Formula One Teams Association
The Formula One Teams Association ( FOTA ) was founded in 2008, association of active in Formula 1 racing teams. On July 29, 2008, the team leaders of all active at the time Formula 1 teams agreed on the creation of the Association. The declared aim of FOTA was it like working together with the sports federation Fédération Internationale de l' Automobile ( FIA) and the marketing company Formula One Management ( FOM ) on issues of the regulations and the economic environment. FOTA should therefore form the common interest group of the formula 1 teams in drafting the regulations and a new Concorde Agreement. The formal founding of the Association took place on 11 September 2008, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo (Ferrari) was honored for the chairman of FOTA. While The chairmanship shall alternate each year between the teams, for 2010, McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh has been elected to the office and confirmed in this capacity in 2011.
On February 28, 2014, the FOTA director Oliver Weingarten announced that the organization should be dissolved.
Members
In the FOTA at the time of dissolution following teams were represented as members:
- Malaysia Caterham
- India Force India
- Russia Marussia
- Germany Mercedes
Membership of Williams and Force India was temporarily suspended in June 2009, after both teams own the new conditions of the FIA for Formula 1 2010 season agreed, the remaining eight teams rejected the proposed regulations. In September 2009, the two suspended teams were included in the association after settlement of the FIA - FOTA conflict again. Since December 2010, HRT was not a member of FOTA more. Ferrari, Red Bull and Sauber announced in December 2011 to withdraw from FOTA known as consecutive even Toro Rosso.
FOTA / FIA conflict in 2009
2009 led FOTA and FIA a months-long dispute over the rules and conditions for participation in Formula 1 racing from 2010. This reached on 19 June 2009 its peak, the FOTA teams ( without the suspended at the time teams Williams and Force India ) known as tasks to prepare for the 2010 season have their own racing series regardless of the FIA. This would have meant a split in the race series. In the Formula 1 2010 season would then have been represented, with the exception of Williams and Force India, only new, previously unknown, team. Subject of the dispute was primarily a planned by the FIA voluntary budget cap for the teams participating. Racing stables, which, with a budget ( but excluding costs) deny a maximum of 40 million British pounds (about 45 million euros ) a Formula 1 season, greater freedom in the technical specifications would be given for the vehicles. Teams with higher annual budget would, however, follow a more restrictive technical regulations.
Since the three teams Ferrari, Red Bull and Toro Rosso had a part in the 2010 season before contractually represented to FIA president Max Mosley announced on 19 June 2009 to take legal action against the team for breach of contract. From this project, this was not after two days again to resume negotiations with the FOTA over to attend the Formula 1 2010 season.
An agreement between the parties was reached on June 24, 2009. Accordingly, it was agreed that FIA president Mosley does not provide for re-election in October and the regulations for the 2010 season the previous year corresponds, creating a budget cap was omitted. In return, the FOTA teams registered up to 2012 to participate in one of the Formula 1 World Championship and signed a new Concorde Agreement.