Whitmarsh Takes Up Reins At Fota
McLaren F1 team chief executive Martin Whitmarsh has been elected as chairman of the Formula 1 Teams’ Association (FOTA) for 2010.
The 51-year-old takes over from Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo but the Italian marque’s team leader Stefano Domenicali will become vice-chairman of the representative group.
Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn continues to lead FOTA’s technical regulations working group.
FOTA formed in 2008 to give teams a united front in their negotiations with motorsport’s governing body, the FIA.
The two organisations were engaged in a lengthy battle last season over the FIA’s proposal to introduce a mandatory budget and technical changes for 2010.
F1 was on the brink of collapse when FOTA, which had at one stage expelled Force India and Williams for breaking ranks, threatened to form a breakaway series.
A dissolution was avoided when then FIA president Max Mosley agreed to stand down in October and the teams signed up to a new Concorde Agreement – the document that sets out how F1 is run and its revenues distributed.
Whitmarsh will be charged with leading FOTA through the new season when four new teams are set to join the 2010 grid.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner will chair the sporting regulations working group, while former Renault boss Flavio Briatore’s commercial role will be managed collectively.
