FOTA threatens to air grievances against FIA
The Formula One Teams’ Association is ready to go public and lift the lid on their grievances against the FIA as the battle of wills and words between the two organisations intensifies.
FOTA now have the full backing of the major manufacturers of Europe who yesterday concluded after a board meeting in Brussels that “the current governance system cannot continue”, in effect calling for FIA president Max Mosley to go.
As expected, the FIA’s announcement yesterday of the teams due to line up on the grid for 2010 failed to resolve any issues.
Instead, the FIA face a potential legal battle with Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso after handing the trio a full entry against their wishes.
However, in claiming the FIA issued an “erroneous statement”, FOTA insist the entries of all its eight members were conditional.
Ferrari have made it clear they have no desire to compete in next year’s championship until, in their own words, “the condition of its entry are satisfied.”
Ferrari maintain Mosley has failed to meet those conditions and is “in violation of Ferrari’s rights under a written agreement with the FIA.”
As for McLaren, Renault, Toyota, BMW Sauber and Brawn GP, they have until next Friday to submit conditional entries or face the threat of this being their last season in F1.
FOTA are willing to “continue to act constructively on resolving differences with the FIA,” but are prepared to blow the whistle on the whole sorry situation.
A strongly-worded statement read: “Regrettably FOTA is being forced to outline in detail our objections to the new arbitrary FIA proposals.
“We will release details of our concerns in the near future which will constructively explain why the FIA’s proposals are bad for the future of Formula One, the jobs of those employed within the motor-racing industry and especially the millions of loyal fans who are dismayed and confused at the internal bickering within our sport.”
FOTA’s main gripe surrounds Mosley’s governance, and the unilateral manner in which he announced a voluntary £40m (€47m) budget cap for next season without consulting the teams.
This goes directly to the heart of Ferrari’s case against the FIA as they claim that under a 2005 agreement with the governing body, they have a right of veto with regard to any new regulations.
In not consulting with Ferrari, Mosley invalidated that contract, and as such Ferrari should not have been given an entry.
Despite contractual agreements of their own, Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso are firmly aligned with FOTA, who face another critical week if they and the FIA are to finally end this ongoing war.
However, FOTA have sought to bypass Mosley by calling on the World Motor Sport Council and FIA Senate to intervene in the bitter feud.
In a letter leaked to PA Sport, FOTA stated that they “respectfully seek the intervention of the World Council to facilitate solutions to the present situation.”
In claiming the crisis has been “self generated”, FOTA maintain a “wish to find a swift solution to the situation,” before issuing a stark warning.
The letter adds: “In case this can not be done, they (the teams) will reluctantly have to seek alternative solutions which protect them.
“In a final attempt to resolve this crisis, further meetings are scheduled for the next seven days.
“We would urge your support to ensure the outcome of these meetings achieves a solution that allows long established competitors to continue in their sport within a framework of sound governance and stability that will ensure the future and sustainability of Formula One.”
Despite the furore, three new teams in Sheffield-based Manor F1 Team, Spain’s Campos Grand Prix and US F1 are on the grid, along with Williams and Force India who broke with FOTA by submitting unconditional entries.
