FIA proposals aim to keep rebels onside

World governing body the FIA have proposed wide-ranging changes to Formula One rules in a bid to tempt major car makers to stick with the sport.

Formula One’s five major manufacturers – Renault, Mercedes, Toyota, BMW and Honda – are behind plans to launch a breakaway series in 2008 when the ruling Concorde Agreement expires.

The group, which includes nine of the 10 teams, wants a greater share of Formula One revenues as well as changes to how rules are written.

Recent plans for a rules package for 2008 onwards dismayed many in the group with proposals for what appeared to be a low-cost, low-technology formula.

But the FIA have responded by suggesting major changes to ensure Formula One technology remains linked to road car uses.

In a letter sent to all teams by the FIA and made public today, they propose allowing movable aerodynamic devices – which for decades have been outlawed - and energy storage systems which would provide an extra power boost.

The aerodynamic suggestions represent a major shift in policy from the FIA and come after stinging criticism of president Max Mosley’s plan to cut downforce by 90%.

That remains his goal but today’s document attempted to appease critics by promising to allow greater innovation by removing many of the precise restrictions which currently limit designers.

In the letter, the FIA wrote: “If there is some support for such ideas, we should like to discuss possible action for 2008 as a matter of urgency.

“In the longer term we would propose setting up a small committee from the major manufacturers and perhaps some academics to advise the FIA on possible car and aerospace technologies for use in Formula One.

“We could then start to think about regulations five or even 10 years ahead of their introduction.

“Finally, we must never lose sight of the need to keep at least 20, preferably 24, cars on the grid.

“This means that permitted technologies must either be relatively inexpensive to develop or of a kind which bring paying technology partners into Formula One.”