Formula 1's smaller teams want finance meeting in Abu Dhabi

Formula 1's smaller teams want to meet boss Bernie Ecclestone at this weekend's Abu Dhabi GP to discuss how the sport's revenues are distributed.

Marussia went out of business this month and Caterham's future is in doubt after going into administration.

A letter, sent on behalf of Sauber, Lotus and Force India, was sent to Ecclestone outlining their concerns.

It requested "a more equitable distribution" of F1's revenues to ensure "a sustainable future".

Copies of the letter, which was sent on Monday and leaked to the media, were sent to rights holders CVC, FIA president Jean Todt and all the team principals.

Last week, Red Bull boss Christian Horner said F1's front runners have no obligation to help smaller teams.

And during the Brazilian Grand Prix race weekend, Ecclestone insisted there would be no further financial help for Sauber, Lotus and Force India.

But during that same weekend, Force India team principal Vijay Mallya said Ecclestone agreed he would discuss the situation with CVC's co-chairman Donald Mackenzie in London.

Mallya added that he would send Ecclestone a "gentle reminder" if he had not heard by the end of last week.

Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley said that the letter should be seen in that context, but added that there was no intention of overshadowing the title deciding race, which will see Lewis Hamilton or Nico Rosberg crowned world champion.

"The focus should be on a wonderful championship finale and it is not our intention to disrupt that," he said.

The letter added that the smaller teams were concerned that there were plans for a two-tier sport, which would be split between constructors and those using a 'customer' chassis.

"A two-tier system can only be considered a short-sighted vision," read the letter. "It is evident that the current developments are dramatically reducing the value of Formula 1 and massively undermining its reputation as a sport."

It also raised concerns about a "questionable cartel" of the rights holder, Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Williams who controlled "both the governance of Formula 1 and, apparently, the distribution of...funds."

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