Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global
Breaking news

F1 field pushing for new teams' body

Leading Formula 1 teams are in the early stages of creating a new ‘FOTA-style' body to protect their financial interests and regulatory advantages following the takeover by Liberty Media.

(L to R): Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing Team Principal with Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal and Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director

(L to R): Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing Team Principal with Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal and Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director

XPB Images

(L to R): Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing Team Principal with Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal and Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director
The FIA Press Conference (from back row (L to R)): Guenther Steiner, Haas F1 Team Principal; Monisha Kaltenborn, Sauber Team Principal; Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport F1 Managing Director; Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing Team Principal; Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director; Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal
(L to R): Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal with Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director
Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal, Franz Tost, Scuderia Toro Rosso Team Principal and Eric Boullier, McLaren Racing Director
Press Conference (From back row (L to R)): Cyril Abiteboul, Renault Sport F1 Managing Director, Eric Boullier, McLaren Racing Director; Gene Haas, Haas Automotion President, Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing Team Principal, Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG F1 Shareholder and Executive Director, Maurizio Arrivabene, Ferrari Team Principal.
FOTA Fans Forum 2011, Milano: Stefano Domenicali, Team Principal Scuderia Ferrari
FOTA Fans Forum 2011, Milano: FOTA Fans Forum 2011
FOTA Fans

Motorsport.com's sister publication Autosport has learned that a senior F1 team figure is leading moves to gather support for a team body that would act collectively to secure the strongest financial position and benefits for teams currently protected by the 'Constructors' Championship Bonus'.

The CCB applies to Mercedes, Red Bull Racing, Ferrari and McLaren and guarantees that those teams receive preferential financial payments from F1's commercial rights holder.

Any move to create a new teams' body would be potentially divisive.

Liberty, which takes control through the newly formed Formula One Group, has identified F1's inequitable payments system as both unfair and a source of conflict, and it has targeted it for reform.

That position would appear to place Liberty at odds with some of the CCB teams and has the potential to give rise to financial disputes.

Existing arrangements with the Bernie Ecclestone-led Formula One Management earned those four teams a 65 percent share of total team payments, with only 35 percent being paid out between the remainder.

While none of the senior team figures contacted by Autosport would confirm on the record that moves are being made to create a new teams' association, none denied that conversations between the teams were already taking place.

One, who did not wish to be named, admitted: "We are prepared to engage in team meetings and discussions, but the progress of those talks may necessarily be somewhat fraught, and [certain CCB teams] may attempt to protect privileged positions."

But he added: "We must all work together for the good of F1 by helping Formula One Group."

The original Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) was formed in 2008 to act as a collective voice at a time when political disputes over how F1 was run by FOM and governing body the FIA had become exceptionally bitter.

It was disbanded in 2014 after waning interest and various breakaways in the wake of deals struck by FOM and CCB teams.

It is unclear how any new body would serve the interests of all teams, rather than acting to serve the interests of the teams that already take the greatest share of F1's revenue.

One independent team boss speculated there could ultimately be two "FOTAs" - one for the CCB teams and another representing independent interests.

Anthony Rowlinson and Dieter Rencken

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Pirelli: Don't blame us if F1 races are boring
Next article The Green Hell – new film celebrates legendary F1 venue, the Nürburgring

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Global