Cost Control To Be Written Into F1 Rules For The First Time

F1 is "poised to have cost control written formally into its rules" for the first time next year, according to Andrew Benson of the BBC. Governing body FIA said on Friday it was having "active discussions with teams regarding cost control." The FIA and teams are "working on an agreement that will enshrine a form of cost control over car design into the regulations." Sources said an agreement on how to limit spending on chassis is "not very far off," but "talks are still ongoing." The deal will "most likely not take the form of a formal cap on budgets," but instead "adopt a form of restriction" on the way the teams can commit their resources. The FIA has set June 30 for the submission of cost-control arrangements that "could be written into next year's rules." That is the date next year's technical regulations can be changed with the support of only eight of the 12 teams. After that "it would need unanimous support," and the two Red Bull teams "are not supporting the current process" (BBC, 6/15).