Formula 1 is set to be investigated by the European Commission over claims it is being run like a ‘cartel’ following an official complaint by both Force India and Sauber.
The complaint centres around how the sport is governed, with only the top teams able to vote on future rules as members of the F1 Strategy Group.
Meanwhile another concern is the way prize money is distributed, with large sums set aside for ‘historical payments’ to a few select teams such as Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, Williams and Red Bull.
The threat of an investigation has been hanging over the sport for years and picked up speed when Labour MEP Anneliese Dodds wrote to European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager last year.
Dodds said she had “real concerns” about how the sport was being run following the collapse of Caterham and Marussia, but was told an investigation would only happen if a complaint came from a participant.
“The Commissioner in charge has made it clear to me that she can’t do anything until the teams themselves submit a formal complaint, and so if that’s what the teams feel is right then that is what they should do.”
Both Force India and Sauber have done exactly that, with the Silverstone based team confirming so in a statement: “Sahara Force India is one of two teams to have registered a complaint with the European Union questioning the governance of Formula 1 and showing that the system of dividing revenues and determining how Formula 1’s rules are set is both unfair and unlawful.
“Due to the ongoing legal discussions, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”
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