That's why it will take reasonably at least 3 years to accomplish this goal under the budget cap concept. No matter which direction you take, there will be job losses at some point. Just as major corporations have to trim payrolls to survive, so will F1. I don't for one minute think the $65 million USD budget is sufficient. I keep hearing that $125 million USD is about right. I keep asking, if not budget caps, then how do you assure the F1 survives as existing teams leave for whatever reasons over the next 2-3 years? The only other solution I can think of is the one the Pierro Ferrari suggested, and that was to incorporate some of NASCAR's methods. That would mean having an almost spec series but that would save quite a few jobs. Actually this is my favorite concept as it would be easier to police. BTW, Bernie gets less than 25% of the TV revenue, the teams currently get 47%, and the debt gets around 30%. At this point, the only teams still against budget caps are Ferrari and Toyota. Every other team principal has stated they see the need for reduced budgets in F1. So to respond to you, I see a compromise coming that will include budget caps, with a final reduction much higher that the FIA's $65 mill USD, over a 3-4 year period. Still much better than going the route of a breakaway series. For the team principals anyway. When I consider the costs involved in either direction, breakaway series or staying FIA, its cheaper to stay FIA. Jobs are gone either way. So I don't see anyone backtracking, I really don't know what they had in mind as their final offer anyway. None of us know, so you can't suggest anyone is backtracking unless you have this information. But I do not see any options for the 8 FOTA teams as an entity except to continue with the FIA.
David, that's been one of the points that Ferrari has stated, how do you reduce so many employees in such a short time. And they are correct, that's why whatever a final budget cap figure is agreed, it will take a few years to arrive at that point. That's also why I really don't believe Mosley is truly hell bent on a $65 million budget in 6.5 months. That's actually his second offer..
How about.....hasta la vista baby! Or a stitch in time saves nine.......what the hell is the nine.....can someone explain?