Teams close to F1 agreement

FIA president Max Mosley set out his 2005 proposals to the teams at the beginning of July and gave them two months to either sign up to them or devise their own 'satisfactory' proposals. Should they fail to come to an agreement, the FIA would be within its rights to impose its own, severe set of regulations for 2006.

The prospect has obviously spurred the teams into an acceptance of Mosley's 2005 proposals with six of the 10 outfits agreeing in principle to accept the proposals, which include extending engine life to two races, using just three sets of tyres per race weekend and various aero changes.

Autosport believes Jordan team boss Eddie Jordan is the driving force behind getting an agreement and is understood to have have circulated a letter urging team bosses to sign up to Mosley's proposals, but delaying any agreement on 2006 and the proposed introduction of 2.4-litre V8 engines.

Jaguar and Minardi are thought to have signed Jordan's letter, while Ferrari, Sauber and Renault are thought to be in 'broad agreement' with its contents.

"If, as seems likely, we [the teams] cannot agree with one another, we're going to be issued with a set of probably draconian regulations after the season has finished," Jordan told Autosport. "For a team like Jordan to have to wait until October before beginning the design and build of our new car is a big concern; it's simply too late.

"Therefore, in the interests of certainty and clarity, I'm in favour of knowing what the regs are as soon as possible. That should be the priority."