Anneliese Dodds, who herself wrote to European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager last year, said that she is concerned that F1's commercial model and decision-making process is not set up in a way that is sustainable for the back of the grid teams.

Paying a visit to Force India on Friday, she reiterated that while she had her own views on the matter, it was ultimately down to the teams to complain if they wanted the EU to launch a proper investigation.

"Ever since the collapse of Marussia and Caterham last year, I have had real concerns about the way things are going with Formula 1," she said.

"This doesn't just mean two fewer teams taking part in races throughout the season; it means hundreds of highly skilled people in my constituency losing their jobs and their livelihoods.

"That's why I've raised this issue a number of times in Brussels, to see if there is a competition case to answer here.

"The Commissioner in charge has made it clear to me that she can't do anything until the teams themselves submit a formal complaint, and so if that's what the teams feel is right then that is what they should do."

Employment boost

Dodds said that her visit to Force India had highlighted the role that F1 played in bringing valuable employment opportunities.

"At Force India today I saw just what a great role Formula 1 can play in creating the kind of high-quality jobs in science and engineering that we want to see much more of as a country," she added.

"We simply cannot afford to lose those kinds of jobs."