But Todt can foresee if costs are not cut then it could sound the death knell
for the smaller teams, particularly with new engine regulations due to come
into force from 2014.
Todt claims that since 2005 there has been a 30 per cent cut in costs, but in
another interview in Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport this week
he said they needed to be “lowered by a further 30 per cent in the next
three years, or we will lose several teams”.
Today Todt added: “We must reduce the costs in order to keep everybody on
board. I prefer to present it like that.
“It’s everybody’s responsibility. We all need to share it, but I have never
heard somebody saying we are against reducing costs.
“I’m sure if we make sensible proposals then everybody will be happy with
that.”
Asked whether the FIA would spearhead proposals rather than just pay lip
service to issues, Todt said: “The FIA is the regulator and legislator of
the sport.
“My job as president of the FIA is to make sure things happen, and as long as
I am president of the FIA, they will.
“We work for the good of the sport, and the good of the sport is to have
everybody working together. That’s Formula One, rallying, everybody.
“All the categories of sport need to reach a higher level, and to do that we
all have to work together.”
Asked whether he felt conversations around the issue were moving in the right
direction, he replied: “Time will tell, but hopefully, yes.”