F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone "does not blame Force India and Sauber for voicing their dissatisfaction" with F1 through an official complaint to the European Union, according to Ian Parkes of AUTOSPORT. The teams have lodged a complaint to the EU competitions commission regarding F1's governance and payment structure, as negotiated by Ecclestone and F1 owner CVC Capital Partners. Ecclestone: "We haven't discouraged or encouraged anybody to do anything. That's what the European Union is there for, for these sorts of things. They [the teams] must give it a go, and if they're successful it's good, and if not then it costs nothing." If the EU decides to investigate and F1 is found culpable of an "abuse of power in the way it handles its affairs," a fine of 10% of turnover -- which last year was £1.06B ($1.6B) -- can be levied, as well as "forcing a shake up of its structure." Ecclestone remains unconcerned, "and holds no ill feeling" toward Force India and Sauber in their bid to "compete on a more equal financial footing." Ecclestone said, "The bottom line is, what they [the teams] are saying is we're giving too much money to some people and not enough to the others. But all this was done whereby everybody knew what they would be getting and what would happen, and they all signed contracts which were very clear. They've had a change of heart I suppose, and I don't blame them, not at all." Ecclestone has confirmed being "fully informed by both teams ahead of the complaint being made," which allowed him to keep CVC CEO Donald Mackenzie in the loop. He said, "I warned him this was going to happen, so he feels the same as me. He's not disappointed or annoyed" (AUTOSPORT, 9/29).
URGENT PRIORITY: In London, Kevin Eason reported Ecclestone warned last night that Red Bull could walk out of F1 if EU investigators demand that they hand back £46M ($70M) in special payments. He said that Red Bull Owner Dietrich Mateschitz had "tired of the sport and could pull the plug imminently" on his four-time world champion team. Ecclestone: "He has probably had enough of everything going on. I am doing everything I can to make sure Red Bull stay with us, but things need to come together quickly. He is serious when he says he will quit if things don't improve." Ecclestone's "most urgent priority is to keep Red Bull in F1 by finding an engine supplier fast." Mateschitz has threatened to pull Red Bull and Toro Rosso, his junior team, out of the sport "unless they can find a top-class engine supplier for next season" (LONDON TIMES, 9/30).
TEAMS PUSH FOR MICHELIN: The BBC's Andrew Benson reported Ecclestone "is coming under pressure behind the scenes to pick Michelin rather than Pirelli" as the sport's next tire supplier. Pirelli's deal began in '11 but it is in competition with Michelin for the new contract that runs from '17-19. Several leading teams have "expressed a preference for a change because of concerns about Pirelli after a series of problems." The FIA is also said to "have doubts about the Italian company." One leading figure said, "There is a number of people making that position clear to Bernie" (BBC, 9/30).
AUSTRALIAN GP PUSHED FORWARD: In Sydney, Mark Fogarty reported next year's Australian Grand Prix has been rescheduled two weeks earlier than planned "following the expected reshuffle" of the F1 calendar. It was confirmed on Wednesday night that the Melbourne GP at Albert Park will open the '16 F1 season on March 20 instead of April 3 as originally announced. Bringing the Australian GP forward to "closer to its usual mid-March timing was one of several changes to the F1 calendar" approved by FIA's World Motor Sport Council at its meeting in Paris on Wednesday (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/30). Formula 1 also announced new rules to increase the noise of cars. From '16, all cars must have a separate exhaust wastegate tailpipe through which all and only wastegate exhaust gases must pass. This move will not have any significant effect on power or emissions. Other changes include cars now being required to comply with all cockpit and safety equipment requirements during testing; such as the position of the driver's head, all headrest padding, cockpit padding and ease of driver egress. Also, any driver who causes a start to be aborted, even if he is then able to start the extra formation lap, will be required to start the race from the pit lane. The same process will be applied to a re-start from a race suspension where drivers have been brought to the pit lane. For '17, on-board cameras on stalks on the nose of cars will be prohibited (F1).
Revised '16 calendar:
March 20 - Australia
April 3 - Bahrain
April 17 - China
May 1 - Russia
May 15 - Spain
May 29 - Monaco
June 12 - Canada
June 19 - Azerbaijan
July 3 - Austria
July 10 - Great Britain
July 24 - Hungary
July 31 - Germany
Aug. 28 - Belgium
Sept. 4 - Italy
Sept. 18 - Singapore
Oct. 2 - Malaysia
Oct. 9 - Japan
Oct. 23 - U.S.
Nov. 6 - Mexico
Nov. 13 - Brazil
Nov. 27 - Abu Dhabi
