Topic: FIA and FOTA reach historic agreement

[Ultra]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71638

A plan to make dramatic cost-cuts was agreed between the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) in a landmark meeting in Geneva, it was announced in a joint statement on Tuesday.

It is believed that a broad agreement was reached between FIA president Max Mosley and FOTA chiefs Luca di Montezemolo and John Howett to introduce drastic cost reductions from next year.

The joint statement read: "Today's meeting in Geneva has produced significant cost savings for 2009 and 2010.

"FOTA are working urgently on further proposals for 2010 and thereafter."

But while the statement did not detail any specific measures, autosport.com understands that four key points were agreed:

- Engine life will be increased from two to three races from 2009

- Manufacturers must be prepared to make 25 engine units available, at a cost of 10 million Euros, to customer teams

- There will be a further meeting between FOTA members in Brazil to determine testing kilometre limits for 2009, and an agreement in principal on the introduction of a standard KERS unit for 2010 or 2011

- The sport's governing body and FOTA will meet again after the Brazilian Grand Prix to discuss measures to reduce costs related to chassis development and the continuation of the use of customer chassis in the future.

When asked to comment on the agreements, an FIA spokesman said it was "inappropriate to comment at this time", but described the meeting as "very positive and constructive."

One source added that the meeting had "historical" significance because it "was the first time the teams had enjoyed such unanimity" in their discussions over the sport's future direction.

[Otto Puzzell]

CART 2.0

[Ultra]

CART 2.0

I had that same thought.

[Bezor]

Indeed vis-a-vis CART.

How can it reduce costs if engines have to last three races, I'm not clear on that, because testing will need to be increased.  Testing limits are still in discussion, but if FIA/FOTA agree to artificially low time limits (to accomodate decreased costs), the decreased development time will increase the overall costs because the reliability will not be proven prior to racing. 

Seems like a circle-jerk to me.

[Bezor]

Autoweek.com

The FIA moved forward on its threat to introduce standard drivetrains in Formula One beginning in 2010 when it announced on Oct. 17 that teams will be required to use such drivetrains from 2010 to 2012. Moreover, the FIA formally opened a tender process to appoint a single company that will define the specification of these engines and gearboxes and build them for teams that do not elect to manufacture their own to the standard specifications.

On July 3, FIA president Max Mosley asked teams to come up with detailed proposals for new regulations for implementation "no later than 2011" and imposed a deadline of Oct. 3. The teams responded by setting up the Formula One Teams Association, which failed to meet the deadline.

FOTA representatives Luca di Montezemolo of Ferrari and John Howett of Toyota were scheduled to meet with Mosley in Geneva on Oct. 21 to discuss the situation and were expected to present an alternative proposal from the teams. Teams were cautiously optimistic that the FIA's proposal is not set in stone, as several manufacturers voiced displeasure with the standard-drivetrain idea, leading to fears that some could quit the sport.

A key FIA objective is to reduce teams' costs to a level equal to the TV money they receive. The FIA will assert in Geneva that starting in 2013, powertrains must incorporate both kinetic- and exhaust-energy recovery systems, at a development cost far lower than current budgets. In addition, the FIA wants every chassis to incorporate standard parts, including wheels, suspensions and underbodies.

[Ultra]

The engines can be tested without track time.  The limits will only be on track time.  Do agree that the 3 race min will only cost more to develop, however. 

The echo of "Spec series" is getting lost in all the reverb.

[Otto Puzzell]

Maybe this is the break LeMans, ALMS and and other road racing needed.

[Tifosi]

Hearing tonight on the late news that the rulesmakers are seriously considering a single engine common to ALL teams...and Ferrari is threatening to pull out of F1 if this comes about.


Dan

[Ultra]

Hearing tonight on the late news that the rulesmakers are seriously considering a single engine common to ALL teams...and Ferrari is threatening to pull out of F1 if this comes about.


Dan

I heard that also.  That is one of the few threats that I think MaXXX will take seriously.

[Otto Puzzell]

That would totally suck.

[Bezor]

AutoWeek:

Additional ResourcesArticle
Ferrari profits up--just don't ask it to be part of a 'standardized' engine seriesOn Monday, Ferrari's board of directors issued its financial results in a statement that also included a threat to quit Formula One if the FIA's proposal for teams to use standard-spec engines is implemented in 2010. On Tuesday, the FIA issued a response downplaying the possibility that such action will become necessary.

Indeed, Ferrari's statement seemed strangely timed, given the fact that Ferrari boss Luca di Montezomolo, who also heads the newly formed Formula One Teams Association, met with FIA president Max Mosley in Geneva last week to discuss F1's future. That meeting resulted in the two sides agreeing to move forward together, with multiple engine solutions discussed for the future that appeared to diminish the chance of a spec-engine built by a third party constructor taking over the sport.

The FIA says it is willing to accept one of three engine proposals: the aforementioned spec engine; an engine meeting today's regulations and used by a consortium of teams at substantially reduced cost compared to today; and a proposal put forward by FOTA to continue with proprietary engines that will also be offered to customer teams at less than €5 million per season.

The two sides are scheduled to meet again this weekend during the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix, and final solutions acceptable to both are expected to come before December's FIA World Motorsport Council meeting. All of which makes the Ferrari board's comment on Monday seem headed toward irrelevancy. At best, the statement seems intended to pressure the FIA to accept the FOTA proposal for supplying customer engines on the cheap--and to remind the governing body that teams find the spec-engine idea the worst of the ideas put forward. But unless the relationship between FOTA and the FIA falls apart suddenly, it looks today as if the Maranello board's pronouncement will go down as causing much ado about nothing.


FIA'S FULL RESPONSE TO THE FERRARI BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The FIA has noted the press statement issued by the Ferrari Board of Directors.

It seems the Ferrari Board were misinformed. The FIA has offered the teams three options, one of which is the so-called standard engine, and another that the manufacturers should jointly guarantee to supply power trains to the independent teams for less than €5 million per season.

The FIA is delighted by Ferrari's financial success and hopes this will be maintained. However a number of teams find themselves facing costs which greatly exceed income. This is not sustainable.

It is now for the manufacturers to agree one of the three FIA options or themselves produce concrete proposals to reduce costs to a sustainable level.

If neither happens, the FIA will take whatever measures prove necessary to preserve a credible world championship for both drivers and constructors.



This article was last updated on: 10/28/08, 14:03 et