It is understood a new draft mandate has been sent out to the teams, but
agreement is not thought to be likely.
FOTA’s general secretary, Oliver Weingarten, said: “I can confirm that the
teams have met in discussion as to how to potentially restructure the
association and continue and further the engagement with the non-members,
who have benefited from FOTA activities over the last 12 months.”
The association has not been able to fulfill its original purpose in recent
seasons, with one senior figure in the paddock telling The Telegraph that
the departure of Ferrari and Red Bull marked a “lost opportunity” for FOTA.
In recent seasons it has had to focus on less contentious issues, such as
fans’ forums, liaising with circuits on facilities, as well as negotiating a
tyre blanket deal with Pirelli.
Bob Fearnley, deputy team principal at Force India, said: “We have to
recognise that it was a lost opportunity. I don’t think there’s any question
about that one, but we can’t undo where we are today.
“Unfortunately we lost that opportunity to be able to collectively work and
come to an agreement with the commercial rights holder, but that’s it.”
In contrast to sources at FOTA, Fearnley said he is positive about the future
and he counts the chances of bringing Red Bull and Ferrari back on board as
“very good”.
Part of the association’s problem is that it has not enjoyed a smooth
relationship with the sport’s supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
“Naturally Bernie would have seen it as a threat, when you’re looking at doing
collective bargaining”, Fearnley added. “But when we’re looking at building
fan forums and working for the promotion of Formula One, then obviously we’d
like to do it in conjunction with Formula One Management. We’re trying to
align ourselves with them and enhance the process.”
Ferrari, Red Bull, Sauber and Toro Rosso are currently not part of FOTA, and
when the prancing horse left the association in December 2011, it said it
had lost impetus and “run its course”.
Graeme Lowdon, Marussia’s CEO, said it would be a “shame” if FOTA ceased to
exist, adding that the source of the problem is the widely different
priorities of the sport’s 11 teams.
“I think it would be unfortunate if there wasn’t a forum for the teams to
discuss issues”, Lowdon said. “The teams should have common objectives. We
certainly experience a lot of the same things. We all work to the same
rules, go to all the same places. In a truly efficient structure, there
would be very much an important role.
“It’s difficult when you’ve got some teams whose primary objective is
financial survival, and others is to promote a product.”