FOTA Asks FIA's WMSC To Intervene

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) has written to the FIA's Senate and World Motor Sport Council urging it to intervene in the row over entries to next year's championship, AUTOSPORT can reveal, as it warns the teams could be forced to walk away.

In an immediate response to the announcement by the FIA that FOTA's members have until June 19 to drop the conditions attached to their entries, the eight members of the teams' organisation pleaded for help in finding a 'swift solution' to the matter.

This comes despite Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso all having been handed full entries to next year's championship - in lieu of commercial agreements made with the FIA and FOM committing them to the sport.

The letter makes it clear these entries were made ‘against the will' of the teams involved.

In the letter, a copy of which has been seen by AUTOSPORT, the FOTA members state that the teams would ‘reluctantly' be forced to seek alternative solutions if the matter is not sorted out by next week.

"All of these teams are united in their concerns about the present situation and are deeply worried about the crisis that Formula 1 now faces, a crisis that appears to be self generated," wrote FOTA.

"The teams wish to find a swift solution to the situation, but in case this can not be done, they 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 1."

FOTA believes that it has not been ‘effective' in communicating with the governing body about its aims - and makes it clear that it wants to work in a ‘positive and constructive manner with the federation' to find a solution.

"Our fundamental wish is to work within a framework of cooperation and dialogue with the Federation to improve Formula 1 and to stop the confrontational and negative approach that has dominated the sport in recent years," the letter added.

"This approach compounded with constant announcements of regulatory changes, resulting from the unstable governance process that exists, has unfortunately created a situation of confusion and uncertainty among the public and sponsors. This situation is adversely affecting the business of both the teams and the organisers."

Furthermore, FOTA believes that the organisation's unhappiness about the way the sport is being run could be eased y the signing of a new Concorde Agreement.

"It is our view that by introducing the balanced and transparent basis of Governance which is defined in the 2009 Concorde Agreement (governance extract enclosed) we can restore a situation where the teams work in harmony with the Federation, a situation which can only be beneficial to all stakeholders.

"Accordingly, we have requested that the FIA join with FOM and the teams to sign a binding agreement that will bring stability at the very earliest opportunity, or alternatively, enter into a separate bi-lateral governance agreement between the teams and the FIA."

The letter added: "We wish to confirm that the teams are prepared to enter into binding commitment to enter in the championship until the end of 2012. This eliminates the misconception that certain teams are going to leave the sport and in doing this Formula 1 will establish a solid and stable platform for the future.

"All of the present competing teams in Formula 1 have significant investments in staff, factories and facilities. We request our level of commitment is respected and that we are allowed to address the changes needed due to the present economic climate in the most effective and efficient way for the participants with the correct governance from the regulatory body, the FIA.

"The existing FOTA teams understand the need to encourage and assist new entrants to the sport and we agree to undertake in good faith any reasonable measures that will help new teams establish their position in Formula 1."

 

Toyota F1 president John Howett says that 'sensible governance' remains at the top of the list of things the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) wants to see in place before it commits to the sport.

With the FIA having given FOTA members just seven days to drop the conditions attached to their 2010 entries or risk being left out in the cold, Howett says there are still big concerns that go beyond just cost-cutting rules.

"What we want primarily is a sensible basis of governance, so that the regulations are not changed willy nilly, that there in involvement of the teams in a proper process adopted, and that process is not deviated from," Howett told Radio 5 Live on Friday.

"And secondly we do feel that there is a risk of involving financial forensic control in the sporting regulations and deciding a championship."

Howett insists that FOTA does not want to seize control of the sport, and is keen to work in any way possible that helps secure the future of F1 - and encourages new teams.

"It is not about power and FOTA running the sport, we are saying we want a proper and balanced governance process," he said.

He added: "We welcome new teams. You have to say Brawn has done a fantastic job and without the support of McLaren and Mercedes they would not have been there.

"And there are other teams that get a lot of support from the manufacturers...and I do dispute strongly that we hold the sport to ransom. It is quite the opposite. We make huge effort to add value and to improve the total balance in the sport."

Howett said that FOTA was certainly unhappy that F1 was grabbing headlines now for all the wrong reasons.

"We are all very sad we are not focusing on racing and what is exciting about F1, and I really believe that the FOTA ambition is to improve F1 for the long term."

 

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) has vowed to keep working 'constructively' to try and find a resolution to the row over entries to the 2010 championship, but in a statement on Friday blasted the FIA's planned rules as ‘bad for the future' of the sport.

FOTA's eight members have been given until next Friday to drop their conditions of entry to the 2010 world championship, or risk being sidelined.

However, in a statement issued by the teams' body, FOTA made it clear that it was unhappy about the regulations for next year and beyond, and said fans were now getting ‘dismayed and confused' by the row.

Furthermore, FOTA claimed that the FIA had made an ‘erroneous' statement in announcing that Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso had unconditional entries to next year, as part of commitments they made to the FIA and FOM several years ago.

"In response to the erroneous statement made today by FIA, the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) wishes to underline that the entries of all its members - excluding the temporarily suspended Force India and Williams - have been submitted to the FIA as conditional entries.

"The entries to the 2010 FIA F1 Championship submitted by BMW-Sauber, Brawn GP, Ferrari, McLaren, Red Bull Racing, Renault, Toro Rosso and Toyota were based upon conditions that have still yet to be met."

With more meetings scheduled for the next few days to try and reach a settlement, and FOTA having written to the FIA's World Motor Sport Council to step in and help find a resolution, the body did not hold back in its criticisms of the proposals put forward by the governing body.

"FOTA will continue to act constructively on resolving differences with the FIA. Regrettably FOTA is being forced to outline in detail our objections to the new arbitrary FIA proposals and 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 1, 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," added the statement.

"FOTA reaffirms the unity and strength of its members, welcomes the three new F1 entrants announced today and remains committed to work with all the bodies of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile to resolve our differences."

 

Will FOTA accept the new teams as members?

 

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