Hispania have dropped out of the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) The F1 Times can confirm.
The split happened in late-December according to a spokesperson for the team, blaming the politics surrounding the association which ‘favours the bigger teams’.
“I am able to confirm we [Hispania] have left FOTA in December,” the spokesperson told The F1 Times.
“Hispania Racing wish FOTA the best in the future. But it made no sense for a small team as we are, because of the politics.”
This explanation goes against rumours that the team failed to pay the €100,000 membership fee, although according to a source within FOTA, the failure to pay this fee may in fact be the reason the Spanish team is no longer a member.
The association aims to improve the sports image around the world and can make changes to the sporting and technical regulations via an agreement among members, for example, in 2010 a ban on KERS was agreed, although under the official rules, the energy recovery system was still allowed.
Every member, which currently includes all the teams minus Hispania, are allowed to vote on changes. With HRT splitting from the organisation, any changes FOTA make, HRT will not have to abide by.
The teams logo has also been removed from the FOTA website.
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