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F1: FOTA finishes as teams' allegiance falls apart following Martin Whitmarsh's departure

Formula One Teams' Association has announced they will disband with immediate effect

Friday 28 February 2014 14:31 GMT

Martin Whitmarsh: ‘It’s tough. We have taken some measures’ (AFP)

The Formula One Teams' Association has announced it has disbanded with immediate effect, ending weeks of speculation with regard to the future of the organisation.

Revealing the news, FOTA secretary general Oliver Weingarten said: "I can confirm that FOTA has been disbanded as a result of its members having re-evaluated their requirements in the face of a changing political and commercial landscape in Formula One."

Red Bull mock reports of Vettel 'hissy fit'

FOTA was formed in 2008 to serve all the teams on the Formula One grid, offering a collective voice in discussions with the FIA and the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclestone.

Matters came to a head two years later when FOTA was at the heart of talks regarding a potential breakaway series before a resolution was reached with the FIA over new commercial agreements.

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

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1/17F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

McLaren - MP4-29

The Woking-based outfit launched their MP4-29 on January 24, with drivers Jenson Button and rookie Kevin Magnussen joined by reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne. However, the main talking point was the absence of team principal Martin Whitmarsh following the return of Ron Dennis

Twitter/@McLarenF1

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Williams - FW35

Williams were the first to unveil their car, albeit a computer-generated design. The real thing is yet to roll out of the garage at Jerez, with some last minute adjustments holding up its debut. Former Ferrari driver Felipe Massa joins the team to try and return them to the top of the sport, and he will partner Valteri Bottas who is retained from last season

Twitter/@WilliamsF1Team

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Ferrari - F14T

The Italian manufacturers have pushed Red Bull hard in the past few years, but they hope the F14T will finally surpass their rivals and give either Fernando Alonso or the returning Kimi Raikkonen another World Championship to add to their collection

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F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Ferrari - F14T

Raikkonen gets reacquainted with the Ferrari cockpit after a four-year absence from the prancing horse, but...

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F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Ferrari - F14T

His joy is short lived as he becomes the first to suffer from unreliability as his car stops on track, requiring a lift back to the pit lane. He certainly won't be the last though

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F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Sauber - C33-Ferrari

Sauber have followed the 'anteater' nose design for 2014, and hope for a more successful year than last with Adrian Sutil joining Esteban Gutierrez at the wheel

Twitter/@OfficialSF1team

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Lotus E22

Lotus launched their 2014 challenger, the E22, on the same day as team principal Eric Boullier left the team, with Gerard Lopez replacing him at the helm. With Romain Grosjean now the team leader, many will be watching how he and livewire Pastor Maldonado get on this year. Thta's if they turn up, as their absence from Jerez doesn't bode well

Twitter/@Lotus_F1Team

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Mercedes - W05sup

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton unveil the Mercedes W05sup at Jerez, which thankfully avoids the 'anteater' nose

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F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Mercedes - W05sup

Many are tipping Hamilton and Rosberg to take the fight to Red Bull this year with the W05sup undoubtedly one of the nicer looking cars on this season's grid, but will it be as fast?

Twitter/@glen_dunbar

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Red Bull - RB10

Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull are going for a record-equalling fifth straight drivers' and constructors' championship. They have also avoided the 'anteater' nose, and rival Mercedes for the best looking car of the year award. Is there anything Red Bull don't want to win? Daniel Ricciardo makes the step-up from Toro Rosso to replace the now absent Mark Webber

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F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Toro Rosso - STR9

Toro Rosso's design sure isn't pretty, but they have taken a step into the unknown with rookie 19-year-old Daniil Kvyat. The Russian impressed in practice towards the end of last season, but how will he get on against his more experienced team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne?

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F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Toro Rosso - STR9

The 'anteater' nose of the Toro Rosso SRT9, likened to a sex toy by lingerie makers Ann Summers

Twitter/@adamcooperf1

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Force India - VJM07

The ever-impressive Nico Hulkenburg returns to the team he left at the end of 2012 having missed out on a seat at Ferrari, Lotus and McLaren. The German will have a point to prove once more, but he'll have a difficult enough time to beat team-mate Sergio Perez first

Twitter/@Clubforce

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Caterham - CT04

After a short delay which saw their early morning unveiling cancelled, Caterham eventually rolled out their CT04 in the afternoon, with another rookie in Marcus Ericsson at the wheel, while the returning Kamui Kobayashi took the picture

Twitter/@Kamui_kobayashi

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Williams - FW36

Williams finally got their FW36 running after a delay on day one of testing at Jerez, with Valteri Bottas taking to the track

Twitter/@WilliamsF1Team

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Marussia - MR03

Two days later than scheduled, Max Chilton eventually left the garage in the Marussia MR03 for its first run at Jerez

Twitter/@Marussia_F1Team

F1 2014 car launch - The era of the 'anteaters'

Marussia - MR03

Chilton brings the car back in after completing an installation lap

Twitter/@Marussia_F1Team

But in 2011, FOTA's unity was shattered when Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Ferrari and Sauber withdrew their support following a dispute over the way forward with regard to cost-cutting proposals.

Seven teams continued to form FOTA, under the chairmanship of former McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh.

But Whitmarsh's departure, along with the formation of the Strategy Group that now serves the needs of the teams in proposing the way ahead, has ultimately resulted in FOTA's demise.

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