FIA introduces two-tier cost structure and winner-take-all F1 Championship in 2010
It is unclear whether reality show impresario Mark Burnett is actually the one running Formula 1, but the political goings-on of the series continue to overshadow what happens on the track. The FIA recently published the 2010 regulations with some novel inclusions: a winner-take-all system for determining the Championship (yes, again), a higher weight for cars to promote KERS usage, and a budget cap system that would let teams spending no more than £40 million have more technical freedom vs. the big-spending teams. Follow the jump for the rest of the rundown.
The winner-take-all system was again rescinded a number of days after its inclusion, with the apology that it was "a mistake." The minimum car weight was upped from 605 kg to 620 kg. With the addition of 40 kg of KERS equipment, heavy drivers were being penalized for its use. Many drivers shed weight over the off-season, causing pundits to label the situation a jockey competition.
The cost-cap regulation would create a class of teams spending £40 million, not including driver salaries, marketing, engines, or fines. Those teams could use adjustable front and rear wings, unlimited-revving engines, unlimited out-of-season track testing and wind tunnel testing. Any new teams entering would also get a £6.7 million yearly payment and free transportation of two chassis and freight. (Currently, only points-scoring teams get free transportation to races.)
That regulation caused Ferrari and BMW to hint at quitting F1, and others -- teams and drivers included -- to openly disparage the tiered structure. Teams like Renault, Williams, and even McLaren and BMW support a cost cap, however, they feel that £40 million is too low and next year is too soon. The teams association, the FOTA, is proposing either a £60 million cap for next year, or that a higher cap is introduced next year and drops over the next three years to £60 million. They are unanimously opposed to any differing class structure.
Bernie Ecclestone, of course, appears to be playing all sides: if costs are reduced for everyone, theoretically he doesn't need to pay them as much as they get now -- £40 million probably being close to what top teams get in revenue from FOM. Stay tuned next week when we find out who gets voted off F1 Island...
[Source: F1 Live]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Graham 12:10PM (5/09/2009)
during qualifying this morning they announced that the winner take all decision was not going to happen...
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tankd0g 11:14AM (5/09/2009)
LEAVE IT THE $%@# ALONE!
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MinacciolMotors 11:30AM (5/09/2009)
the winner takes all was an accidental inclusion, as stated by the FIA on thursday. the 2010 championship will retain the points system, but with another raft of technical and budgetary changes. next season is gonna be fun.
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Raghu 11:31AM (5/09/2009)
That news was 10 days old! The latest is that it not going to be winner takes all...
http://en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090509160523.shtml
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Homeboy 12:03PM (5/09/2009)
Exactly. Why don't Autoblog stick to writing about cars rather than dipping their toe into topics they know nothing about. This news is old, welcome to last month Autoblog.
John Johnson 11:41AM (5/09/2009)
I kinda like those budgeting rules. Maybe I'm weird.
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slicecom 1:09PM (5/09/2009)
Sure it sounds great, until you read that the FIA reserves the right to adjust the rules during the season for the salary capped teams. In other words, if they do TOO good and start winning races, the FIA will change the rules to slow them down. This is a TERRIBLE idea. The FIA already messes with the results in F1 too much as it is.
ken_aisin 4:01PM (5/09/2009)
I think the budget cap thing won't work, especially when it is a 2-tier thing. It's not like the NBA where the salary cap is strictly based on player's salary. F1 teams' expenditures involves a lot more aspects than just salary, and it'll be almost impossible to regulate.
I think the best way to cut cost and to promote competition is to ban all the wings and diffusers. Teams simply spend way too much money on aerodynamics these days. Just go back to the roots where F1 is about engine, chassis, suspensions, and most importantly, skills of the drivers.
EJ25RUN 11:51AM (5/09/2009)
OMG.
Autoblog. Really?
The FIA said the winners take all structure was not going to happen in 2010.
Also, the budget plan is set to be a sign on deal with the teams not signing on having their developments capped while the budgeted teams will be allowed development. So...if you're smart, you'd sign up.
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Combija 12:01PM (5/09/2009)
While the title is misleading, the Autoblog article does mention that the inclusion of "winner-takes-all" was a mistake.
PauloBecker 11:51AM (5/09/2009)
Oh, brilliant. So they finally figure out that KERS actually sucks due to all the added weight, hence the solution is to add weight to all cars?
This is just pathetic.
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U.K. 11:57AM (5/09/2009)
Keeping track on how much a team spends Good luck with that.
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Erdman 11:58AM (5/09/2009)
People still watch this pointless soap opera championship?
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EJ25RUN 1:19PM (5/09/2009)
Yes, the millons of us have and will continue to.
I have yet to miss a GP since 2001.
Before that, i have 765 GBs of footage from 1950-2000.
nuggetsmcduggets 12:54PM (5/09/2009)
Jesus Christ FIA/Bernie Ecclestone, you certainly excel at coming up with awful ideas and needless tinkering. I say Unlimited budgets and a return to V10 power, forget the environmentally-conscious amendments to the rules, Global Warming is a dirty sham.
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slicecom 1:10PM (5/09/2009)
I nominate you for FIA president.
Tom Winch 4:57PM (5/09/2009)
In today's economic climate a cost cap makes sense to keep sponsors in the game, although £40 million isn't enough. The same rules must apply to everyone though, none of this two tier BS. That said, it would be great to go back to the unlimited horsepower, unlimited revs, V-10's, turbos, and all the innovation that would come with it. Bernie & Max need to go!
Richard 1:27PM (5/09/2009)
Well, so far, Toyota have indicated that they may have to give F1 the single-digit salute and leave the sport.
And why not? They have invested billions, are beginning to see fruition and seek to capitalize on their years of investing/suffering. Letting upstarts who have made no great investment compete for the championship would certainly be sending Toyota, Ferrari, Renault and Mercedes the message that they can go to hell.
Max "spanky" Mosely, head of the FIA, is determined to wreck the sport to his benefit.
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Mark K. 4:13PM (5/09/2009)
In fact, I think this might be VERY good news. Can't wait for all major teams to say "Bye and thanks for all the fish" to Bernie and start their own championship. Let Ferrari cook in the soup they helped make 4 years ago when the time was ripe for new series if all teams went for it. I will certainly not watch F1 in that case just because Ferrari is in it.
New series with very simple rules:
- budget cap
- weight cap
- 200 mph speed cap for safety
- crash test
Everything else goes - Eldorado for innovation.
Richard 10:45PM (5/09/2009)
Mark,
You're kidding, right?