Formula-one chiefs are stepping up their campaign to slash escalating costs with cutbacks in testing as well as reducing the mini army of people on team duty at grand-prix weekends being proposed.
The governing body of the sport, the FIA, believes significant savings can be found by restrictions on testing and by reverting to just one tyre supplier.
”The only way to regulate testing effectively would be to introduce a rule rather than attempt a voluntary agreement between the teams,” it was stated in the minutes of a meeting held between FIA chief Max Mosley and world champions Ferrari.
However, the meeting, held at London’s Heathrow airport on January 28, highlights the dilemma faced by the FIA — only Ferrari turned up, with the other teams on the grid refusing to appear.
They are locked in a dispute with Ferrari, who object to a limit of 30 days’ testing in 2005.
The FIA say that testing should be based on mileage rather than days, that there should be no testing on grand-prix circuits other than Barcelona, Monza and Silverstone.
Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn said he believes the proposed limit of testing on 30 out of a maximum 45 days with two cars running at any one time would not reduce costs.
He said he prefers a test limitation based on mileage rather than days.
Also proposed is a cut in the number of people working for teams at race weekends.
Ferrari sporting director Jean Todt said his team support a plan that would see drivers being able to start the car unaided with an on-board system.
Todt believes that this could lead to savings in terms of people needed to support the cars and also help with sales of formula-one cars on to private buyers.
The FIA and Ferrari also agreed to study the possibilities of cutting the number of people involved in pit-stops.
”For example, with routine tyre stops no longer allowed, a restriction to one man per wheel might be acceptable for the rare occasions when weather conditions or an incident might necessitate a tyre change,” explained the minutes of the meeting, which were released on Wednesday.
The FIA added that it is strongly in favour of having just one tyre supplier and is keen to do away with teams having a spare car.
Brawn said Ferrari support this idea, as it would save €1,2-million.
The next meeting of the FIA and heads of teams is planned for Paris on April 15. — Sapa-AFP