Now FIA to turn to Courts

With Ferrari’s legal action not bearing any fruits for the Italian giants, it is now the FIA’s turn to hit the courts as they threaten to sue the FOTA over the threat of starting a breakaway series.

Scuderia Ferrari, McLaren Mercedes, Renault F1, Toyota F1, BMW Sauber, Brawn GP, Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Toro Rosso, together forming FOTA, announced that they will not be a part of the 2010 Formula One championships. All these teams decided to pursue a rival series that they would themselves setup. >

The member teams met up with the FIA president Max Mosley as well as F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone today, ahead of the British Grand Prix. The paddock meeting saw the FOTA reject the FIA’s final offer and now the Formula One Association believes that the only way forward is through legal action.

The FIA released a statement soon afterwards saying,”The FIA’s lawyers have now examined the FOTA threat to begin a breakaway series.

“The actions of FOTA as a whole, and Ferrari in particular, amount to serious violations of law including wilful interference with contractual relations, direct breaches of Ferrari’s legal obligations and a grave violation of competition law.

“The FIA will be issuing legal proceedings without delay.

“Preparations for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship continue but publication of the final 2010 entry list will be put on hold while the FIA asserts its legal rights.”

Now with confirmation that none of the top teams including newcomers Brawn GP, who are in all likelihood heading for a title on debut, will not take to the starting grid at Melbourne next year. What remains to be seen is whether the court upholds the FIA’s case and prevents the creation of a breakaway league.

In all probability, the breakaway league is scheduled to happen and will, with its team lineup, take away the glory of Formula One which will probably be stuck with lower grade teams filling up the remaining spots on the grid.