Champion Hamilton against F1 on the cheap

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has spoken out against proposals to introduce a standardized engine in Formula One in a bid to reduce costs in the global economic downturn.
Hamilton has spoken out against plans to introduce a standardized engine in F1.

Hamilton was responding to the idea by FIA president Max Mosley to force F1 teams to race with low-cost Cosworth engines from the 2010 season.

The council of the world governing body will vote on the proposals in Monte Carlo on Friday, but the new world champion is firmly opposed.

"I don't think that's going to happen. Formula One is a manufacturers sport, and you won't have Formula One without the manufacturers," Hamilton told the Press Association on Thursday.

"What are you going to do? I can't imagine it (Formula One) ever being without Ferrari, without Mercedes Benz, without Renault.

"All these big companies are what make the sport, therefore there is a constructors' championship as well as a drivers' championship."

Mosley's ideas came in the wake of the shock decision by Japanese car giant Honda to pull out of Formula One because of spiraling costs, leaving Hamilton's fellow British driver Jenson Button without a confirmed drive in 2009.

"I understand there is a crisis, but I'm not going to get upset about it," Hamilton added. "That's the way the world is. I don't think it's as bad as it seems."

Hamilton, who was crowned the youngest F1 champion in a dramatic season finale in Brazil, does however recognize that costs have to come down

"Yes, we need to work together to improve certain things, but things are being put in motion so it's not like we're standing still. We are doing something about it."

His comments come on the day that Formula One Teams Association chairman Ferrari's Luca di Montezemolo predicted drastic cost-cutting will create a new-look sport by 2012 with funding levels from the 1990s.

"The world is struggling, but they are always taking the right actions to make the sport cheaper," Hamilton said.

"But every time they introduce something new, it costs more money, so it's about having a balance."