It is possible formula one teams will be limited to a budget cap in 2013, according to Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

The budget cap idea saw the sport almost implode amid the bitter political war of 2009, when proposed by controversial former FIA president Max Mosley.

But it is back on the agenda in 2012, and according to new rules – where a majority of teams can now push through a change – it could be imposed next season.

“Ten of the 12 teams are in favour,” Auto Motor und Sport said, referring to the push to have cost-cutting moved from the FOTA gentleman’s agreement to the actual sporting regulations.

It means that the two dissenting teams, the Red Bull-owned Red Bull Racing and Toro Rosso, will have no say.

“The cost to be competitive in formula one at present is too high,” the boss of the energy drink company’s premier team, Christian Horner, said recently. “I don’t think anybody will dispute that.

“The debate is how we achieve it.”

Not only that, the German report said nine teams are in favour of Mosley’s old budget cap idea, with annual expenditure limited initially to EUR 170 million and then diminishing to 100 million over a few seasons.

Sauber is in a race for money after discovering its 2012 car is up to speed with F1′s richest teams.

As ever in formula one, world championships are won not on the basis of a clever initial design, but on a team’s ability to continue to develop it throughout a long season.

According to O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper, the formerly BMW-owned Sauber team’s chief executive Monisha Kaltenborn admits that the Hinwil based outfit cannot compete on that front with the likes of McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.

“It’s a shame,” she is quoted as saying.

“I hope we can show enough potential so that some companies decide to invest in our project,” said Kaltenborn, with the Brazilian newspaper estimating that Sauber’s budget is EUR 80 million this year.

In contrast, the top four teams’ budgets are believed to be all above EUR 220m.

Kaltenborn told F1′s official website recently that Sauber would back a push to impose a budget cap — an issue that triggered the big teams’ bitter political war with former FIA president Max Mosley a few years ago.

“We … have also openly said that we are not satisfied with our sponsor situation because we have high targets and to achieve them you need appropriate funding,” she continued.

“We still need to work on that side of things, as of course the more funding you have the more you can develop — and it shows on the track.

“I have said before that when we look back we practically never had enough money to do what we really wanted to. The question is always how big the gap is — sometimes it is bigger, sometimes it is smaller.”

Martin Brundle has admitted he is surprised HRT is still struggling so much at the start of its third season in formula one.

Better known then as ‘Hispania’, the Spanish team was founded by Adrian Campos after former FIA president Max Mosley opened up three new places in pitlane for the start of the 2010 season.

But last year, the team’s second group of owners – the Carabante family – passed the baton yet again to Thesan Capital, who have rebuilt HRT in the wake of the management and infrastructure that was brought by former boss Colin Kolles.

Even so, the highly respected British commentator and former grand prix veteran Martin Brundle is surprised that Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan are struggling so much with the team’s Cosworth-powered 2012 car.

“Somebody’s got to be at the front, somebody’s got to be at the back,” the Briton told the BBC motoring programme Top Gear’s website.

“(But) the HRT is particularly poor at the moment, and it confuses me why in year three it’s worse than it was in year one.”

Carlos Gracia, an FIA vice-president and head of Spain’s motor racing federation, doesn’t fully agree.

Speaking to the sports newspaper Marca, he explained that veteran de la Rosa faces a “handicap” as the Spaniard races with HRT this year.

“He knows where he is; in a brand new team, although some people believe it is their third year.

“They have begun again, but it seems that they are in a situation where they have only just started and yet they have to clean up the image of the other years.

“That’s his handicap, but the team will have credibility because of Pedro and also because of a good business investment,” added Gracia.

Bernie Ecclestone has risked triggering speculation about FIA president Jean Todt’s future.
In an interview with Germany’s Die Welt, the F1 chief executive looked ruefully back on the infamous era alongside Todt’s predecessor Max Mosley.

Ecclestone, who turns 81 on Friday, admitted recently he does not always see eye-to-eye with Frenchman Todt.

“It’s a shame these days how democratic formula one is now. Max and I were able to solve issues and problems in most cases very quickly, a few days or weeks, where now we sometimes need years.

“That (the past era) benefitted everyone — the teams, the audience, everybody,” said Ecclestone.

Referring then to Todt, he said: “I think he went into the job not knowing what to expect. Max helped Jean to become president.

“But I suspect that if he was true to himself and he could choose again between the presidency and Ferrari, he would return to Maranello,” added the Briton.

Fascinatingly, Ecclestone’s comments coincided with Todt telling the Italian-language goalcity.com: “I am still in love with Ferrari.

“The ‘Rosso’ will always have a special place in my heart.”

Ecclestone agrees that – operationally – F1′s past is better than its present.

“It’s tempting to talk about the good old days,” he said. “Maybe it wasn’t like that really but I get the impression that it was much, much better than it is now.

“I tell you: if Max wanted to be re-elected as president, he would go through with ease. He is supported by 90 per cent of the teams.”

 Bernie Ecclestone has admitted he would welcome Max Mosley back to the FIA presidency.
The F1 chief executive told Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper that coming out in opposition to his long-time fellow F1 powerbroker amid the 2008 scandal ranks among his biggest ever regrets.

“One of the worst things I’ve done in my life – and for which I am ashamed – is to not defend Max Mosley when he had his big problems. There’s no excuse,” said Ecclestone.

The 80-year-old is referring to his call for Mosley to step down as pressure rose in the wake of the then FIA president’s sex scandal involving sadomasochism and prostitutes.

“I made the mistake because so many people – executives and decision-makers from big companies and banks – convinced me that Max must go in the circumstances,” Ecclestone explained.

He said his own opinion of the sex affair was that it was “purely private” and “nothing to do with formula one”.

“But I was influenced very strongly and badly not to support him. I have apologised personally to Max and also publicly before the FIA World Council,” added the Briton.

The FIA is now headed by former Ferrari boss Jean Todt, and it is known that Ecclestone is not a fan.

“I have nothing against the present incumbent, Jean Todt, but I would welcome Max’s return,” insisted Ecclestone.

The death of Indycar driver Dan Wheldon is making waves even in the world of formula one.
As a Briton and a former track rival of contemporaries including Jenson Button, the 33-year-old was well-known in the F1 paddock and his death has been felt as a big blow.

Not surprisingly, formula one figures suggest Indycar has a lot to learn from F1.

“It is the most dangerous form of motor racing at the moment,” 1979 world champion Jody Scheckter, who wants his son Tomas to quit Indycar, told the BBC.

Also criticised since the crash has been the small size of the Las Vegas speedway, the large number of competing cars, the skills of some of the drivers and the very nature of high speed oval racing.

Former Super Aguri driver Anthony Davidson, a former junior rival of Wheldon’s, said: “The safety record in Indycar is not good and I would never drive there. It’s just not worth it. The cars are agricultural.”

Agreed David Coulthard – who moved to German touring cars after retiring from F1 in 2008 – in his Telegraph column: “I could have moved my family over there and made a life for myself in the United States.

“But the risk-reward ratio was simply too high for me. Formula one, I felt, was at an acceptable level but Indycar was, and is, probably 20 years behind F1 in terms of safety.”

Added 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell: “Formula one does an exemplary job.”

Coulthard added: “With any luck it (Wheldon’s death) will spur on the IRL to improve its safety record. Say what you like about Max Mosley but one thing that we in formula one must all thank him for was his response to (the deaths at) Imola in 1994.”

Sir Jackie Stewart agreed: “I think there needs to be more discipline by the (Indycar) governing body. If drivers do consistently collide with each other, there should be heavier penalties.”

British Racing Drivers’ Club president Derek Warwick said: “They need to understand the quality of the drivers that are in the field as well.

“With formula one the drivers are all great drivers who have won championships from working their way up from formula 3 to GP2 before they get a super licence to be able to race.

“I sometimes question the depth of talent in Indycar races and that will lead to inexperience and the inexperienced generally end up having accidents. They need to tweak what they’re doing a little bit,” said the 162 grand prix veteran.

Former McLaren driver Mark Blundell, who has also raced in America, added: “These kinds of cars shouldn’t have been running on these kinds of circuits.”

Stewart told Sky Sports: “It was such high speed on such a small track with too many cars together and not that many top racing drivers in there.

“It may be that we have to have smaller engines with smaller horsepower and slower speeds in Indycar racing.”

But Johnny Herbert, who flirted with a switch to America after retiring from F1 in 2000, thinks Indycar fatalities are inevitable.

“They will continue as long as this extreme form of motor sport exists,” the Briton wrote in his column for The National.

“The tremendous speed at which the cars travel, while separated by inches on those steep oval tracks, means you will likely see more deaths, no matter what safety measures are implemented.”

Almost four years after the News of the World scandal first broke, Max Mosley is still chasing the saga in court.
Since early 2008 when Briton Mosley was filmed with five prostitutes, the 71-year-old’s reign as FIA president has ended and the British tabloid closed.

But despite winning a similar case in Britain, his lawyers have been in France’s Tribunal de Grande Instance this week pressing another case against the report’s chief reporter.

Because the News of the World report and video footage was available within France, Mosley sued journalist Neville Thurlbeck for defamation and breach of privacy.

He is seeking EUR 100,000 in damages from both the News of the World and Thurlbeck, according to The Guardian.

“Every copy of the paper distributed was a thorn in the skin of Mr Mosley. Every one was a prejudice,” said Mosley’s lawyer Philippe Ouakrat.

But Thurlbeck’s lawyer told the hearing on Tuesday that Mosley should not be able to sue twice for the same offense.

“Mr Mosley has already gained satisfaction in England,” said Jean-Frederic Gaultier. “This case here is not about justice but about vengeance.”

Bernie Ecclestone appeared at the Nurburgring on Friday, despite suggestions he might skip the journey to Germany for fear of being arrested.
The F1 chief executive is finally admitting he paid $44 million to jailed German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky, but he denies it was a bribe.

Even so, some suspected the fact the charges laid against Gribkowsky coincided with Germany’s F1 event would convince Ecclestone to remain in Britain to avoid potential trouble.

But he told the reporter for Bild newspaper at the Nurburgring: “I said I would come, so here I am.”

And Ecclestone told the Financial Times when asked if he fears being arrested: “No, not at all.

“I’m concerned it’s going to be bloody wet and cold. Otherwise, should be a good race.”

But many paddock insiders on Friday cast serious doubt on billionaire Ecclestone’s explanation that he was blackmailed by Gribkowsky to avoid trouble with inland revenue.

“Bernie does not get blackmailed,” one was quoted by the Telegraph.

At the very least, Ecclestone admitted that he regrets paying the money.

“So many things in life are hindsight,” said the 80-year-old.

“It’s not my style to have anyone threaten me. Believe me, in my life I have been threatened properly. But in this case they (the lawyers) advised me to pay up.

“But don’t worry, I have nothing to worry about,” added Ecclestone.

One rumour is that the diminutive Briton, perhaps under pressure from F1 owner CVC’s investors, might step aside to allow the scandal to play out away from the sport.

“There is no sign of him backing off,” Ecclestone’s former power ally Max Mosley told the Financial Times. “On the other hand, maybe he will.”

Bernie Ecclestone could send his own envoy to Bahrain as the 2011 race rescheduling saga becomes a political power struggle.
Some commentators have raised eyebrows this week as Ecclestone, F1′s chief executive, appeared to be back in step with his old sparring partner Max Mosley in the wake of the FIA’s controversial decision to slot Bahrain back into the 2011 calendar.

Ecclestone has admitted recently he is “at loggerheads” with Mosley’s successor as FIA president Jean Todt, whose reign he has described as a “joke”.

The events of the past days means Ecclestone is now also aligned with the F1 teams who have written in a letter their displeasure at the Bahrain rescheduling for late October and the extension of the calendar until December.

On the other side are Todt and the likes of Carlos Gracia, the FIA vice-president whose report – which after his recent visit to Bahrain was described in some quarters as a “whitewash” – has been leaked online.

Mosley this week described Gracia as a “very, very nice man who speaks no English and as far as I know, speaks no Arabic”.

Gracia, speaking in Valencia on Tuesday, said he found Bahrain peaceful when he visited recently but acknowledged that demonstrations and protests have occurred since then.

“That is something that neither I nor anyone else could predict,” he is quoted in the Spanish press.

“We do not want the grand prix held at all costs. Formula one in total is 2500 people and we would not put at risk the drivers, the mechanics, the sponsors, anyone,” added Gracia.

Ecclestone told the Financial Times he might now send his own inspector to Bahrain.

“That is precisely what we should do,” he said. “I wish I knew more. We’ve been told there are no problems. The FIA said everything is fine, that (Gracia) met people. So who do you believe?”

FOTA confirmed it wrote a letter to the FIA, and the latter has now confirmed it was received.

“We have received the letter and we are considering it,” said a spokesman. “The FIA is a transparent governing body and we welcome all input in the matter.”

And a spokesperson told the Telegraph the FIA is “checking the small print” of the regulations in the wake of the World Motor Sport Council’s controversial decision late last week.

Max Mosley has failed in his bid to force media outlets to notify individuals before stories about their personal lives are published.

Dating back to the News of the World’s 2008 expose about the former FIA president’s allegedly Nazi-themed sadomasochistic orgy with prostitutes, the Briton took his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in January.

His opponents argued that Mosley’s action could “imperil investigative journalism” and lead to newspapers “folding” if individuals got a chance to argue in court before the stories about them were published.

In a ruling on Tuesday, the court disagreed with Mosley on the grounds of freedom of speech, with the 71-year-old tipped to appeal the decision.

“I’m obviously disappointed,” said Mosley. “It’s not finished yet.”

Bernie Ecclestone reverted to his typical humour and image of invincibility when asked in Turkey if he fears formula one slipping from his grasp.
Asked by Bild am Sonntag if he is worried he may soon have to relinquish his role as the most powerful figure in the paddock, he answered simply: “Yes.”

Asked why, the 80-year-old Briton told the German Sunday newspaper: “Because I can’t do my job when I’m dead.”

He suggested to Bloomberg in another interview that he cannot understand the interest of News Corp and Ferrari-linked Exor when the sport’s current owners CVC are not interested in selling.

And he revealed: “There’s been other interest for quite some time”, adding that CVC might only be swayed with a “bloody enormous” offer.

FIA president Jean Todt confirmed on Sunday that the governing body has the right to veto a sale.

Ecclestone commented: “I don’t, but I could just walk out.”

Curiously, another spanner in the works could be Todt’s predecessor Max Mosley, who called the FIA veto the ‘Don King clause’ because the flamboyant boxing promoter would not be an appropriate owner for the sport.

It’s about “having a suitable, proper person” owning F1, Mosley told Bloomberg. “From a personal point of view, I don’t think they’d be the right person,” he said, referring to News Corp.

Mosley’s main gripe with Rupert Murdoch is his UK tabloid News of the World, responsible not only for the infamous ‘Nazi hookers’ story but also for hacking the phones of celebrities.

“There has been clear illegality,” said Mosley.

A News Corp spokeswoman declined to comment on Ecclestone or Mosley’s comments.

Max Mosley’s crusade against newspapers breaching personal privacy will head next week to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

In 2008, the former FIA president was the subject of an investigative piece by the News of the World showing the then 67-year-old Mosley engaged in what the tabloid alleged was Nazi-themed sado-masochistic sex with prostitutes.

The Briton won a round of legal action against media outlets and then filed against the United Kingdom, asking that individuals be given the chance to argue in court before newspapers can publish stories about personal lives.

A media lawyer told the Press Gazette that, if successful, Mosley’s action could “imperil investigative journalism” and lead to newspapers “folding”.

“There will be a radically different press if he is successful with a lot of the colour taken away,” said Caroline Kean.

The case will begin on Tuesday with opening addresses by barristers, but the outcome is not expected to be known for some months.

“Proper investigative journalism should not be affected (by the action); unlawful sex exposes should be,” said Mosley’s lawyer Dominic Crossley. “There needs to be a proper practical remedy for privacy rights that works.”

The appointment as steward of an Italian driver with close ties to Ferrari has raised some eyebrows within the F1 paddock in Abu Dhabi.

Emanuele Pirro, who contested grands prix in the early 90s for the Scuderia Italia team, is making his first appearance as an FIA official this weekend for the 2010 world championship showdown.

48-year-old Pirro now races vintage Ferrari cars, and on his website is a picture of a 1971 Ferrari 512M with the caption ‘All Italian boys love Ferraris’.

The news has led to claims he should not be adjudicating at a grand prix where a Ferrari driver – Fernando Alonso – stands to win the title.

An FIA spokeswoman told the Daily Mail: “We selected the stewards some while ago.”

Bild correspondent Tobias Holtkamp wrote: “Imagine it’s the World Cup final, with Italy playing Germany. And the referee is from Rome.

“It’s unthinkable. Only in formula one is it possible.”

Race director Charlie Whiting responded: “I have no problem with it.

“A few years ago Max Mosley as FIA president ordered that only stewards not associated with a team or driver can be appointed.

“In practice, this was unfortunately not sustainable. There simply are not enough to choose from.”

Nick Heidfeld on Thursday said it would be a shame if the team orders saga is seen to have influenced the outcome of the drivers’ world championship.

With two races to go, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is 11 points ahead of Red Bull’s Mark Webber in the points standings.

7 of those points were earned in Hockenheim, where Alonso’s teammate Felipe Massa was controversially moved aside despite team orders being banned in F1.

Ferrari was fined $100,000 for the move but Alonso kept his points.

“If Alonso wins the championship with a margin less than the 7 points, it would devalue the championship — that’s a personal view,” said former FIA president Max Mosley.

Red Bull’s team boss Christian Horner agrees, stating that seeing Alonso win because of the extra points would be “frustrating”.

Sauber driver Heidfeld said in Brazil on Thursday: “From a team’s perspective, it (team orders) is perhaps understandable.

“But it would be a shame if the championship is decided by the fact that Red Bull has followed the rules while others see it maybe differently.

“If that happens, I would really hope that Red Bull’s behaviour is seen in a positive way,” the German is quoted by the news agency SID.

Earlier this week, McLaren team boss and FOTA chairman Martin Whitmarsh refused to say a title win for Alonso would reflect badly on the sport.

“I think we’ve had a very good championship and that’s what we should think about, full stop,” he said.

The economy is booming, but Max Mosley finds out that it was absolutely right by him to pursue having the formula 1, a drastic austerity plan.

As the global economy from the worst crisis in recent decades recovering and also in racing again as the money comes a little looser than a few months ago, Max Mosley reiterates that should be saved in Formula 1 also. He believes that the austerity measures demanded by him were completely right – and still are.

“At the moment,” said the former FIA president in an interview with BBC Radio 5 live ‘, “a team gets about 40 or 50 million dollars from Bernie (Ecclestone, editor’s note), you probably need 200. to operate properly can. Even in the current situation, in which the whole world probably slowly recovering from the recession, it is very difficult to get as much money from sponsors. ”
The teams, however, have relaxed the restrictions their recent 2017 extended Savings Agreement (RRA) – According to Mosley, a wrong decision, “I believe that it is easy for the team in any way, and the thing would be to reduce costs further,” he believes. “. But the bottom line is the decision of the team, you all sit together and know what they should do in my opinion you see it differently -. And that is their business.”

“But there is no doubt that some of them are on the brink, because they spend so much money and the ways to find money, are limited,” adds the 70-year-old Briton. In the industry is said to mainly HRT, Virgin and Force India a tense financial situation. Sauber also can only since the agreement with the future major sponsor Telmex breathe.
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