user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Threat of civil war within Formula 1 growing by the day

Threat of civil war within Formula 1 growing by the day

  • Published on 20 Nov 2014 13:54
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra
The threat of a major civil war within formula one is growing by the day. That is the claim of Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, following reports disgruntled small teams Lotus, Sauber and Force India are furious talks to have more income released by F1 owner CVC are failing to bear fruit.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt says the teams have abandoned their race boycott threats, acknowledging it was not the right course of action. The suggestion now is that they genuinely question whether the current system of decision-making and income distribution within F1 is even legal.

They reportedly feel that the fact teams like Ferrari and Red Bull receive substantially more base income is contrary to European Union competition laws. "Bernie (Ecclestone) regarded (the F1 teams alliance) FOTA as a real threat and he had to end the risk of a breakaway series," said former F1 chief Ross Brawn. "He drew out Ferrari and Red Bull with the promise of paying them a big extra bonus."

Former FIA president Max Mosley reportedly acknowledges that the inequitable distribution is also against the governing body's own statutes. "Giving the big teams more money is akin to allowing them to have bigger engines," he is quoted as saying.

Not only that, the decision-making 'Strategy Group' is predominated by Ecclestone and the major teams, excluding the likes of Lotus, Sauber and Force India altogether. The trio also wonders if Ferrari's apparent rule-changing 'veto power' would survive the cross-examination of a European Commission investigation.

"Apparently," said Schmidt, "the Commission has recently turned an eye to formula one as there is so much in the press about it." He said Mosley's view is that F1 must now urgently enact a three-point plan: redistribute income equitably, slash costs and simplify the regulations. (GMM)
F1 News Lotus F1 Sauber Ferrari Force India

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • BtwnDitches

    Posts: 204

    It's genuinely too bad for all of the many F1 constituencies concerned that it has come to this. However, that's the price of being unable or unwilling to cooperatively sit down with other people and actually listen to them while blocking out your own biases and supressing your own agenda. That is an ADULT skill which has to be learned, practiced and refined.

    But the good news is that it HAS reached this point, and those same consitutencies now have a chance, perhaps a final one, to constuctively address the 3 things which Mosley laid out for their urgent attention. If they suceed - and it's a sizeable "if" - then they (and we) may for many years look back with relief and gratitude at the effort the saved the sport of F1.

    • + 0
    • Nov 20 2014 - 21:56

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
McLaren
593
2
Ferrari
557
3
Red Bull Racing
544
4
Mercedes
382
5
Aston Martin
86
6
Alpine F1
49
7
Haas F1
46
8
Visa Cash App RB
44
9
Williams
17
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Lotus F1
Lotus F1
Show full profile
show sidebar