The legendary and controversial former head of the FIA, Jean-Marie Balestre, today died at the age of 86. Balestre was in the 80s, especially in his capacity as president of FISA, a highly controversial figure, who made himself especially with Bernie Ecclestone to years of struggle for dominance in Formula One.
The Frenchman took over in 1979 the Office of the FISA president after he was in the French Motorsport Federation as an official working for a long time. No sooner had he held the office, he lay down with the FOCA (Formula One Constructors' Association) and its chairman Bernie Ecclestone on. FISA, then the sporting subsidiary of the FIA, felt only by the existence of FOCA stepped on their toes. Ecclestone (then owner of the Brabham team), Frank Williams, Colin Chapman, Teddy Mayer (McLaren) and Ken Tyrrell was well represented in the FOCA as Günter Schmidt (ATS), Toleman and Osella, while Renault, Ferrari and Alfa on pages FISA stood. Ecclestone, however, had the final say in the FOCA, the rest with his legal counsel, a gentleman names Max Mosley, co-founder of March.
It went as it should be otherwise, about the money. The private team wanted more of the cake and also abhaben Ecclestone also fought to ensure that the small teams were not overwhelmed by the manufacturer. Small irony of history if you look at the future work of Ecclestone sees Sun In any case, were Ecclestone and Balestre for every little thing in your hair. At the end of the 1980 season, there were serious efforts made by the FOCA a rival series to stand on its feet. There was even a race series in the spring of 1981, in Kyalami, the former home and Hofstrecke by Ecclestone. We saw, however, that a second formula one in Europe would make no sense. This was also the fact that you FOCA and FISA agreed in 1981 on the first Concorde Agreement had that was finally implemented. The agreement included that the FISA had full control of the technical regulations, while Bernie Ecclestone and his newly founded company FOPA (Formula One Promotions and Administration), the entire market was in the hands. This meant that the FISA / FIA did not have more control over the routes, but still only responsible for the technical inspection of the lines were.
Basically Balestre had lost the battle with Ecclestone, even if the FISA retained the technical control of F1. But Ecclestone and FOCA gone before was all the time about the financial side. Balestre was deeply offended, and in 1982 the war was just beginning.
After Balestre with the FOCA in his opinion, was finished, he went to the drivers. He wanted this close tie to the FISA (which exhibited the super-license), so we sat in the license nor the passage that a driver had to compete in any event for the team that had applied for the super license for the driver. At that time, short-term changes in the F1 team were still common. The GPDA draufhin called a "strike" and on the 82er Grand Prix of South Africa could be saved at the last second.
After that Balestre was again asking for trouble with the team. Grand Prix of Brazil, the FISA subsequently had the winner Nelson Piquet (Brabham) and the second-placed Keke Rosberg (Williams) disqualiziert. The reason was partly political, partly technical. 82 started the turbo engine to run properly. All FISA teams, including Renault, seated on a turbo, all the FOCA teams on the good old Cosworth DFV. The teams had to be a trick to annoy the turbos. On the one hand was immersed in water-cooled brakes, in the other with a huge water tank car. You stated that you would need to cool the Reservior, which of course was nonsense. Instead, the water was drained during the race and at the last refueling stop replenished. Thus the FOCA car drove underweight during the race. This would in turn secure the FISA can not offer that was actually responsible for compliance with technical regulations. At the same time let it go by Renault but some little things. Interestingly, the protest came from Renault, and it was Piquet and Rosberg even disqualified. The other teams that were behind Renault maintained their place and the points.
The atmosphere was great so wanted, and so good that the FOCA teams the San Marino GP in 1982 completely boycott. However, ATS broke, Osella, Toleman and the boycott of Tyrell, allegedly at the request of the sponsors. Ken Tyrrell was believed that the matter still, but at ATS and Toleman saw the matter differently. The smell of treason. It was even over, excluding teams from both the FOCA, but failed to continue the agreement with respect to the FISA show. Well done to the fraction of the boycott but has not yet ATS Toleman, which were then cut from the other FOCA teams. Balestre was dancing in the triangle and threatened all the FOCA teams from F1 to throw people like Colin Chapman, Bernie Ecclestone and Frank Williams argued against the parent FIA that they would not take so long, had gone to Balestre. But the real power of Balestre in the FIA as a Frenchman in a French-dominated sports body was just too big.
There was nothing, and miraculously disappeared, the differences between the teams and the FISA. Supposedly, probably because the eminence grise of Formula One. Enzo Ferrari, the patience ran out and had spoken a word of power. He was both Ecclestone and Balestre antanzen succession at his office in Maranello. It is said that he had threatened to get out of FISA from Balestre and Ecclestone promised he will have to remain neutral with respect to the FISA. Other sources claim that he was keen on the money of the FOCA. Back then it was not economically Ferrari really well. Not be excluded that the story is true. One thing is certain: Ferrari was the one who had the most power behind the scenes. FISA back, FOCA ago - a world championship without Ferrari was unthinkable.
Then first was quiet until 1989, when Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna were fighting for the championship. The dispute culminated in the famous collision at the chicane at Suzuka when Senna had Prost simply accumulate. Prost got out, Senna was pushed by the marshals went further and changed the nose and won the Grand Prix. After the race he was disqualified from the FISA and Alain Prost was therefore champion. The reason given was: Senna had missed the chicane, which was of course nonsense. The Brazilians knew immediately where herwehte the wind. And spoke out loud that Balestre probably rather have a fellow countryman as world champion. Then, a dispute arose between him and Balestre, which was largely fought in the press culminated in the FISA would deprive him of the 90th season for the Super License. Senna has reportedly written in February 1990 at the urging of Ron Dennis a letter of apology. When, in the same year (1990) in the last race in Suzuka, then Alain Prost at the start shot down himself to become world champion, took the FISA interesting as anything.
That may have been because it had spanned the Balestre for the FISA and the FIA is now the bow. The dispute with Senna had not done him good, because Senna was already the most powerful driver in Formula One. It humiliates no icon that has no consequences. The press has never been on his side and were calls for his resignation on his person has been around for years. His power base was crumbling and in 1991 he lost a crucial vote against FISA president Max Mosely as. Mosely won the election as president of the FIA (1991) and incorporated the FISA back in the FIA. Balestre remained until 1996, however, the Board of the FIA.
Balestre was certainly a very valiant man. But basically Balestre, with its battles against the FOCA and the GPDA formed the Formula One as well as the Ecclestone has made. His Napoleon-like behavior has many disputes, but also solutions formed. Without Balestre Ecclestone would have taken over the helm entirely alone. For all the criticism, one should also not forget that he has made sure that the turbo engines are gone, the FIA has introduced crash tests and safety of the driver continued to rise. He may have been a bogeyman for many fans, but his impact on the Formula One can be felt even today.
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Be interesting to know what times historical, even if it is a sad occasion.
Were perhaps an incentive for a new category like "Tuesdays history lesson" ;-)
Only one question came to me on the 6th to the Section referred to water tanks. How should I think of it, is suddenly on a sunny day of racing all the way wet?