F1 probe likely after European Parliament votes in favour

An alleged conflict of interest over Bernie Ecclestone's recent sale of Formula One to Liberty Media is among several areas of concern that have been raised ahead of a potential European Commission competition investigation.

On Tuesday afternoon the European Parliament voted by a heavy 467-to-156 majority to back an investigation into anti-competitive behaviour.

The Times reported earlier that Anneliese Dodds, the Labour MEP for south east England, had tabled the amendment to the competition report added by that “calls for an immediate investigation into competition concerns arising from the Formula One motorsport industry”.

Among her other concerns are an alleged unfair allocation of prize money that has led to the collapse of some smaller teams and the sport’s UK tax arrangements.

Dodds, who has raised allegations over the anticompetitive behaviours before due to her claims they affect around 40,000 jobs in the UK, will hope the successful vote increases the pressure on the EC, though the European Union's operational arm is not obliged to launch an investigation.

Last month the UK parliament's Culture Media and Sport Committee said the role of the sport's governing body the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in Liberty's takeover amounted to a "severe conflict of interest" due to the FIA's 1% stake in Formula One and the £63.5m profit on the sale it was reported to have received.

There was no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Liberty.

The EC's competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager in November 2014 vowed to "look into" allegations raised by Dodds.

This was focused on the 1% stake taken by the FIA in 2013 in Ecclestone's F1 Group, which was majority owned by private equity firm CVC.

Dodds also objected to the decision-making body formed that same year by F1 known as the Strategy Group, consisting of three parties all with equal voting power: the F1 Group, the FIA and six leading teams.