The threat of a European competition commission investigation could once again be hanging over Formula 1 with a renewed push from the sport’s smaller teams.
Margrethe Vestager, Denmark’s European competition commissioner, previously said an investigation wouldn’t happen unless a formal complaint was lodged. That now seems on the cards according to the Financial Times newspaper.
A number of F1 teams, namely those not represented in the Strategy Group, are angry at how they have very little say in how the sport is run, whilst they also receive an unfair proportion of prize money.
It’s been rumoured that a formal complaint is currently being drafted by at least two of those teams – they wish to remain anonomous fearing retaliation – aimed squarely at Bernie Ecclestone.
“There’s a head of steam now,” an unnamed source is quoted as saying. “This isn’t a problem that’s going away.”
Ecclestone responded to the claims, urging them to go ahead with filing a complaint.
“It is strange,” he said. “I would like to know what they want. Nobody has ever made any requests to me about what they want. They all signed contracts.
“We will wait for the complaint,” added the 84-year-old. “I hope the complaint goes ahead and the competition authorities have enough patience and time to deal with it.”
Note: Lead photo does not indicate who might have initiated a complaint.
