Good start for cost-cutting talks

The process of deciding what cost-cutting measures should be voted for at next week's Formula 1 Commission has begun at the Malaysian Grand Prix - and so far the talks have been positive, according to McLaren boss Ron Dennis

The teams and manufacturers must formalise exactly what they want to change to reduce costs this weekend, so that they can take a vote on a proposal at the Commission in Paris next Tuesday. If the measures are voted in, they will be rubber-stamped by the FIA World Council on Wednesday.

The measures to be decided upon include how many engines each car can use over a GP weekend, whether practice on Fridays should be dropped or turned into test sessions, the length of any test bans, and whether the changes should come in for 2003 or the year after.

Dennis said: "There has been quite a bit of discussion in the last seven days. There was the first of three meetings leading up to the F1 Commission. I don't think it would be appropriate for me to discuss the content of those meetings, but at this first meeting that we had today, there was a good spirit. [It was] very constructive and I think that by the time we come to the actual process by which we formalise whatever is decided, I'm optimistic that teams will be in unison in the way forward."

The chances of no changes being voted through are thought to be slim. "I don't think any team does not want to reduce the cost of grand prix racing, or certainly curtail the cost spiral," said Dennis. "But it should be done in a manner where there is enough consideration given to it."