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 "It needed all the teams to agree and there were three or four of
them that didn't," Formula One's commercial supremo Bernie
Ecclestone said after a Strategy Group meeting.
"Maybe the other teams would have liked to use last year's car. The
trouble was that you can't do these things for one team, you have
got to do it for everybody," the 84-year-old told Friday's
Independent newspaper.
The strategy group, which currently comprises champions Mercedes,
Red Bull, Williams, Ferrari, McLaren and Force India plus the
governing FIA and commercial rights holders, met in Paris on
Thursday.
The response to Marussia's request will do little to dispel the
notion of the hugely expensive sport being a 'piranha club' whose
members are primarily focused on their own interests.
However, Force India's deputy principal Bob Fernley, whose team
joined Sauber and Lotus last year in calling for more help to
struggling teams and a greater share of the revenues, described
Marussia's application as 'speculative'.
 "During the meeting it emerged that there were compliance issues and
that the application lacked substance," he said.
Fernley said no details had been given about the potential new
owners or how the team would be run and the application lacked
supporting documentation to support Marussia's case for special
dispensation.
"Given the lack of information, uncertain guarantees, and the
speculative nature of the application, the decision was taken that
it is better to focus on ensuring the continued participation of the
remaining independent teams," he said.
Marussia went into administration and ceased trading last October,
missing the last three races of 2014. They still finished ninth
overall and ahead of Sauber and stricken Caterham.
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That position put them in line for some 30 million pounds ($45.97
million) in prize money.
Marussia have paid their entry fee for 2015, as Manor Grand Prix,
and plan to come out of administration on Feb. 19 via a Company
Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) agreed by creditors.
Media reports have indicated that former Sainsbury's chief executive
Justin King is part of a consortium seeking to revive the team.
Being allowed to use last year's car would have helped but the
refusal may not be a deal-blocker since teams can miss three races.
That would give them until mid-April to satisfy the 2015
regulations, which differ mainly in nose height, and pass crash
tests.
Marussia's Banbury factory has been sold, with the U.S.-owned Haas
team planning to use it as their European base when they enter F1
next year, but Manor have a facility in Dinnington, northern
England.
($1 = 0.6526 pounds)
(Editing by Patrick Johnston/Sudipto Ganguly)
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