With most teams outside of the major manufacturer-backed outfits struggling to
keep their heads above water, a budget cap is likely to be welcomed in
principle by the majority of Formula One participants.
Former FIA president Max Mosley was the last person to try to introduce a cap,
back in 2009, but he was forced to abandon the concept when the Formula One
Teams Association threatened to form a breakaway group.
Mosley’s intention was for a cap at £40 million and it is likely that the
agreed figure will be a lot higher this time around, with certain elements,
such as driver salaries, outside the cap.
Whatever parameters are agreed, there will be major question marks as to how
the governing body intends to police the cap.
“A working group will be established within the coming days comprising the
FIA, representatives of the commercial rights holder and team
representatives,” the FIA said in a statement. “The objective of the working
group will be to have regulations approved by the end of June 2014.”
Other rule changes announced on Monday night include the introduction of
permanent numbers for drivers, which they will keep for their entire
careers.
As world champion, Red Bull’s Vettel will have the choice of No 1 if he wants
it, with this year’s championship order determining the choice of numbers
after that.
The association of certain numbers with certain drivers – think Valentino
Rossi and 46 in MotoGP or Nigel Mansell’s red five – is deemed to be a
powerful marketing tool.
Next year there will also be five-second penalties handed out for minor
infringements, the FIA said.
Separately, the F1 Commission agreed to a change to the 2013 Sporting
Regulations, on safety grounds, allowing Pirelli to carry out a three-day
test in Bahrain next week, from Dec 17-19.
Six teams – Red Bull Racing, Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, Force India and Toro
Rosso – accepted the manufacturers’ open invitation to attend the test.