The seven Michelin teams that were hauled up before the FIA World Motor
Sport Council last Wednesday were ready to walk out of Formula 1 if they
had been handed race bans or other draconian penalties.
According to the Times newspaper, the ‘gang of seven’ – McLaren,
Renault, BAR, Williams, Toyota, Sauber and Red Bull Racing – plus serial
rebel Minardi had agreed to split from the official F1 series and launch the
breakaway Grand Prix World Championship more than two years ahead of
schedule. :shock: :shock: :shock: