Sep.14 (GMM) No solution has been found yet to a boycott threat ahead of the inaugural Indian grand prix.

FOTA chief Martin Whitmarsh revealed at Monza that teams and drivers will be subject to big tax bills when they travel to Delhi next month.

"You don't go somewhere if you're going to be penalised," said the McLaren team principal.

Behind the scenes, private race organisers Jaypee are "locked in a tussle" with the Indian government, the Times of India reports.

The problem is the customs duties laws, with the organisers asking the government for an exclusion zone to be declared so that the F1 cargo can be shipped without the assumption it is being imported and exported.

The report said the glitch dates back to the government's classification of formula one as a form of entertainment rather than a sport.

Since then, Jaypee has been writing letters and meeting with officials.

A letter dated September 7, two days before Whitmarsh's Monza comments, confirmed the Indian grand prix can go ahead "at no cost to the government".

But in fact "No decision has been taken yet," an unnamed official of the Indian revenue department insisted. "It is being discussed," the source added.

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version