FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[McLaren Fan]

From autosport.com:

FIA and FOTA reach landmark agreement

By Simon Strang Tuesday, October 21st 2008, 17:03 GMT

FOTAA plan to make dramatic cost-cuts was agreed between the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) in a landmark meeting in Geneva, it was announced in a joint statement on Tuesday.

It is believed that a broad agreement was reached between FIA president Max Mosley and FOTA chiefs Luca di Montezemolo and John Howett to introduce drastic cost reductions from next year.

The joint statement read: "Today's meeting in Geneva has produced significant cost savings for 2009 and 2010.

"FOTA are working urgently on further proposals for 2010 and thereafter."

But while the statement did not detail any specific measures, autosport.com understands that four key points were agreed:

- Engine life will be increased from two to three races from 2009

- Manufacturers must be prepared to make 25 engine units available, at a cost of 10 million Euros, to customer teams

- There will be a further meeting between FOTA members in Brazil to determine testing kilometre limits for 2009, and an agreement in principal on the introduction of a standard KERS unit for 2010 or 2011

- The sport's governing body and FOTA will meet again after the Brazilian Grand Prix to discuss measures to reduce costs related to chassis development and the continuation of the use of customer chassis in the future.

When asked to comment on the agreements, an FIA spokesman said it was "improper to comment at this time", but described the meeting as "very positive and constructive."

One source added that the meeting had "historical" significance because it "was the first time the teams had enjoyed such unanimity" in their discussions over the sport's future direction.

I switched the article originally posted from F1 Live, for this is more detailed.

[McLaren Fan]

I haven't fully digested the article yet, but I'm glad to see that parts will have to last longer, but I'm really not keen on the idea of standarised KERS. With some teams getting along okay with it and other teams finding it tricky, it could help to spice up the show.

[Denthúl]

I haven't fully digested the article yet, but I'm glad to see that parts will have to last longer, but I'm really not keen on the idea of standarised KERS. With some teams getting along okay with it and other teams finding it tricky, it could help to spice up the show.

I think, rather than standardised KERS, customer KERS systems should be allowed in the same way as engines (and part as the same package deal for €10m) and that would make things more palatable for all teams. Those who can't afford to develop their own KERS system, in the same way as not being able to afford to develop their own engine, have the option to buy one off-the-shelf whilst the manufacturers who want to continue developing it to get the best out of it are able to do so as planned.

Aside from that, I'm glad that they've reached a reasonable agreement rather than standardised engines. Three-race engines is perfectly acceptable in my eyes.

[7UpJordan]

- Engine life will be increased from two to three races from 2009

- Manufacturers must be prepared to make 25 engine units available, at a cost of 10 million Euros, to customer teams.

I have a feeling those 2 points will only increase spending in order to make the engines more reliable. And how many engine units would you say manufacturers are currently making for customers?

I'm not keen on the standardised KERS idea either, all of the hard work Williams have done to get a good jump start on everyone with their KERS device would be all for nothing, but we all know the FIA have a bit of a history of screwing with Sir Frank as well.

[Denthúl]

- Engine life will be increased from two to three races from 2009

- Manufacturers must be prepared to make 25 engine units available, at a cost of 10 million Euros, to customer teams.

I have a feeling those 2 points will only increase spending in order to make the engines more reliable. And how many engine units would you say manufacturers are currently making for customers?

I'm not keen on the standardised KERS idea either, all of the hard work Williams have done to get a good jump start on everyone with their KERS device would be all for nothing, but we all know the FIA have a bit of a history of screwing with Sir Frank as well.

I think the second point isn't to do with the numbers alone but rather the number that a team gets for their money.

Edit: Interestingly...

Max Mosley has said that Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) will not be an area under consideration for standardisation amid the FIA’s drive to cut Formula 1 costs.

The governing body is meeting with the Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) in Geneva on Tuesday to discuss how cost-cutting measures can be introduced for 2010, with the FIA already revealing that an increase in standard parts – including engines – is one of its main proposals.

But one area Mosley is not keen to see come from a single supplier are energy-saving KERS systems, permitted in the sport from 2009 and a challenge which many teams have admitted has posed a big engineering test.

The FIA president says teams’ development of KERS will instead be kept open as an area to gain performance in, given the technology’s relevance to the car industry.

"KERS will be essential on all road-going vehicles in the future, irrespective of their means of primary propulsion," Mosley is quoted as saying by Reuters.

"The FIA therefore intends to keep KERS as a performance differentiator in Formula 1 and, indeed, increase its importance in 2011.

"To standardise a new technology which is directly relevant to the biggest single problem confronting road transport – energy efficiency – while allowing continued development in wholly irrelevant areas such as Formula 1 aerodynamics, is not rational.

"Further thought would seem to be desirable."

In addition to standardised engines, the FIA is to also ask FOTA to suggest other areas on the car that could be standardised to save costs – including suspension, underbodies and wheels.

[McLaren Fan]

That article was posted a few hours before the one saying KERS would be standardised. Hopefully Mosley did not change his mind.

[al4x]

please no on the standardised engines, i hate this word, 'standardised' [sorry nothing personal ]

it seems inevitable,

for f's sake, just put an umbrella budget cap on

i couldnt bare renault to be running with a 'insert brand here' engine, not only that, supension, most of the aero etc etc

nooooooooo

[big ron]

How come the FIA and FOTA can release a joint statement then have MM come out and say something to the contrary just a few moments later?? And if they're not going to restrict KERS developement, why restrict engine developement? If the teams can do what they want to develop KERS then it pretty much defeats the point of cost cutting.

There's a lot of ways to make savings without having to resort to a standardised sport. If that idiot gets his way, almost all the cars will be near identical - standard engines, drivetrain, brakes, suspension, wheels, tyres, and limited aero options.

[Tony_sa]

and by hook or by crook all red !!!!!

[deMuRe]

The real problem here is McLaren and Ferrari, they have been allowed to spend obscene amounts of money and the rest of the pitlane are busting a nut just to keep up.

For the good of the sport, a financial solution should be reached rather then limiting technical regulations.

Companies get audited all the time, why is an F1 team any different? There must be a reason why the F1 teams don't want to open up their books.

[Reckless Rat]

You've got to admit Ten Million Euros for 25 engines is an OBSCENE amount of money, irrespective of the technology. That's four hundred grand for each lump. I don't care how they do the maths, that's too expensive.

[KyrosV]

How much is the Price of an F1 car these days?

[Rorschach]

How much is the Price of an F1 car these days?

No idea. The steering wheel costs about 30 grand alone. In that context, 400 grand for an engine, a rather large part of a racing car, doesn't seem totally crazy.

[Reckless Rat]

That's exactly my point.
Why does a steering wheel have to cost 30 grand FFS? It's bollacks.
Ban all the technology and make it a steering wheel with no gadgetry. That'll save a few bob.

[McLaren Fan]

How much is the Price of an F1 car these days?

A million pounds would not be far off. Although the saying goes that no car is raced twice, some parts of the car are reused, so each week the team isn't turning up with a million pounds of new equipment. The chassis is used again, along with the engine and gearbox, for instance. Even so, they still aren't cheap.