Formula-one supremo Bernie Ecclestone reignited his row with the sport’s constructors on Wednesday, blasting them for failing to keep spiralling costs under control.
Ecclestone told German weekly magazine Sport-Bild that teams should be able to remain competitive on a budget of €50-million a season, roughly a quarter of the average amount spent by top-ranked formula-one constructors.
”Teams now have to spend €200-million to be competitive, but I want to reach a figure of €50-million,” said Ecclestone.
”Cosworth can make a competitive engine for €14-million a year, so the others should be able to. The average of 100 salaried staff per team is completely crazy.”
Toyota are the sport’s biggest spenders with an annual budget estimated at €400-million.
Motor sport’s world governing body, the FIA, has proposed a €100-million limit on team costs per season from 2008, but Ecclestone said that is not enough.
Ecclestone, the sport’s commercial rights holder, believes the future of formula one is under threat due to the level of costs and he claims that rapid advances in technology will render his figure achievable.
”Formula one’s best promoters are its drivers,” added the Briton. ”Look at Michael Schumacher. He does not embark on an intense image campaign at Ferrari; he simply wins.”
Ecclestone also dismissed fears that his control on power is under threat as the sport’s big five constructors — Renault, Ferrari, McLaren, Honda and Toyota — look to form a breakaway competition.
”They have no chance,” he insisted.
The teams want a greater share of the commercial rights for formula one, but a defiant Ecclestone added: ”They have no right to a greater share, but it is taking them a long time to realise it.”
Meanwhile, Ecclestone is left to wait to see what the big five come up with before the season begins in Bahrain on March 12. — Sapa-AFP