Cost cuts meeting will go ahead
FIA president Max Mosley has vowed to go ahead with his planned meeting to discuss much-needed cost cuts in Formula 1 which is due to take place this Friday, autosport.com can reveal, despite a request from a majority of teams asking for it to be delayed
The teams wrote a letter to Mosley following their own meeting with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone at Heathrow on Tuesday asking for the meeting to be postponed until the start of the European season, so they had more time to analyse the impact of new rules due to be introduced this year.
But their calls appear to have fallen on deaf ears, with the FIA understood to be adamant that the sport presses ahead and introduces cost-cutting measures. Any move to delay the meeting until April would only serve to make the confirmation of any agreed rule changes for 2006 come much later in the year - leading to a knock-on increase in costs for those teams forced to make the necessary changes.
An FIA spokesman said: "The meeting will go ahead. Our objective is to ensure that all the teams have an opportunity to express their opinions, in addition to the four teams who have so far submitted their proposals."
The submission of proposals relates to a series of cost-cutting measures that Mosley wants to the teams to discuss. This was forwarded to teams last week in the wake of responses from BAR, Ferrari, Renault and Williams for ideas to help the sport after a request for input by Mosley in December.
Mosley's proposals includes strict testing limits, standard ECUs, a restricted use of telemetry, standard brakes, extended engine life, rev limits for engine, a major reduction in downforce, a return to slick tyres and the banning of spare cars with grand prix weekends being reduced to two days.
In the letter to Mosley, the teams wrote: "Whilst we share your desire to reduce the cost of participating in Formula 1, it is critical that the fundamental values of Formula 1 are preserved to safeguard its long-term stability and success as the pinnacle of world motor sport.
"Cost-cutting proposals should be evaluated in the wider context of the sport's appeal to its fans...in the meanwhile, we all fully recognise the need for a period of stability in our sport and we will adhere strictly to the spirit and letter of the 'Concorde Agreement' for the remainder of its term and we trust that the FIA will do likewise."
How Monza only added more questions to F1's sprint race conundrum
With two sprint races under its belt, Formula 1 must now consider its options for them going forward. While they've helped deliver exciting racing on Sundays, the sprints themselves have been somewhat lacking - creating yet another conundrum for F1 to solve...
Who should Alfa Romeo sign for 2022's F1 season?
OPINION: With Valtteri Bottas already signed up for 2022, all eyes are on the race for the second seat at Alfa Romeo next year. Antonio Giovinazzi is the current incumbent, but faces a tough competition from appealing short and long-term prospects
The "forced break" that was key to Ricciardo's Monza excellence
OPINION: Daniel Ricciardo has long been considered one of Formula 1’s elite drivers. But his struggles at McLaren since switching from Renault for 2021 have been painful to watch at times. Yet he’s recovered to banish those memories with a famous Monza win – built on a critically important foundation
How Verstappen is ruining his F1 title battle with Hamilton
OPINION: The Italian GP clash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen followed a running theme in the 2021 Formula 1 title fight. Their close-quarters battles have often resulted in contact - and although Hamilton has shown a willingness to back off, Verstappen must learn to temper his aggression
Italian Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Two drivers produced maximum-score performances as, for the second year in a row, Monza threw up an unpredictable result that left several others ruing what might have been
Why Ricciardo was set for Monza F1 triumph even without Verstappen/Hamilton crash
The clash between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton was the major flashpoint the 2021 Italian Grand Prix will be remembered for. Yet by this point, race leader Daniel Ricciardo had already done the hard work that would put him in position to end his and McLaren's lengthy win droughts, on a memorable afternoon in Monza
Why Italian GP success is on for McLaren even if Verstappen dominates
For the second time in 2021, McLaren will line up for the start of a grand prix from the first row. It knows it has the chance of “glory” if things go well for Daniel Ricciardo and Lando Norris at the start of the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, but even if they just maintain their grid positions, signs from the rest of the Monza weekend suggest success is very possible for Formula 1’s other orange army
The F1 media favourite who lifted a broken Lotus
Graham Hill was nearly 30 when he made his Formula 1 debut. NIGEL ROEBUCK examines the life of a gifted racer whose talismanic personality defined an era
