UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > BMW opposes wind tunnel limit

Proposal unfair

Jan.15 (GMM) BMW supports the concept of capping formula one team budgets, but is less receptive to the FIA's proposal to limit things such as the use of wind tunnels, team boss Dr Mario Theissen said.

The Bavarian manufacturer's motor sport director and BMW-Sauber team principal told reporters on Monday that he supports moves to reduce costs in the notoriously expensive sport.

A team principals' meeting with FIA president Max Mosley in Paris last Friday revealed that most teams, with the notable exception of Ferrari, are open to the idea of limiting annual spending, perhaps to about $150 million per year.

"We should at least spend some time on evaluating it, how it would work, what would be the cap, what would be included and how to police it," Theissen said.

"I would certainly prefer a budget cap over limitations in specific areas," he added.

BMW is known for having arguably the best wind tunnel in formula one at its Hinwil base, while Ferrari has a different advantage in the form of its private Fiorano test circuit.

Ferrari is thought to have uniquely objected to the budget cap proposal in Paris, while supporting the restrictions on aerodynamic development facilities.

But Theissen said those proposals would not be fair because every team is currently at different levels in terms of wind tunnel and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) capabilities.

"Secondly, it would be almost impossible to police and thirdly, I think the challenge is to spend our resources in the way you get the most performance out of it," the German said.

"If some team decides to spend a lot of money on drivers, it should be possible for another team to spend a lot of money on a computer or a wind tunnel," Theissen said at the launch of BMW-Sauber's 2008 car in Munich.

Written: Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:06:46