F1 cleared by EU Competition Commission

The EU Competition Commission has formally cleared the FIA and Formula One after a two-year study of potential conflicts of interest. A statement read: "The Commission is satisfied that the conflicts of interest identified in the FIA regulations, and the restrictions that had been put on circuit owners, F1 teams and TV broadcasters, have been ended."

Oct 31, 2003, 10:52 AM

After a long dispute with the Commission, the FIA was compelled to cease all commercial involvement in F1 and other motorsport, and Bernie Ecclestone to resign his position as its VP Promotions. In 2001, the Commission finally dropped its full investigation into F1 when the FIA also agreed to rule changes making it easier for F1 manufacturers and circuit owners to run in alternative competitions.

As part of the deal, the Commission was to check that that FIA had honoured these commitments and remained in a purely regulatory role in world motorsport. Ecclestone's Formula One group had also complied with its requirements to free up TV broadcasting rights, the Commission said.