Failed new F1 entrant to report FIA to the EC

[John S]

Just when we all thought the new Concorde deal would be the end of politiking one of the overlooked teams decides to challenge the sordid world of the FIA. The EC has always wanted to have more say over the world of F1, this gives them perfect opportunity. Where will it all end?


By Christian Sylt and Caroline Reid, The Daily Telegraph

Formula 1 motor racing could face an anti-competition investigation after a complaint was lodged on Wednesday with the European Commission alleging bias in the sport's selection process for new entrants.
 
The complaint was made by Serbian engineering company AMCO which intended to enter F1 next year with its Stefan Grand Prix team, named after chief executive Zoran Stefanovic. He claims that F1's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), broke competition law by insisting that new teams use engines made by Northamptonshire-based Cosworth.

Its complaint says that "AMCO Corporation was forced by the FIA to sign with Cosworth and AMCO is complaining because of that... There is an element of plot behind our back which we are not capable of getting rid of without the Directorate General for Competition."

AMCO originally planned to use an engine from F1's current manufacturers, such as Mercedes and Ferrari, but reluctantly agreed to switch to Cosworth as per the FIA's alleged demand.

However AMCO's application was rejected and it has complained to the EC in an attempt to get the selection process carried out again.

AMCO claims that the justification for this is a breach of the competition law preventing restrictive practices which "limit or control production, markets, technical development, or investment..."

The risk that the EC could declare the selection process invalid may alone be enough to derail the plans of Manor, Campos and US F1, the three teams which were selected by the FIA to join F1 next year. They are in the process of raising the $100 million (£60 million) needed to compete in F1 and any cloud over their participation could weaken their chances. However, AMCO said that carrying out the team selection again would ultimately be in the best interests of the sport because preventing other manufacturers from supplying engines "is an act of limiting technical development, not just competition, and such restriction is blatantly damaging to Formula 1."

This would not be the first time that F1 has suffered the wrath of the EC.

In the late 1990s the FIA had to sell the rights to the sport for 100 years and made significant changes to its structure after a ruling that it had restricted competition through its support of F1.

[Scott]

Can't exactly blame them though, can we.  When that whole story about forcing new entries to use Cosworth came out I wondered how long it would take for something like this to happen.  Once more, Max assumes he is above all law.

[lkjohnson1950]

Hear, hear! If it can be proven that the FIA was compelling new teams to choose Cosworth, than more power to them. This may be the end of the FIA as we know it.

Lonny

[Alianora La Canta]

The FIA needs to learn from its mistakes, and if it takes a Serbian company which hasn't updated its web site for three months to do it, then all power to that company

Granted, I don't think the company would have had any chance whatsoever of being selected on merit, but the other side of that coin is that it has nothing to lose by revealing the truth of what the FIA is like to the world.

[SennaMan]

all power to them too - someone has to drag the FIA, screaming if need be, into the third millenium where organisations are meant to be consensual, transparent and accountable

[Jericoke]

I don't know what criteria the FIA used, but it's pretty easy to see why they would pick an American team.  Anyone with an opinion on F1 will tell you that they need an American presence.  FIA is also pushing F1 hard in Spain, so Campos seems like a good fit.

I couldn't say what sets Manor ahead of anyone.  Perhaps Richard Branson's continued interest in F1 is seen as key to bringing in other billionaires?

[John S]

I couldn't say what sets Manor ahead of anyone.  Perhaps Richard Branson's continued interest in F1 is seen as key to bringing in other billionaires?

Try, 'Friends of Max.'