Answers on the message board please.

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