The World Motor Sport Council of the FIA is to meet today to discuss further cost cuts for Formula One, and other measures agreed on by the Formula One Teams Association earlier this month. The meeting is expected to cover a wide range of topics mainly for the 2010 season, but including the radical idea to adapt the points system in the sport, which may take effect for 2009.
Last month FOTA proposed that the points-scoring system be modified from its existing 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 structure to a new 12-9-7-5-4-3-2-1 system, with the intention of giving a greater reward and incentive for a race win. The measure is part of a package of revisions proposed by the association, which includes the idea of new points-scoring opportunities for fastest pit stop, for example. But the modification of the points system is thought to be the most likely to be implemented in 2009.
FIA President Max Mosley stressed the importance of continuing negotiation to reduce costs and improve the sport.
”The financial barriers to entry were already too high before the current world financial crisis,” Mosley is quoted as saying by crash.net.
”We had a championship dependent on the willingness of world’s car industry to continue spending vast sums on Formula One racing and the few remaining independent teams (with one exception) entirely reliant on the generosity of their billionaire owners. In current circumstances, it would be crazy to assume this can continue.
”Costs must be reduced to a point where a well-run independent team can operate profitably with just the FOM money and very moderate sponsorship. This is the only way to safeguard the championship and allow new teams to enter to fill the gaps as well as replace those leaving.”
The FIA President said that the future of F1 had to be safeguarded, and therefore radical change might be on the agenda.
”The FIA itself would not be financially disadvantaged by a collapse of Formula One, but it would suffer in other ways. And, in any event, we believe we have a duty to do whatever is necessary to preserve the championship for the competitors, the commercial rights holder and motor sport generally. We are therefore prepared to act radically.”
