Grapevine: Teams, Ecclestone Put Pressure on Ferrari

Sources at the Interlagos paddock today suggest the teams have agreed with Bernie Ecclestone on radical changes to Formula One - with all but Ferrari and Sauber offering their support to the agreement.

According to sources, the eight teams have agreed to restrict testing to ten days only during the season; switch to a two-day Grand Prix weekend schedule, with testing on Friday; expand the calendar to up to 20 Grands Prix a year; and maintain a formula of V10 engines - all until the Concorde Agreement expires at the end of 2007.

On the agenda was also control tyre - limiting the formula to a single tyre supplier - but apparently this issue did not have wide support because of technical difficulties for many of the teams.

The teams are reportedly putting pressure on Ferrari, who stand opposed to these changes, along with their engine client Sauber. Such an agreement could well, however, put Ferrari on opposite ends with the rest of the teams, and with the latter backed by Ecclestone, Ferrari might face a dilemma of whether to join the majority or go their separate ways.

Sources at Interlagos suggest an announcement could come soon from the agreeing parties. Atlas F1 will bring more details as they become available.