For once, we have agreement within the paddock

08/04/2007

Even the most casual observer will be aware that it is rare for F1 team bosses to agree on anything without months and months of wrangling.

However, at the suggestion of McLaren boss Ron Dennis, it appears that at long last the majority of the team bosses, indeed the inhabitants of the F1 Paddock, may have something on which they are agreed, that they cannot support Tom Rubython's BusinessF1 magazine.

Stories emerging from Malaysia suggest that Dennis has circulated a petition this weekend calling on members of the F1 community to join him in expressing their lack of confidence in the magazine and the accuracy of its reporting.

The magazine and its owner, Tom Rubython, have been involved in numerous legal fights with leading members of the F1 community, including amongst others Wili Weber, Max Mosley, Flavio Briatore, Charlie Whiting, Richard Woods and former Jaguar boss Tony Purnell.

Critics have argued that the magazine is doing damage to the sport and many of the people who work in it.

Prior to running BusinessF1, Rubython edited Bernie Ecclestone's F1 Magazine. However, that project ended in tears with the F1 supremo eventually pulling the plug. Ecclestone famously remarked that whereas the paddock had always been a fairly happy and carefree place - other than allegations of cheating and demands for more money - articles in F1 Magazine led to all manner of complaints, with its owner bearing the brunt of the grief.

Our sources in Malaysia tell us that Dennis has finally had enough, and has discussed with fellow team bosses and other F1 insiders the need to do something for the good of Formula One. We hear that the reaction has been encouraging with support at all levels and that this may lead to action in the run up to the race in Bahrain.

Regular Pitpass readers will be aware that in late 2006 Mr Rubython threatened legal proceedings against our very own Dr Mike Lawrence, alleging that an article written in November 2005 by the highly respected author referred to him, even though the article made it categorically clear that the person referred to as Caliban was not the BusinessF1 editor.