Formula 1's small teams push for 'core car' plan

Despite complaints last year from Force India, Sauber and Lotus that spiralling budgets threatened their survival, F1's chiefs have done very little to help the situation.

With no concessions given to increasing prize money, and major cost cutting ideas blocked by the top squads, the smaller teams have now got together to pursue an alternative path.

They want to create the idea of a 'core car' - where major components such as the monocoque are jointly developed and shared between them.

The pooling of resources would help lower their costs, while being allowed to individually develop items such as wings and other bodywork would ensure that each team had a different looking car.

The 'core car' plan has been discussed at recent strategy group and F1 commission meetings, but has not gathered enough support from the bigger teams to be given the green light.

AUTOSPORT understands that one of the reasons for the large teams' opposition was that F1 rules already allow a significant degree of car technology sharing - so it was felt unnecessary to expand it any further.

It is the basis of sharing common parts that is helping Haas make the move into F1, having agreed a technical partnership with Ferrari.

Despite the resistance of the big teams, it is understood that the small outfits are continuing to lobby the FIA and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to be given the chance to introduce the idea.

They insist that if the 'core car' gets the go ahead it would help cut costs dramatically, and ensure the survival of all the current teams.