FOTA/FIA/FOM UPDATE June 11: FIA/FOTA Meet Today In London!

Formula 1 teams are due to meet with FIA president Max Mosley in London today to try and reach a last-minute deal over entries for next year, AUTOSPORT has learned, with the governing body having made clear the compromises it is willing to offer.

With the entry list for the 2010 championship due to be announced by the FIA tomorrow morning, efforts are increasing to reach a resolution that will head off the threat of current manufacturer teams walking away from F1.

Although there have been suggestions in the past few days that the two sides are edging near a resolution, there still appears to be differences between the two parties about the way forward for next year.

However, AUTOSPORT has learned that Mosley is willing to soften the FIA's approach to next year - which includes scrapping a two-tier category – even though he insists a budget cap must be in place in 2010.

In a letter Mosley sent to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo following his last meeting with teams in Monaco, a copy of which has been seen by AUTOSPORT, Mosley said that there was some ground for manoeuvre in what the FIA would be willing to accept for next year.

"We can agree that all teams race under the same 2010 rules," said Mosley, referring to the original proposal for a two-tier F1 that had been a major bone of contention for a lot of teams.

"These would be as published, but with the technical and sporting advantages originally offered to cost-cap teams deleted."

Rather than having performance benefits, the FIA said it was willing to give new teams the opportunity to work on technology transfer deals with established outfits – as has been hinted about by Frank Williams in recent days.

Mosley added: "Instead of these advantages, we will facilitate know-how transfer between certain current teams and new entrants at least for 2010 and possibly for 2011."

One thing Mosley is not willing to back down on though is the introduction of a budget cap – even if the figure is made very high for next year.

He said he was willing to propose: "A cap in 2010. This could be as high as 100 million Euros, but we must have a cap and we must have certainty... For 2011, again we must have certainty with a cap at £40 million (or if preferred 45 million Euros)."

However, Mosley said that a compromise could be introduced whereby one highly paid member of staff would be allowed to be outside the budget cap – which would help those outfits who have star names, like Adrian Newey or Ross Brawn, on board.

Furthermore, the FIA said it was willing to sign a Concorde Agreement 'broadly' along the lines of the version sent to it prior to the Monaco Grand Prix, plus a renaming of the cost cap – which has been a big issue for the teams.

 

So many different rumors surrounding this situation, hard to believe most. I want to see how close my friend in Europe is to the final compromises:

His contacts say the FIA would actually agree to the following (unsure of FOTA):

No two tier system, massive assistance for new teams by existing teams, salary of top TWO individuals exempt,
customer cars allowed in 2011, so many exemptions the first two years as to actually make the budget near double
of the numbers below, adjusted means for inflation, future rules changes to go before committee that includes team
principals for review 2-3 months before implementation if approved, emergency clause if FIA deems changes necessary for safety.

FOM would agree to the teams TV revenue increase from 47% to 55%

2010: $150-$175 mill euros
2011: $125 mill euros adjusted
2012: $100 mill euros adjusted
2013: $80 mill euros adjusted

If some or any of this is true, and there is an agreement, looks like sanity entered the thinking of both
sides, and they all won. Actually, the fans wins.

 

Ian, the one employee outside the cap was agreed to over one week ago, I am curious if the two employee agreement is approved.

 

You are correct. How to police the caps remains a problem. But something has to be developed to police the budgets, or Pierro's idea of NASCAR type rules is the alternative. That means semi-spec cars. Which, isn't such a bad idea actually. At least until the economy improves.

 

This is too logical. I have been saying this all along, but the Max haters insist its not the reason. He must be insane.

But I think you are correct. When massive egos are involved, massive tactics are also.

 

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=246577