FOTA Blames FIA for Endangering F1 Peace

Following the FIA – FOTA representation yesterday afternoon, the teams' alliance issued a short statement, giving their stand on what went wrong during the Paris discussions. Accused by the international body that they walked out of the meeting, the FOTA insisted that the teams were not allowed to have a saying in next year's regulations.

“During the course of this meeting, the team managers were informed by Mr Charlie Whiting of the FIA that, contrary to previous agreements, the eight FOTA teams are not currently entered into the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and have no voting rights in relation to the technical and sporting regulations thereof,” said the statement.

“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 addition, the eight FOTA members insisted that the June 24 peace between the two bodies did not say that “unanimous agreement on regulations change” is a must in setting next year's regulations.

“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.'”

“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 FOTA members undertook the Paris agreement and the subsequent discussions in good faith and with a desire to engage with all new and existing teams on the future of Formula One,” concluded the statement.