F1 Veterans Slam "Ridiculous" Crisis

Two former grand prix winners and some of the most respectable drivers in Formula One's recent history, Ricardo Patrese and Olivier Panis, called out to the FIA and the FOTA to bring the political chaos currently dominating Formula One to an end. While both ex-drivers are loving the hierarchy changes on top of the standings, they put the blame on the governing body for not being able to solve the budget cap issue.

Patrese expressed his disappointment over the F1 “politicians” in an interview with Germany's Die Welt, as he finds it strange that everybody knows the solution to solving the crisis, yet nobody does anything about it.

“Everyone understands the risk of a disaster, but at the same time nobody is doing anything to prevent it,” said the driver who, until last year's Turkish Grand Prix, was holding the title for the most contested grands prix in the history of Formula One. His statement was a clear referral to the potential breakaway series set by the F1 manufacturers, should they fail to reach an agreement with the FIA on the 2010 rules.

Panis was even more critic of the current situation in Formula One. Talking to motorsport-magazin.com, the French driver – contesting in 158 F1 GPs – revealed he finds this season “ridiculous” and “a joke” to all F1 fans out there. The only thing that seems to save it, of course, is Brawn GP's cinderella story.

“For me it's ridiculous. I am loving this season, because Brawn GP is doing a great job and some other drivers are standing on the podium. But the politics are a joke,” said the winner of the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix.