The Weekly Grapevine

In our weekly rumour round-up, Dieter Rencken reports on the apparent progress of the proposed Concorde Agreement and what it could mean for Formula 1

Although dramatic subjects such as 'Ecclestone's future in doubt' (which it isn't – although the outcome of behind-doors discussions remains as yet unknown) and 'Setting the Record Straight' (which it didn't) monopolised discussions in Germany, the real news was the enormous amount of work being put in behind the scenes by lawyers acting for the sport's main political players: the FIA, the commercial rights' holder, FOTA, and the non-FOTA teams.

Drafts and redrafts have been shuttling back and forth between European cities and across continents, with each addendum/amendment/clarification/reword bringing the peace process one step closer. Although some folk in the loop suggested the definitive version of the Concorde Agreement - the tripartite covenant which binds the governing body, CRH and the teams together for a period (in this case through to end-2012) for the good of the sport - would be signed by Wednesday (tomorrow), it now seems they were somewhat optimistic about the timing.

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