Ferrari and Red Bull Racing withdraw from FOTA

Amid ongoing debate about the future of FOTA, with teams failing to agree a way forward for the RRA after a crunch meeting at the Brazilian Grand Prix, high level sources have revealed that both Ferrari and Red Bull Racing have lodged notification that they intend to leave the organisation.

It is understood that both teams wrote to FOTA earlier this week to inform them of their decision.

Neither Red Bull Racing nor Ferrari would comment on the situation when contacted by AUTOSPORT on Friday to discuss it.

A spokesman for FOTA confirmed only that the body had received notice from two teams that they no longer intended to be a part of it, but would not elaborate on which teams they were.

"FOTA confirms it has received the resignation of two teams," said a spokesman. "Whilst considering its next steps, FOTA will continue to work on behalf of its members to achieve the aims of the organisation."

FOTA's latest statutes mean that teams must give a two-month notice period to leave the organisation, which means Red Bull Racing and Ferrari will officially depart the body by the start of February next year - providing they do not change their mind.

Ferrari has viewed a deal over the RRA as key to FOTA's future - with Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali warning earlier this year that if a deal could not be reached to sort out cost controls within FOTA then the future of the body should be called into question.

Speaking at the Korean Grand Prix, Domenicali said: "If this [mistrust] will come out of FOTA activity then what is FOTA all about? We know the reason why FOTA started, and now we need to understand if FOTA is still needed. What are the objectives of the future of FOTA, if there is a future for FOTA?

"We need to do that in a very constructive way, a very open way. That is the discussion that I believe in the next weeks is important to take over."

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner said at the same race: "I think that FOTA has reached the crossroads where it needs to deal with some of the key issues moving forward or we'll stop. It's as simple as that.

"The principal issues are obviously the Concorde Agreement, the direction that goes in, and fundamentally the RRA (Resource Restriction Agreement). If we can't find agreement within FOTA on that, then what is the purpose of FOTA?"

Although the main battleground between the teams has been over the RRA, and the departure of Ferrari and Red Bull Racing has been linked to this, AUTOSPORT understands that outfits are still working hard to try and find agreement on the matter.

Sources have revealed that the four biggest teams - Ferrari, Red Bull Racing, McLaren and Mercedes - have agreed to meet privately within the next fortnight to try and make progress on the RRA.

If these teams can resolve their differences, then the plan is to then return to other FOTA members with a solution that can then be implemented by all outfits.