Force India not letting up on EU complaint

Force India's deputy team principal Bob Fernley reiterated the team's intention to pursue to the end its complaint filed with the European Union authorities.

Force India and Sauber officially lodged a complaint with the EU in September asking the Commission to investigate the governance of Formula 1 and the distribution of its revenue, which both teams deem as unfair and unlawful.

Speaking at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi last weekend, Fernley expressed his team's determination to follow through on the matter even if it entails facing the wrath of F1's supreme powers, adding that the complaint process is now ongoing and cannot be closed.

"We can't close it, so there's no question of that," Fernley told Reuters. "If they do decide to investigate, I think it will be quite rapid that Formula 1 will feel the effects of the EU."

Objections and grievances relating to revenue distribution rose to the surface last year when Force India, Lotus and Sauber voiced their concerns on the back of Caterham's demise and Marussia's financial troubles.

At the time, Formula 1 right's holder CVC had assured the querulous teams that something would be done to appease their concerns, but to date, nothing has materialized.

"They've had a year to be able to make the right approaches, to be able to put something in position that had been promised if you like after the Austin Grand Prix, " Fernly explained.

"The only way it can work now is for CVC to be accountable to a body that has the power to be able to bring them to task."

"I think 12 months of opportunity to correct things, or at least to be seen to be moving in the right direction, is more than enough time. And clearly that hasn't happened and we need to refer it to a body that has the powers to look into it independently."

In an interview last weekend with Sky Sports, questioned by Martin Brundle on the matter, Bernie Ecclestone admitted he wasn't sure of the exact nature of Sauber and Force India's complaint.

"I think they were wrong, but that's what they've done," Ecclestone said.

"The commission will have to look into it now for sure. I don't exactly know what their complaint is. Maybe they're spending too much money that they don't have. They don't seem to be able to organise a budget properly."

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