UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > WMSC meeting this morning

Cost cutting to be agreed

Dec.12 (GMM) Friday morning's meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Monaco is expected to rubber-stamp cost-slashing proposals that will avoid the need to install a standard engine formula in 2010.

The proposals, although not yet publicly confirmed, were agreed between FIA president Max Mosley and F1's nine teams at a meeting in the Principality earlier this week.

Following Honda's shock departure from the sport, FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo said the teams had been motivated to act in unison due to the economically "difficult moment of our sport".

The details are expected to be unveiled later on Friday, but it is understood that - instead of going ahead with Mosley's standard Cosworth engine proposal - it has been agreed that F1's current generation of 2.4 litre V8s can be detuned to cut costs.

This will be achieved by expanding mandatory engine unit life from two races in 2008 to four races in 2009, and also reducing the rev limit from 19,000 to 18,000 rpm.

Additionally, the manufacturers will commit to making available customer engines to potentially two independent teams apiece for no more than 5 million euros per season.

This undertaking will have the natural effect of drastically containing engine development and running costs.

Another huge saving will be the total ban on circuit testing between the season opening Australian grand prix until November's final race of 2009 in Abu Dhabi.

It is also believed that teams have agreed to cut out at least one complete shift in their daily wind tunnel programmes, and by 2010 reduce staff numbers from the current up to 1000 to no more than 250 per team.

Written: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:16:25