From GMM
The World Motor Sport Council of the FIA on Tuesday rejected Formula 1 teams' unanimous proposal to tweak the formula one points system.
However, the governing FIA did adopt a variant of Bernie Ecclestone's 'medals' idea, to be implemented immediately, where the winner of the most grands prix is crowned 2009 World Champion.
Unlike on Olympic rostrums, there will be no actual medals awarded, with the existing 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points system still applying to both the drivers' and constructors' tallies.
The FIA rubber-stamped a number of measures to enhance spectators' enjoyment of the sport via the media.
For instance, the weights of cars will be published after qualifying, and mandatory driver autograph sessions and interviews will take place at races.
Also, Brawn GP's name change was officially accepted.
It also announced that a voluntary budget cap will apply in formula one next year.
The FIA said the annual limit, set for now at 33m euros, will be "an alternative to running under the existing rules" which will remain unchanged until 2012 according to a deal reached with the FOTA alliance.
The budget cap is clearly designed to make the sport accessible to existing and new independent outfits, while allowing the bigger teams to keep spending bigger amounts of money.
The catch for the non-capped teams will be less technical freedom than the capped teams, who will be able to run a more efficient (standard) underbody, moveable wings, and engines without rev limits or frozen development.
Capped teams will also have no limits on testing, and FIA president Max Mosley said a bigger-capacity KERS is a possibility.
The 33m figure will cover "all expenditure of any kind", including driver and team boss salaries, and only excluding the motor home and FIA fines.
FIA president Max Mosley said "very intrusive audits" and the fear of "severe penalties" will deter capped teams from overspending, and that the number of teams allowed in F1 will be increased from the current 12.
"We understand that FOM will pay the cost-capped teams on the same basis as other teams and will also provide $10 million plus the standard transport package for the 11th and 12th teams starting in 2010," added Mosley.
photo:WRI2
The World Motor Sport Council of the FIA on Tuesday rejected Formula 1 teams' unanimous proposal to tweak the formula one points system.
However, the governing FIA did adopt a variant of Bernie Ecclestone's 'medals' idea, to be implemented immediately, where the winner of the most grands prix is crowned 2009 World Champion.
Unlike on Olympic rostrums, there will be no actual medals awarded, with the existing 10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1 points system still applying to both the drivers' and constructors' tallies.
The FIA rubber-stamped a number of measures to enhance spectators' enjoyment of the sport via the media.
For instance, the weights of cars will be published after qualifying, and mandatory driver autograph sessions and interviews will take place at races.
Also, Brawn GP's name change was officially accepted.
It also announced that a voluntary budget cap will apply in formula one next year.
The FIA said the annual limit, set for now at 33m euros, will be "an alternative to running under the existing rules" which will remain unchanged until 2012 according to a deal reached with the FOTA alliance.
The budget cap is clearly designed to make the sport accessible to existing and new independent outfits, while allowing the bigger teams to keep spending bigger amounts of money.
The catch for the non-capped teams will be less technical freedom than the capped teams, who will be able to run a more efficient (standard) underbody, moveable wings, and engines without rev limits or frozen development.
Capped teams will also have no limits on testing, and FIA president Max Mosley said a bigger-capacity KERS is a possibility.
The 33m figure will cover "all expenditure of any kind", including driver and team boss salaries, and only excluding the motor home and FIA fines.
FIA president Max Mosley said "very intrusive audits" and the fear of "severe penalties" will deter capped teams from overspending, and that the number of teams allowed in F1 will be increased from the current 12.
"We understand that FOM will pay the cost-capped teams on the same basis as other teams and will also provide $10 million plus the standard transport package for the 11th and 12th teams starting in 2010," added Mosley.
photo:WRI2