Zoom Ferrari taking all means to block the FIA until an agreement can be reached

Ferrari has stepped up the budget cap row by applying for an injunction in the French courts against the 2010 rules.

FIA President Max Mosley, who met with the F1 teams and Bernie Ecclestone at a Heathrow hotel on Friday, revealed the news as he emerged from the meeting.

Ecclestone also emerged from the meeting, as the FOTA group headed straight back into talks.

"The teams have gone off to see if they can come up with something better than the cost cap," Mosley told reporters. "We are prepared to listen to what they have to say."

He said the meeting was 'friendly,' but added: "It became apparent that Ferrari have made an application to the French courts to apply for an injunction to stop us doing what we want to do."

Mosley said he had not agreed to compromise on his plans, and that he doubts Ferrari will actually quit the sport.

“The principle of an enormous reduction in costs has been accepted,” Mosley told the BBC. “The teams are saying now that we think we can come up with a better way of doing this other than a budget cap. We say that’s very pleasing to hear, what have you got in mind. Well we’re not quite sure but we want to talk about it. So I said to them that it would be very difficult to improve on a budget cap because it’s something that everyone can understand, it’s a level playing field and the cleverest team is going to win.

“If they could think of something better, then obviously we would have to look at it but I’m very sceptical.”

Mosley went on to confirm that the concept of a two-tier series has been scrapped and that ‘exchange of information’ is one topic being discussed to pave the way for the potential new entrants. However, the FIA President remains unmoved on calls for the budget cap being increased above £40m.

“It’s an enormous amount of money, particularly when you take the engines, the drivers and the motorhome – all sorts of things – out of it. Top teams would still be spending about a 100 million.”

E.A. © CAPSIS International
Source: GMM