Red Bull settles Force India car row?

UPDATE Force India's chief executive Colin Kolles has been spotted in Salzburg, meeting with representatives of Red Bull to find a settlement over the question of the arbitration between the Silverstone team and the Austrian drinks company. This relates to the use of the same chassis by both Scuderia Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing. Force India claims that this contravenes the teams of the Concorde Agreement which states that all teams must build their own chassis. Red Bull is now keen to settle the problem because of its desire to sell its 50% shareholding in Scuderia Toro Rosso, possibly to Lancia.

It is not clear at the moment what the deal is, but it is likely that Toro Rosso will have agreed to split the prize money it gained as a result of finishes achieved with Red Bull chassis. The arbitration case was made much easier when Super Aguri F1 disappeared as trying to do deals involving the three teams had proved to be impossible. With Super Aguri out of the picture, it seems that rapid progress has been made. Grandprix.com

05/16/08 (GMM) Force India's legal pursuit of formula one competitors using so-called 'customer cars' may now be over.

Then under the Spyker banner, the Silverstone based team commenced arbitration against Super Aguri and Force India more than a year ago, arguing that their use of cars not designed by themselves is against the rules.

With Super Aguri now folded, however, the German magazine Sport Bild reports that the remaining parties – Force India and the partially Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso – have now sat down in an attempt to end the row once and for all.

Reportedly, Force India chiefs Vijay Mallya and Colin Kolles met in Salzburg at the Red Bull-owned restaurant 'Carpe Diem' with Dietrich Mateschitz's lawyer.

It is believed a settlement totaling 8 million euros was agreed by Red Bull.

Kolles confirmed to Sport Bild: "I think we will find a way forward now."