Sauber Defends Decision to Go Against Ferrari

Team boss Peter Sauber has defended his decision to support cost-cutting measures for next season and said his move is not a form of action against World Champions Ferrari.

All of Formula One's 10 teams except Ferrari backed cost-cutting measures that could keep the threatened British and French Grands Prix on the calendar.

The nine team bosses signed a statement, a remarkable show of unity in such a quarrelsome sport, saying they had agreed measures to slash costs and put on a better show for spectators that, if implemented, would permit a 19-race calendar next year.

Saturday's move effectively turned the heat on Ferrari by attempting to leave the fate of those races in their hands. The nine teams included Ferrari-powered Sauber, who can normally be counted on to back the Italian team and who use the same Bridgestone tyres.

"Everybody is aware that Sauber has enjoyed an excellent and successful partnership with Ferrari for the past eight seasons and that I personally have a very good relationship with Jean Todt," said Sauber in statement.

"Therefore you can imagine how difficult it was for me to sign the cost-savings initiative that was launched yesterday. However, I'm convinced that my decision to do so was right. For several years some of my fellow team principals and I have continually requested a drastic reduction in testing as one initiative to lower costs in F1.

"It is important for me to clarify that my signature by no means indicate any form of action against Ferrari. I realise that this initiative is only a first step. Realistically, it is not possible to solve all the problems at once.

"Therefore it is important to approach this difficult challenge step by step. Cost Savings are vital for the health and future of Formula One, and they are every bit as important for the major manufacturers and they are for the independent teams, as the withdrawal of Jaguar shows."