F1 battle heading for the courts
Max Mosley's proposed budget cap has split the paddock
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Friday, 19, Jun 2009 11:05
F1's governing body will launch legal action against the Formula One Teams' Association (Fota) after their threat to begin a breakaway series.
Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso announced they would not sign up to next year's F1 world championship, and will instead set up a rival series.
After meetings between FIA president Max Mosley and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone in the Silverstone paddock ahead of Sunday's British Grand Prix, the FIA has decided to start legal proceedings.
A statement read: "The FIA's lawyers have now examined the FOTA threat to begin a breakaway series.
"The actions of FOTA as a whole, and Ferrari in particular, amount to serious violations of law including wilful interference with contractual relations, direct breaches of Ferrari's legal obligations and a grave violation of competition law. The FIA will be issuing legal proceedings without delay.
"Preparations for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship continue but publication of the final 2010 entry list will be put on hold while the FIA asserts its legal rights."
FIA president Max Mosley's £40 million budget cap plan has divided opinion in the paddock, and despite several attempts at compromise the issue became too much for the Fota-affiliated manufacturers.
In a frank statement, Fota claimed it had always worked towards a compromise with the sport's governing bodies but that it has been made impossible.
"The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide Fota," the statement reads.
"The wishes of the majority of the teams are ignored. Furthermore, tens of millions of dollars have been withheld from many teams by the commercial rights holder, going back as far as 2006.
"Despite this and the uncompromising environment, Fota has genuinely sought compromise.
"It has become clear however, that the teams cannot continue to compromise on the fundamental values of the sport and have declined to alter their original conditional entries to the 2010 world championship.
"These teams therefore have no alternative other than to commence the preparation for a new championship which reflects the values of its participants and partners."
Fota said the series will have "transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans", adding that the new championship would include lower ticket prices for spectators and improved packages for commercial partners and stakeholders.
"The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series," the statement concluded.
The news deals a bodyblow to a sport that has seen its public persona ravaged in the media in recent months, as a result of the row over the budget cap and associated rule changes that, it has been argued, will create a "two-tier championship".
The Fota statement acknowledged this upheaval, created by "unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil" but acclaimed its "substantial measures to reduce costs".
"In particular the manufacturer teams [in Fota] have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the Fota initiatives," the statement added.
"The Fota teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future."
The breakup leaves the two teams committed to the F1 championship in 2010 - Force India and Williams - in limbo.
The FIA also recently announced the arrival of three new teams for next season - Campos GP, US Team F1 and Manor Grand Prix - and their future, and that of F1, now apparently sits in the balance.
Fota said the series will have "transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans", adding that the new championship would include lower ticket prices for spectators and improved packages for commercial partners and stakeholders.
"The major drivers, stars, brands, sponsors, promoters and companies historically associated with the highest level of motorsport will all feature in this new series," the statement concluded.
The news deals a bodyblow to a sport that has seen its public persona ravaged in the media in recent months, as a result of the row over the budget cap and associated rule changes that, it has been argued, will create a "two-tier championship".
The Fota statement acknowledged this upheaval, created by "unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil" but acclaimed its "substantial measures to reduce costs".
"In particular the manufacturer teams [in Fota] have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the Fota initiatives," the statement added.
"The Fota teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future."
It remains to be seen what reaction there will be from the sport's management to the announcement, which leaves the two teams committed to the F1 championship in 2010 - Force India and Williams - in limbo.
The FIA also recently announced the arrival of three new teams for next season - Campos GP, US Team F1 and Manor Grand Prix - and their future, and that of F1, now apparently sits in the balance.