07/11/2008
NEWS STORY
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Following Tuesday's meeting of the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), it is believed that, yet again, Max Mosley has worked his magic, leaving the teams thinking that they have made a decision whereby they are merely agreeing to what he really wanted in the first place.
When setting out his case for standard customer engines, the FIA President offered two other options, knowing exactly how manufacturers such as Mercedes, Ferrari, Honda, Renault and Toyota would feel about running, for example, a re-badged Zytek powerplant.
First, there was option 2
"A consortium of teams obtains an engine to current rules but at much lower cost from a single supplier. Engines from other sources to be subject to rigorous controls to eliminate differences in performance."
Then, there was option 3
"A proposal from FOTA, backed by solid guarantees, for the supply of complete power trains to independent teams for less than €5 million per team per season to include 30,000 km of testing and all on-track assistance."
As long-time Mosley observers will have predicted, it appears that the teams are looking at the third option - better known as the more acceptable of the three evils.
Talking to Gazzetta dello Sport, FOTA President Luca di Montezemolo admitted that it is the third of Mosley's options that the teams are seriously considering.
"This is a first package of proposals, voted unanimously, which will bring important cost reductions. We agree on trying to have five million euro engines in 2010. We also agree on producing new engines in 2011 at lower costs.
"Before the end of 2008 we'll face the issues regarding 2010," he admitted. "It was unthinkable that the future of Formula One should be decided between the Chinese and the Brazilian GP. More time is needed, but the spirit of collaboration is good."