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Ferrari boss hits out at F1 plans for budget cap
May 2, 2009, Saturday
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FERRARI has accused Formula One's governing body of damaging the sport with the planned introduction of a voluntary budget cap, in letters sent to the FIA by President Luca di Montezemolo.
In cost-cutting measures announced on Thursday, the World Motor Sport Council said teams which accept a 40-million-pound (US$59 million) cap will be given more technical freedom next year.
But in a letter to FIA President Max Mosley published yesterday by British newspapers, di Montezemolo said it would create a "fundamentally unfair" world championship.
F1 currently has 10 teams with two cars each, but that will be increased to up to 13 teams and 26 cars in 2010. The WMSC is also banning refueling during races to save money on transporting refueling equipment.
Di Montezemolo said the system will split teams into two groups - those who operate on a limited budget with fewer technical restrictions, and those who keep spending perhaps more than twice as much but with less freedom.
"There are 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," di Montezemolo wrote, according to the Times of London and Daily Telegraph.
"This would create confusion in the public's mind which would seriously lower the value of Formula One," the Italian added.
"I do not think that this is appropriate, knowing what Formula One represents for its players and for the public."
Responding to di Montezemolo, Mosley reiterated the need to curb spending in the sport, particularly after Honda pulled out of the sport because of the global economic crisis.
"We cannot just sit and wait, hoping nothing bad will happen. We have already lost one manufacturer," Mosley reportedly wrote.
"Despite my repeated requests, not a single manufacturer has given us a legally binding undertaking that it will continue in Formula One. 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."
In cost-cutting measures announced on Thursday, the World Motor Sport Council said teams which accept a 40-million-pound (US$59 million) cap will be given more technical freedom next year.
But in a letter to FIA President Max Mosley published yesterday by British newspapers, di Montezemolo said it would create a "fundamentally unfair" world championship.
F1 currently has 10 teams with two cars each, but that will be increased to up to 13 teams and 26 cars in 2010. The WMSC is also banning refueling during races to save money on transporting refueling equipment.
Di Montezemolo said the system will split teams into two groups - those who operate on a limited budget with fewer technical restrictions, and those who keep spending perhaps more than twice as much but with less freedom.
"There are 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," di Montezemolo wrote, according to the Times of London and Daily Telegraph.
"This would create confusion in the public's mind which would seriously lower the value of Formula One," the Italian added.
"I do not think that this is appropriate, knowing what Formula One represents for its players and for the public."
Responding to di Montezemolo, Mosley reiterated the need to curb spending in the sport, particularly after Honda pulled out of the sport because of the global economic crisis.
"We cannot just sit and wait, hoping nothing bad will happen. We have already lost one manufacturer," Mosley reportedly wrote.
"Despite my repeated requests, not a single manufacturer has given us a legally binding undertaking that it will continue in Formula One. 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."
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