user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
Small teams write 'explosive' letter on budget cap collapse

Small teams write 'explosive' letter on budget cap collapse

  • Published on 16 Apr 2014 10:05
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
F1's four smallest teams have written a letter complaining about the state of the sport. Germany's Sport Bild revealed that the letter, initiated by Marussia and also signed by Caterham, Force India and Sauber, was addressed to the other seven teams as well as Bernie Ecclestone and FIA president Jean Todt.

The report said a main complaint of the letter is about the new and rule-influential Strategy Group, made up of the grid's 'big five' teams and, for historic reasons, Williams. The letter follows hot on the heels of Todt's admission that his plans for a mandatory budget cap for 2015 have been scrapped, due to the sudden withdrawal of support of the powerful Strategy Group teams.

The new group, who receive the lion's share of the commercial revenue distributed by Ecclestone, has replaced the old rule-making technical and sporting working groups. "We have a situation where we have enriched and empowered five teams and disenfranchised six," Force India's Bob Fernley told the Guardian last month. "The six disenfranchised teams are worthless."

The smallest teams are now reportedly warning that, unless their complaints are listened to, the grid could dramatically dwindle as the more expensive rules take their toll. "All the teams have taken the cost increase of the new technology but only five have been enriched because of the disproportionate share of the money coming into F1," Fernley explained. "It's inevitable that all the smaller teams could fall by the wayside."

Sport Bild said the small teams, arguing that their marginalisation could even be contrary to European competition law, want urgent talks to be held ahead of this weekend's Chinese grand prix in Shanghai.

The report quoted an unnamed Red Bull chief as saying: "The letter is explosive and also justified. We do need to change something, starting with a fairer distribution of money, so that the smaller teams get more of the pie. We also need to make the sport more attractive, in order to attract more sponsors," the insider added. (GMM)
F1 News Williams Force India Sauber Marussia

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
155
2
Ferrari
129
3
McLaren
74
4
Mercedes
42
5
Aston Martin
33
6
Visa Cash App RB
7
7
Haas F1
4
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Team profile

Williams
Williams
Show full profile
show sidebar