Fota Demands Fia Talks Over Cap
The Formula One Teams’ Association (FOTA) has requested urgent talks with the sport’s governing body the FIA to voice their concerns over the proposed new £40m budget cap for teams to be implemented in 2010.
Under the new World Motor Sport Council rules, teams who comply with the new budget cap will gain greater technical freedom and unlimited out-of-season testing.
However a number of F1 teams, in particular Ferrari who threatened to withdraw from the sport if the cap was enforced, have voiced fears over the new regulation and, following a FOTA meeting in London, the representative body has requested talks with the FIA over the plans.
Brawn GP owner Ross Brawn stated: ‘We all want to reduce costs and want Formula 1 to be as great as possible. We want all the teams to find solutions and stay in F1 – we don’t want to lose anyone.
‘Ferrari has a fantastic historical presence in F1 and I hope it continues for a lot longer.’
The FIA gave the teams a deadline of 29th May to sign up for the 2010 season – several months earlier than is usual.
Among other new rules introduced for 2010, the FIA has also introduced a ban on refuelling during races to save transport costs, as well as increased the maximum number of cars in the championship from 24 to 26 from next season.
At the moment there are 20 cars, two for each of the 10 teams, but the FIA hopes the budget cap could attract new entrants and F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone has stated he envisages up to three new teams in 2010.
