While Hitech Grand Prix has reportedly taken legal action against the FIA ​​after its application to participate in the prestigious racing series was rejected, insider reports from British F1 journalist Joe Saward have revealed details of the ‘secret’ deal.

The FIA ​​invited new bids for a possible entry into Formula One, of which Hitech GP and Andretti Cadillac emerged as the leading candidates. Ultimately, the FIA ​​approved Andretti Cadillac’s bid for further evaluation, citing commercial viability, while Hitech GP’s bid was rejected. This rejection did not please Hitech GP, led by Oliver Oakes, who believed their project was superior to Andretti’s.

Oakes and his supporters were convinced that the FIA ​​had overstepped its bounds by rejecting their bid on financial grounds, leading them to launch a quiet but determined legal battle, a closely guarded legal action challenging the FIA’s authority to interfere with the commercial aspects of Formula One’s participation.

Saward shared his views on the legal process in his latest Green Notebook as follows:

“Alpine’s new team boss Oliver Oakes will probably have a bumpy ride in the coming months, but it will be a rewarding experience. He will live happily ever after no matter what, because the Hitech Grand Prix organisation is said to be receiving a significant amount of money from the FIA ​​in the next few months. Hitech wanted to move to F1 and made an offer at the same time as Andretti. Hitech was rejected by the FIA.

“Oakes and his supporters felt this was unfair as they believed they had a better project than Andretti. This led to a quiet legal process as the FIA ​​rejected the offer on financial grounds. Hitech is said to have argued that the FIA ​​should not be involved in any commercial decisions regarding F1 and therefore could not do what it did. In order to avoid another omelette falling from the sky on the heads of FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and his advisors, it was agreed that the matter would be resolved through a secret arbitration process so that Oakes could argue over money and no one would know much about it.”

In the first stage of the arbitration, Hitech GP won a victory on its legal costs, arguing that its case had significant credibility. The focus now shifts to the upcoming second stage, due on September 16, when the financial damages owed to Hitech will be assessed. As Saward put it:

“Nobody wants to talk about this dispute but there is a dispute and I heard that the first stage has been completed. Hitech is said to have won a larger share of the legal costs involved, which suggests that the stewards think its case is better than the FIA’s. There is now expected to be a second stage to assess damages. This is expected to take place on September 16.

“Oakes won’t say a word and the FIA ​​won’t even acknowledge the case. I think we’ll all have to look at the FIA ​​accounts and see what the cost is, but sometimes they involve large amounts that are not disclosed. Given the ongoing chaos with Andretti, it’s possible that the FIA ​​President’s idea of ​​opening the entry process may not be a good one because it has led to nothing but pain.”