The future of Formula One is again in doubt after leading teams walked out of an FIA meeting called to discuss next year’s regulations.
In the meeting at the Nurburgring yesterday, the FIA’s Charlie Whiting informed the eight Formula One Teams Association outfits that they were currently entered into the 2010 Formula One championship and have no voting rights in relation to the technical and sporting regulations.
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A FOTA statement said, “It will be remembered that all eight active FOTA members were included on the 'accepted' entry list as endorsed by the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) and communicated by FIA press statement on June 24.
“In light of these claims, the FOTA representatives requested a postponement of today's meetings. This was rejected on the grounds that no new Concorde Agreement would be permitted before a unanimous approval of the 2010 regulations was achieved.”
“As endorsed by the WMSC and clearly stated in the FIA press statement of 24 June, ‘The rules for 2010 onwards will be the 2009 regulations as well as further regulations agreed prior to 29 April 2009.’
“At no point in the Paris discussions was any requirement for unanimous agreement on regulations change expressed. To subsequently go against the will of the WMSC and the detail of the Paris agreement puts the future of Formula 1 in jeopardy.
“As a result of these statements, the FOTA representatives at the subsequent Technical Working Group were not able to exercise their rights and therefore had no option other than to terminate their participation.”
The latest developments have reportedly angered F1’s commercial rights holder CVC. Although not mentioned in FOTA’s statement, the threat of a breakaway series is again very real and F1’s future remains in doubt.
The FIA has yet to comment on the matter.
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