Mallya puts his faith in Strategy Group teams

2013 F1 season

Posted on

| Written by

Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya says he believes the major teams who are represented in the new F1 Strategy Group will not use their influence to the disadvantage of their rivals.

Five out of the eleven teams have permanent representation in the group: Ferrari, Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren and Williams, with Lotus currently enjoying representation as the highest-placed of the remaining teams in the constructors’ championship.

This has led to concerns that the wealthier teams will use the group to propose rules which will be to their benefit at the expense of smaller teams like Sauber and Force India.

Mallya said his fears about that had been assuaged. “When this was first mooted, I definitely did question whether the intention was to restrict decision-making to the six teams, to the exclusion of the smaller teams,” he said during today’s press conference.

“But when I was assured that that was not going to be the case, that the Strategy Group was to advise on future strategy concerning Formula One, to be then debated or voted upon at the Formula One Commission where all teams are represented, that obviously was a source of comfort.

“I’ve spoken individually to many team principals who are part of the big six as I call them, and all of them have assured me, as indeed Stefano [Domenicali, Ferrari team principal] did now, that they will look after the interests of all, which includes the smaller teams.”

Mallya, the only team principal who has a seat on the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council, said that led him to approve the creation of the Strategy Group.

“On the basis of that assurance I actually voted to approve this new structure at the World Motor Sport Council, so so long as things work out the way they are intended to.”

“Only time will tell,” he added. But not all of his fellow team principals share his expectation that the teams on the Strategy Group will put their competitive impulses aside and refrain from using it to disadvantage their rivals.

“Clearly Sauber is not so comfortable with it,” said team principal Monisha Kaltenborn, “because we are not on it”.

“We have nothing, as such, against a group that looks at certain matters and can bring up ideas and also maybe say that this is the right way to go ahead but what matters is that all interests should be represented.

“Teams like Force India or Sauber are part of the competition and we cannot be happy by being excluded by this group because we do feel that we have to ensure that that’s where the danger lies that there’s a proper representation of interests in there.”

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner pointed out that the decisions of the Strategy Group still required approval from the Formula One Commission, on which all teams are represented:

“All the teams still sit on the Formula One Commission that still very much exists, that has the right to reject or approve regulations to be introduced.

“But the Strategic Group is made up of teams that have made a firm commitment to the sport for many years to come and it’s a way of hopefully effectively introducing changes with the consultation of others because other groups will still exist but it’s hopefully an efficient way of introducing changes to the sport in years to come and I think that it is a positive thing. Time will tell if it works or not.”

2013 F1 season


Browse all 2013 F1 season articles

Image © Force India

Author information

Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

Got a potential story, tip or enquiry? Find out more about RaceFans and contact us here.

7 comments on “Mallya puts his faith in Strategy Group teams”

  1. Of course he doesn’t believe that. And of course they will.

    1. Yes. I find it a real shame, but it will be used unfairly. I just hope he is right.

      I can’t believe what a stupid and unfair decision was made.

    2. I hope Williams provides a counterbalance to the rest of the teams. I suspect FI, Sauber and Williams share a fairly similar ground when it comes to opinions on how the sport is run.

      1. Sauber and Williams are old timers. 20 years….Only Mc Laren and Ferrari can say the same.

    3. Force India co-owner Vijay Mallya says he believes the major teams who are represented in the new F1 Strategy Group will not use their influence to the disadvantage of their rivals.

      SAY WHAT?

      “I’ve spoken individually to many team principals who are part of the big six as I call them, and all of them have assured me, as indeed Stefano [Domenicali, Ferrari team principal] did now, that they will look after the interests of all, which includes the smaller teams.

      IS HE DELUSIONAL? Why would he say such an unbelievable thing?

      Mallya, the only team principal who has a seat on the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council, said that led him to approve the creation of the Strategy Group.

      OH, b/c he’s the dirtbag who voted to approve the structure, and now he’s in CYA-mode.

      Funny how what Mallya claims is the exact opposite of what’s been reported consistently, for the past year-plus, by proper investigative journalists like Dieter Rencken (vs. official spokespeople, pro-CVC/FOM PR stooges, and just-happy-to-be-involved bloggers). I know who I’ll trust! (Kaltenborn – a woman who says what she means, and means what she says – without pulling any punches!)

  2. Deep. This should be offseason discussion.
    I think even giants are in need of cash. Not only Lotus and Sauber. Finally, this crazy money race…hit RedBull.
    I dont agree on selling last year cars. I do agree on sellling current cars. Then…If I can sit a good driver in that car and come up with a good strategy…voila….

    Kaltenborn got her money. And Sauber is scaring the big players (but RedBull).
    Chapeau (hats off) for the Kaltenborn, Boullier and Mallya. They are F1.

  3. Love him or hate him, one thing is undeniable, Bernie Ecclestone knows that teams are only interested in their own interests and try and find advantages over their rivals by any means, including “strategy groups”. In any case, I think this may work for the shorter term because all teams are struggling to finance their operations in F1’s current form and that will be probably be the biggest talking point in these sessions.

Comments are closed.