Small teams request new talks on income distribution

  • Published on 18 Nov 2014 12:06
  • comments 1
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Disgruntled small teams Force India, Lotus and Sauber have written a letter to express alarm that F1 appears headed in the direction of 'Super GP2'. After backmarkers Caterham and Marussia entered administration, and the grid threatened to dwindle yet further amid financial pressures, it became clear that one plan to boost numbers in future is three-car teams.

But with the next smallest teams requesting more of the sport's commercial income and even threatening boycott, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone suddenly axed talks in Brazil and said the solution is simply for the teams to spend less. "After our meeting in Brazil," a new letter from the three teams to Ecclestone reads, "we clearly see the direction of formula one towards customer cars/Super GP2."

'Super GP2' is reportedly a plan for small teams to abandon being constructors and instead run single-make chassis that count only towards a separate, lower-tier championship. "It is equally clear that the Strategy Group has no intention at all to reduce cost," added the letter, written by Force India's deputy boss Bob Fernley.

The three teams are now requesting urgent new talks at the Abu Dhabi season finale this weekend, where a boycott threat if made would have enormous impact given the championship showdown between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The letter was also sent to the FIA, F1's owner CVC, and the other teams.

It referred to a "questionable cartel" headed by Ecclestone and the biggest and most powerful teams in the sport, who control "both the governance of formula one and, apparently, the distribution of funds". The 'cartel' claim indicates the next step that could be taken by the three teams, who it is believed question even the legality of the strategy group and the distribution of funds under European competition law.

Asked if potential legal action is on the cards, Sauber team boss Monisha Kaltenborn - a lawyer by trade - said in Brazil a week ago: "Being a lawyer, you have to be careful with these assessments off the top of your head. "It all sounds very easy and logical, but you really have to look at the detail," she told Britain's Sky. "What is the criteria, does it apply to us or not?"

"But I don't think we should be going to that stage. We are all sensible people in here (the paddock), we all know that whatever (money) we generate here is through all of us -- I'm very sure four teams could not generate this much income." (GMM)

Replies (1)

Login to reply
  • Forget it....Bernie take F1 with him in his grave.

    • + 0
    • Nov 18 2014 - 13:21

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 15:49

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 15:49

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 3,430
  • Podiums 132
  • Grand Prix 215
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (40)
  • Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar