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Sauber withdraw from the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA)
Red Bull and Ferrari pulled out of the umbrella body last week
FOTA formed in 2008 to help teams negotiate with FIA and commercial rights holders
Sauber followed in the footsteps of Red Bull and Ferrari Thursday by becoming the third team in the last week to announce their withdrawal from the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA).
The Swiss marque elected not to divulge their reasons for leaving the umbrella group, which was formed in 2008 to help teams during negotiations with the sport’s governing body and F1’s commercial rights holders.
“Last week the Sauber F1 Team declared its departure from the Formula One Teams’ Association FOTA,” read a statement from Sauber. “We have explained the reasons for the decision to FOTA.”
At present, eight of the 12 teams on the grid are still in FOTA. Hispania left the organization at the end of their debut season in F1 in 2010.
Red Bull, who have claimed the constructors’ title and drivers’ championship through German Sebastian Vettel in each of the last two seasons, and Ferrari withdrew from FOTA due to disagreements over cost-cutting measures in the sport.
Despite leaving FOTA, both Red Bull and Ferrari have said they are committed to working within F1’s Resource Restriction Agreement – which aims to limit team’s budgets.
Sauber, in their current form, have been competing in the elite division of motorsport since 2010, having been repurchased by current team principal Peter Sauber.
The team’s Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi finished the 2011 season 12th in the drivers’ standings, while Mexico’s Sergio Perez was 16th.
Sauber were seventh in the constructors’ championship.
