About Us
Launched in 2005, this website started out as a dedicated F1 forum (hence FORUM…ula1.com) offering debate and banter on all aspects of Formula One and other motorsport categories.
Read more
Discuss the sport you love with other motorsport fans
FOTA should just stand shoulder to shoulder and tell the FIA to FRO
McLaren Mercedes Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh this afternoon became the first team boss to comment on the World Motor Sport Council’s announcement which invites existing and proposed teams to sign up to a cost capped formula for the 2010 season.
The FIA has been calling for drastic cuts in spending from the teams for some time and even proposed a standard Cosworth engine supply ahead of the current season. Nothing ever came of that project but now the sport’s governing body is looking to embrace lower costs and try to entice new entrants into the series for next year.
Whitmarsh raises the issue of a potential two-tier series where the major teams continue spending what they can afford to remain competitive while the cost-capped teams that are restricted to the £40m limit, albeit with the performance freedoms permitted by the FIA.
"As a member of FOTA, McLaren Mercedes is of course supportive of FOTA's recent efforts to reduce costs in Formula One,” Whitmarsh stated. "We understand that some teams' operational budgets may still be unnecessarily high in the challenging global economic situation in which we now find ourselves.
”
The McLaren boss makes clear that he feels that the Formula One Teams’ Association should be involved in the decision making process with the FIA and Formula One Management.
"We believe that the optimal solution - which may or may not include a budget cap, but which ideally would not encompass a two-tier regulatory framework - is most likely to be arrived at via measured negotiation between all parties,” he continued. "We are happy to contribute to that process as and when required."
Interestingly Ferrari has opted not to detail its thoughts on the issue. "With regards to the press release put out by the FIA on the day after the WMSC meeting, at the moment, Ferrari does not intend to make any comment on the matter," a terse statement read.
Capped teams get:-
Double the amount of KERS
Unrestricted engines & they can have 1 per race
&, incredibly, if they want 4 wheel drive (yes you read that correctly) they can have that too.
They will decimate the big spenders in terms of performance.
Thus all there will be no 2 tier system 'cos they will all be on the budget capped option.
Notable side effect?
All spending on this years cars stops, right now.
Might as well give Brawn the prizes no & cancel the rest of the season due to pig flu. Sava loada money like that.
Ferrari warns budget cap may hurt F1http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74969
By Pablo Elizalde Friday, May 1st 2009, 10:19 GMT
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has warned FIA president Max Mosley that the introduction of a budget cap in 2010 could lead to an "unfair" and "biased" championship that could damage the sport.
In a letter written to the governing body on Thursday, a copy of which has been seen by AUTOSPORT, di Montezemolo wrote that the sport could be seriously damaged by the introduction of the new rules.
Mosley told the team principals in a letter of his own, however, that he remained steadfastly convinced the sport must respond to the global economic crisis or face an uncertain future.
The governing body confirmed on Thursday that teams will be able to adhere to a £40 million budget from the 2010 season. In exchange for the limited budget, those teams would be allowed more technical freedom, including movable wings or engines without a rev limit.
The move has not been well received by some teams who believe a two-tier series is not good for the future of Formula 1.
Although Ferrari refused to make any comments on Thursday following the confirmation of the rules, it has been revealed that di Montezemolo wrote a letter to Mosley expressing his concerns about the budget caps.
"All aspects of the new regulations should be carefully reviewed," di Montezemolo wrote. "Limiting, for the time being, my comments to the cost cap issue, as you know I have always been concerned about the introduction, mainly because I consider that there are serious technical difficulties in making sure that any cap can be
realistically monitored.
"Additionally, any controversy on the actual respect of the cost cap would undermine the image of Formula 1 and could seriously damage any involved team.
"There are on the other hand doubts as to whether or not two categories of teams should be created which will inevitably mean that one category will have an advantage over the other and that the championship will be fundamentally unfair and, perhaps, even biased.
"In any event this would create confusion in the public's mind which would seriously lower the value of Formula 1. I do not think that this is appropriate knowing what Formula 1 represents for its players and for the public."
The Ferrari president also expressed concern about the timing and the way the rules have been introduced, as he believes there is "no extreme urgency" for the move.
Di Montezemolo also points out that, according to the Concorde Agreement, the FIA cannot pass any rules without the approval of the F1 commission.
Mosley, replying in another letter also seen by AUTOSPORT, told di Montezemolo that the sport must act urgently in order continue in its current form given the world's financial crunch.
The FIA president also wrote that teams have been aware of the introduction of the budget cap for quite some time, adding that Ferrari has "chosen not to engage with us on cost-cap rules during the past six weeks."
"The car industry and financial services are the two main sources of Formula 1 income. Both are in serious difficulty. We cannot just sit and wait, hoping nothing bad will happen. We have already lost one manufacturer," wrote Mosley
"Despite my repeated requests, not a single manufacturer has given us a legally-binding undertaking that it will continue in Formula 1. We may also lose another manufacturer team at any moment.
"We already know that current levels of expenditure are unsustainable for the independent teams. If we are to reduce the risk of the Formula One World Championship collapsing, we have to allow new teams in. We also have to reduce costs drastically.
"The matter is therefore extremely urgent, because a new team needs to know if it is to be ready to compete in 2010. It is already a very late start."
McLarens early interpretations of the 2010 regs with their MP4-25
McLarens early interpretations of the 2010 regs with their MP4-25
If it was go karts then Button would win one of the best Karters of recent times!
and Scotty youre thinking of Luizzi he was world CIK champ a few years back
Well it looks like we're in for a bit of a struggle between the FIA and Ferrari.
The "secret deal" they made a few seasons ago stated that the Concorde Agreement (though at the moment slightly defunct) remain in place until the end of 2010.
If Ferrari gain Fota's backing we could be in a for a bit of a tussle.
Speaking of Fota, they will have some problems keeping united.
Well it looks like we're in for a bit of a struggle between the FIA and Ferrari.
The "secret deal" they made a few seasons ago stated that the Concorde Agreement (though at the moment slightly defunct) remain in place until the end of 2010.
If Ferrari gain Fota's backing we could be in a for a bit of a tussle.
Speaking of Fota, they will have some problems keeping united.
They will be divided over the idea of a budget cap but will be united against a 2 tier F1
- By darwin daliYeah, not very active here, unfortunately. Is it […]
See our F1 related articles too!