I can't imagine anything worse for motor racing than if the members of the Grand Prix Manufacturers Association (GPMA) carry out their threat to create a separate series rivalling F1 in 2008. We've seen what Tony George's IRL did to open-wheel racing in North America by forcing a split with CART. Both groups are suffering and one of the absurd results is that George's plan to build an all-American oval series featuring all-American boys spun off at the first turn.

F1, which in my view is still the greatest racing series in the world, has had its downsides in recent years. (I won't mention the Indianapolis farce here.) aerodynamic aids made passing difficult and turned many races into parades, usually with Michael Schumaker carrying the banner up front. The price of developing a team became astronomical. Ill-advised changes to qualifying spoiled the fun for fans and drivers. But changes to the regulations plus the addition of spectacular new tracks in China, Bahrain (and in 2006, Turkey) have made a difference and most of the 2005 races were entertaining.

Sadly, politics play a big role in Grand Prix racing. Bernie Ecclestone, who made himself one of the richest men in Britain as F1's head honcho, runs the show but the FIA creates the rules. Some teams, backed by manufacturers like Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Renault, and Toyota, with hundreds of millions of dollars to play with, resent Bernie's dominance and rarely agree with the FIA's decisions. Like spoiled brats, they've announced their intention to build a rival series.

The FIA has just announced changes it wants to make for 2008, including a standard electronic control unit, long life engines and gearboxes, a single tire supplier, restrictions on the ability of the teams to change aerodynamics during the season, rev-limited engines, and more. Details to be announced during the week of December 19th. Already it's being speculated that these developments will fuel GPMA members' motivation to produce a separate championship series. Grow up, boys. There can only be one world's champion.