Manufacturers chase unity on 2008 rules

Although there had been hopes that a vote on the matter could be taken with the FIA before tonight's deadline to agree on 2008 rules, the focus of discussions is now shifting towards getting Ferrari, Renault and Midland to back plans.

The aim is to get unanimous support for not only the rules but also in bringing them forward to the start of next season.

The move towards getting the unanimous support means the teams can in theory wait until just before the July 6 Formula One Commission meeting to reach a deal, rather than try and rush anything through today.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen said: "We are talking daily now and it would be good to have a solution or a compromise before July 6, which everybody can support.

"The issue apparently is to come towards a framework that would be agreed to be taken forward to 2007."

Theissen believes the teams agreeing on a package of rules that can be introduced next year is the most sensible solution for everyone - because of the huge expense that would be involved in developing engines all of next year only to revert in 2008 to this season's power units.

"It would just not make sense to develop a 2007 engine, which is beyond the drawing board already, use it and then throw it away after one year to return to what we have at the moment," the German said.

"That would not be very smart. We should come to a compromise that helps everybody."

Renault have made it clear that they are in favour of the current FIA plans to freeze engines for three years, while last weekend Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt said he remained supportive of the revised Maranello Agreement that was agreed between Cosworth, Ferrari and Renault earlier this year.

"The Maranello meeting is a proposal that allowed some limited work on the engine every year, which we feel is a reasonable proposal," the Frenchman said.

"Some of the other competitors are not in favour of that, they are in favour of the Monte Carlo proposal, and we are not in favour of it. Which is not the first time.

"As we don't agree, what happens? We go back to FIA rules, which is freezing the engine."

With Midland almost certainly switching to Cosworth engines next year, the Silverstone-based team want regulations that will help reduce the cost of that supply deal.