But in case you were wondering....

According to reports in the German media there is a surprising new twist in the ongoing F1 saga following the recent juridical process in which the three banks that own 75% of Formula One Administration (FOA) effectively gained control of F1.

Allegedly, one of the key documents to be examined during the preparations for the trial was the original Concorde Agreement of 1982.

At that time Bernie Ecclestone was both team principal of Brabham and holder of the commercial rights for Formula One.

It has always been assumed that at the time he sold the Brabham team his right to receive a percentage of the TV income lapsed, but it seems that this may no longer be the case.

According to a report in the German media the new interpretation is that due to the way that the Brabham team was sold - as a result of legal moves made at the time when Joachim Luhti was buying the team in 1988 - Ecclestone may still be eligible for a percentage of the TV income from 1989 onwards.

According to experts the value of this payment could be as much as £250m ($475m) and would have to be financed by the current teams.

This would be little more than a major inconvenience for the big teams, but the chances of teams such as Minardi and Sauber being able to come up with their share would be remarkably slim, in fact such a claim could be devastating.

The windfall could also serve as a possible ‘bargaining tool’ in Ecclestone’s discussions with the teams in order to prevent them signing up with the GPWC.

Not only would the teams have to come up with more cash at a time when most are struggling, but if a team such as Minardi were to fold as a result, the major teams would be forced to run three cars. This would be expensive and introduce even more confusion - with the third car racing but unable to score points - at a time when most race fans, and sponsors, are still unsure about the new qualifying format.

Is this new twist, at face value the result of a procedural error, about to see F1 rocked yet again?

Surely this is exactly what the sport doesn’t need at this time.