FIA Sues Formula One Teams Association Over Breakaway Championchip
If you follow motorsports, you’ve probably heard of the dissent in F1. Suffering under the tyrants known as Max Mosely and Bernie Ecclestone, the world’s most watched form of motorsport has become a shadow of its former self, bloated by massive price tags and hindered by innumerable rule changes. Thus, when various teams announced plans to leave the series, surprise was not numbered among the emotional responses.
Of course, in standard Mad Max fashion, Max Mosely kept a stiff upper lip in the face of all this criticism, even going as far as to say that F1 would do fine without the support of the various departing teams (which included the massively crowd-pleasing Ferrari), and promising that the rebellious teams would be left off the 2010 starting grids unless they put an end to the dissention.
In response, FOTA issued this press release:
“Since the formation of FOTA last September the teams have worked together and sought to engage the FIA and commercial rights holder, to develop and improve the sport.
Unprecedented worldwide financial turmoil has inevitably placed great challenges before the F1 community. FOTA is proud that it has achieved the most substantial measures to reduce costs in the history of our sport.
In particular the manufacturer teams have provided assistance to the independent teams, a number of which would probably not be in the sport today without the FOTA initiatives. The FOTA teams have further agreed upon a substantial voluntary cost reduction that provides a sustainable model for the future.
Following these efforts all the teams have confirmed to the FIA and the commercial rights holder that they are willing to commit until the end of 2012.
The FIA and the commercial rights holder have campaigned to divide FOTA.
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. This series will have transparent governance, one set of regulations, encourage more entrants and listen to the wishes of the fans, including offering lower prices for spectators worldwide, partners and other important 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.”
Issued by FOTA on behalf of BMW-Sauber, BrawnGP, Scuderia Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Renault, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Toyota, the press release drew immediate fire from the FIA crew, who feels the creation of a new championship violates the FIA’s rights. Interestingly, in a move that would seem to be opposing Mosely’s stance that the FIA doesn’t necessarily need Ferrari and friends, the FIA has opted to sue FOTA over the breakaway series’ creation, saying "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."
