Spot the gaps on the grid

But there will be many more looking at the gaps on the grid when the teams line up for the start. Caterham and Marussia were both given dispensation by Bernie Ecclestone to miss this race and the following one in  Brazil.

Caterham were first the big news, with all sorts of accusations flying regarding disputed ownership of the team. But now Marussia have headlines after being placed under financial administration.

You will probably remember a Concorde agreement some years ago that was signed by all members of Formula One Management (FOM) and the Formula One Teams Association (Fota). 

At times there were protracted negotiations and, on the odd occasion, even a call for a breakaway series when things were just not working out between the parties.

The situation changed a few years ago and we now find ourselves with the Strategy Group, consisting of Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, Mercedes and 
Williams and, this year, Lotus – along with representatives of the FIA and FOM. 

This body now makes the decisions for the sport, and the fact that five other teams are not represented seems to be irrelevant.

It is also the group that receives 63% of the $750 million (R8.2 billion) annual payout. And it’s definitely not a linear sliding scale when it comes to who gets what. 

If you have been around for a while you pick up more of the pot, or if you have achieved great success in the past four years you receive bonuses on top of the normal commercial revenue award. Ferrari apparently receives a $100million slice of the cake before any other division is made.

Ecclestone originally offered an annual $10 million bonus to those new teams who joined the field, but unfortunately for such teams it was withdrawn at the end of last season. More pressure on the minnows.

Vijay Mallya, owner of Force India, has been vocal on this issue several times and believes this is a problem that needs to be resolved by the Strategy Group to ensure the survival of smaller teams.

So we will see a grid of just 18 cars, two short of the number FOM agreed to supply to FIA. Does this mean the three-car team will become a reality, making Ecclestone a happy man? 

Seemingly not this year. The governing body has stated this could not be implemented in time for this season, with just three events left on the calendar.

I hope that is not a scenario we will ever witness. The thought of fewer teams fielding more cars leaves me cold.

Surely the simple answer is to employ a democratic method of decision-making and an equitable financial distribution system? Perhaps then the Caterhams and Marussias will have the opportunity to race rather than fight for survival at every turn.

The American Haas team, which is due to arrive on the grid in 2016, must be watching the situation closely.