F1 teams' EU complaint taken on by recently-formed department

Force India and Sauber's pursuit of its grievance against Formula 1 with the European Union Competitions Commission has been switched to a recently-created department within the organisation

In September last year the two teams lodged an official complaint with the Commission, citing the division of revenues and drawing up of rules as "unfair and unlawful".

The two teams are drawing upon Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) that prohibits anti-competitive agreements and the abuse of dominant market positions.

While it has now been eight months since the complaint was made, the case remains open.

With the Commission dealing with high-profile cases such as one involving Google, earlier this year it formed an internal division to deal solely with sporting matters, of which the F1 case is one.

It means there is now a greater opportunity the situation will be dealt with faster than had previously been the case.

Early last month F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone confirmed to holding "conversations" with the Commission as part of its early investigation into the matter.

At the time Ecclestone said: "They're starting to get more and more interested in the anti-competitive way that we've got.

"Conversations have taken place and they will do what is the right thing to do."