F1
Nate Saunders, General Editor, F1 9y

F1 set for European Union anti-competition investigation

Formula One's system of governance and allocation of prize money is set to be investigated by the European Union following official complaints lodged by Force India and Sauber.

Both teams have been vocal critics of the F1 Strategy Group, which shuts out the small teams in the decision-making process, as well as the fact prize money is weighted heavily in favour of front-running outfits. Both teams were advocates of the budget cap proposal which was shot down by the Strategy Group in 2014. 

A statement from Force India said: "Sahara Force India is one of two teams to have registered a complaint with the European Union questioning the governance of Formula One and showing that the system of dividing revenues and determining how Formula One's rules are set is both unfair and unlawful. Due to the ongoing legal discussions, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Earlier this year, Labour MEP (Member of European Parliament) Anneliese Dodds wrote to the European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager to outline her concerns that the series was in breach of EU law after Marussia and Caterham -- both based in her constituency -- went into administration in the final months of the 2014 season. Marussia came out of administration and re-joined the grid as Manor this season. 

Dodds later said the onus was on teams to force an EU probe.

"Ever since the collapse of Marussia and Caterham last year, I have had real concerns about the way things are going with Formula One," she said in July. "This doesn't just mean two fewer teams taking part in races throughout the season; it means hundreds of highly skilled people in my constituency losing their jobs and their livelihoods.

"That's why I've raised this issue a number of times in Brussels, to see if there is a competition case to answer here. The Commissioner in charge has made it clear to me that she can't do anything until the teams themselves submit a formal complaint, and so if that's what the teams feel is right then that is what they should do."

If an EU investigation decides Force India and Sauber's complaints are valid it could intervene and force drastic changes to the way the sport is run. 

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