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Manipulation of competitions in Formula-1: where policy ends and cheating begins

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Abstract

Formula-1 is considered one of the most dangerous, risky, and aggressive sports. As the legendary Brazilian Ayrton Senna stated, “there are no small accidents on this circuit”. It is a sport which by itself lies on the edge of continuous physical and mental human limits. Besides, it is (one of) the most expensive and globally commercialised human activities. With this in mind, it is relevant to ascertain how marginal practices, resembling manipulation of sports competitions, manifest themselves in that sport, and how the winning-at-all-cost strategy reveals itself. Accordingly, it is important to analyse how certain (usually commercially oriented) manipulative practices occur and, second, what should be done to identify such practices. Besides axiological issues, certain legal ambiguities are analysed in this article.

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Notes

  1. In this article, manipulation of sport competitions, match-fixing and race-fixing are used in parallel, as synonyms.

  2. 151(c) provision stipulates that any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally is deemed to be a breach of rules.

  3. The World Motor Sport Council decision passed in Monaco 6 December 2007. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64309. Accessed 28 September 2016.

  4. Explanatory Report to the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (2014).

  5. See more Zaksaite (2013), pp. 287–293.

  6. Drivers must use the track at all times. For the avoidance of doubt, the white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the kerbs are not. Should a car leave the track for any reason, and without prejudice to 2(d) below, the driver may rejoin. However, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage. A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track.

  7. 3.2 Competitors must ensure that their cars comply with the conditions of eligibility and safety throughout practice and the race.

  8. 30.3 (a) During practice and the race, drivers may use only the track and must at all times observe the provisions of the Code relating to driving behaviour on circuits. (b) Other than by driving on the track, Competitors are not permitted to attempt to alter the grip of any part of the track surface.

  9. 39.1 Team orders which interfere with a race result are prohibited.

  10. 2009 International Sporting Code, http://www.jaf.or.jp/msports/rules/image/fiaMS_reg_e.pdf. 2009 FIA Sporting Regulations. http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/AAE9C10693C293F7C12575AF004512DC/$FILE/1-2009%20F1%20SPORTING%20REGULATIONS%20(Showing%20Alterations)%2024-03-2009.pdf. Accessed 28 September 2016.

  11. The World Motor Sport Council decision passed in Paris on 21 September 2009. http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78771. Accessed 28 September 2016.

  12. BBC Sport (2009).

  13. Explanatory Report to the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (2014), Art. 132, 134, pp. 21.

  14. Ibid, Art. 151.

  15. Zaksaite (2013), pp. 287–293.

  16. English Bridge Union, White Book (2016).

  17. A few athletes, including current 800 world record holder David Rudisha, have training partners who rabbit for them. McCallum (2011).

  18. European Court of Justice, Cases C-72/10 and C-77/10, Marcello Costa, Ugo Cifone, 16 February 2012, Sect. 74.

  19. Video material on youtube: Jean Todt – “Rubens let Michael pass for the championship”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yHPQSOziDw. Accessed 8 August 2016.

  20. GPupdate (2008).

  21. International Court of Appeal of the Federation Internationale De L'Automobile. Case Oberste Nationale Sportkommission für den Automobisport in Deutschland (ONS) for the driver Michael Schumacher, against the decision of the World Motor Sport Council of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile dated 26 July 1994, pp. 4–5. https://www.fia.com/file/55/download?token=TtHk8dpZ. Accessed 20 September 2016.

  22. 170. The drivers finishing the race in 1 st, 2nd and 3rd positions and a representative of the winning constructor must attend the prize-giving ceremony on the podium and abide by the podium procedure set out in Appendix 3 (except Monaco); and immediately thereafter make themselves available for a period of 90 min for the purpose of television unilateral interviews and the press conference in the media centre.

  23. 2010 F1 Sporting Regulations – published on 23.06.2010 (PDF) fia.com. 23.06.2010, pp. 24. Accessed 5 October 2015. 2010 International Sporting Code – published on 15.01.2010 (PDF) fia.com. 15.01.2010, pp. 19. Accessed 5 October 2015. 151. Breach of rules. c) Any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally.

  24. Baldwin (2010). Accessed 5 August 2016.

  25. World Chess Federation (FIDE), Laws of Chess: For competitions starting on or after 1 July 2014, http://www.fide.com/fide/handbook.html?id=171&view=article. Accessed 19 September 2016.

  26. Badminton World Federation Disciplinary Committee reports, http://www.bwfbadminton.org/page.aspx?id=14883. Also Players’ Code of Conduct (updated 9 Nov 2015), 4.5 and 4.17 clauses, http://www.bwfbadminton.org/file.aspx?id=679517&dl=1. Accessed 18 September 2016.

  27. Moul and Nye (2007), pp. 2, 24.

  28. Collantine (2007). Accessed 5 August 2016.

  29. Hynes (2015). Accessed 5 August 2016.

  30. Barretto (2016).

  31. Cooper (2014).

  32. More on the principle of legality see, for example, Greer (2000).

  33. François (1993). Ho Jeune Barreau de Liège, Liège, pp. 10 in Predescu I, Safta M. The Principle of legal certainty, basis for the rule of law landmark case-law. http://www.ccr.ro/ccrold/publications/buletin/8/predescuen.pdf. Accessed 17 September 2016.

  34. Buonpane (2015). Accessed 5 August 2016.

  35. Aprilia Racing S.R.L. Code of Ethics (2014). Accessed 5 August 2016.

  36. 2016 F1 Technical Regulations.

  37. The Guardian (2010).

  38. Noble (2016). Also: Medland (2016).

  39. Standen (2009). Also Žalnieriūnas and Gutauskas (2014), pp. 885–906

  40. Carpenter (2013).

  41. Formula One racing is constituted of dual components key to car racing: the competition between drivers and the competition between technologies. See more: Young (2012).

  42. Quotes of Ayrton Senna: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/a/ayrton_senna.html. Accessed 5 August 2016.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sports and Health Center, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Salomėja Zaksaitė (Lecturer)

  2. Sports Industry Management Master`s Degree Programme, Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Karolis Raduševičius

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  1. Salomėja Zaksaitė
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  2. Karolis Raduševičius
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Correspondence to Salomėja Zaksaitė.

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Zaksaitė, S., Raduševičius, K. Manipulation of competitions in Formula-1: where policy ends and cheating begins. Int Sports Law J 16, 240–246 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40318-016-0104-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40318-016-0104-1

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