The Weekly Grapevine
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During an economic downturn which has hit the entire planet at almost unprecedented speed and wiped trillions off the share values of the very companies which sustain Formula One, it was inevitable that some of the sport's biggest cost centres would find themselves subject to severe scrutiny.
And, after wind tunnel testing and engine programmes - both of which have found themselves receiving swingeing cost cuts, now and into the future - the biggest individual cost centres in many team accounts are driver salaries.
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