Why Lotus did not file a complaint with the European Commission

In the category of the five teams that may feel aggrieved, besides Sauber and Sahara Force India, we find Lotus, Toro Rosso, and Manor. Indeed, these five structures only receive payments from the FOM based on their on-track performances, and not for their historical contribution to the sport, as is the case for the other five.

It could have been imagined that the five teams would form a bloc to give more weight to their complaints against the European commissioners. Matthew Carter, the director of Lotus, admitted that if it were up to him, he could have joined his two colleagues: « From my personal point of view, if we had taken another route than the one with potential new owners, we would certainly have done it. »

Nevertheless, Lotus has decided not to follow this route, after extensive consultation with Renault, which is negotiating its return as a 100% team: « However, at the moment, we are trying to find a way out of the turbulence we are currently experiencing. We have been advised and have discussed the way forward at a high level, and we have decided not to join the action. »

The reason is quite simple: as part of its negotiations to repurchase its former team, Renault is precisely trying to convince Bernie Ecclestone that it is a historic team and therefore deserves an exceptional payment, just like the other manufacturers involved in the sport.

As for Toro Rosso, as a sister team of Red Bull, which is among the privileged, there was obviously no question of jeopardizing a situation where the group benefits, but if Franz Tost prefers to speak of respecting commitments made: « *”We signed a contract a few years ago. We knew its content and we have no reason to turn against the holder of the commercial rights.”* »

But Vijay Mallya, the owner of Sahara Force India, is not giving up and intends to continue his action: « I understand Franz’s arguments regarding the signed contracts. Yes, I can confirm that contracts have been signed, but the disparity between the signed contracts was unknown to us at the time we signed these contracts. »

With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr