Todt: “F1 costs will remain under control”

FIA president Jean Todt says F1's governing body is committed to ensuring costs are kept under control ahead of the arrival of the new engines in 2014.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo had called for urgent action to help save F1 from the economic situation in Europe and ahead of today's FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting, Todt confirmed that the governing body is ready to undertake a discussion with the teams and engine manufacturers to try to improve the situation. “It is true that from 2014 the technical package will be more expensive, but it is also true that the FIA ​​is in contact with engine suppliers in order to reduce the increase in costs”, Todt told the English monthly Autosport. “For example, we have already agreed on a reduction in the number of propulsion units. From eight engines per driver per season in 2012, it will be possible to reduce the quota to five in 2014 and four per driver per season in 2015.".

The Frenchman called a meeting with F1 teams on the Monday after the Monaco GP to address the overall cost situation in the sport, and said efforts to finalize the implementation of a resource restriction agreement were underway at closed doors.
“We are discussing costs as we have been asked by ten of our twelve teams to control expenses”, insisted the Frenchman. “FIA administrative chief Damien Clermont is speaking to the finance managers of all the teams in F1 about chassis costs and engine costs. At the moment the plan is to continue applying the existing rules, but of course if we need to adapt to a specific situation, we will see how to do it. It is up to the president of the FIA ​​to make a proposal to the World Council.". One rule change that Renault has suggested to reduce engine costs for 2014 is to liberalize the supply limit that manufacturers are allowed to supply. At the moment, no manufacturer can supply engines to more than three teams, without express authorization from the FIA. Todt concluded that he is reluctant to make such a choice, however, but does not rule it out if it is decided by the World Council that it would be good for the sport.

Lorena Bianchi