Mosley confident over 'breakaway'

Max Mosley is confident there will be no breakaway world championship - despite threats to the contrary.

Mosley, president of world governing body the FIA, believes the seven manufacturers yet to sign up to Formula One from 2008 – McLaren, Williams, Toyota, Renault, Sauber, BAR and Minardi – will all do so given time.

Only Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Jordan – who will next season be known as Midland F1 – have agreed to remain under the FIA umbrella once the current regulations expire at the end of the 2007 season.

In the past, the FIA and major manufacturers have often been at loggerheads over the way forward for the sport, prompting suggestions of a breakaway series.

The latest round of talks took place in Milan on Wednesday, with Mosley confirming the discussions were “friendly, constructive, helpful, with an interesting exchange of views”.

However, while the teams have principles not far removed from the detailed regulations drawn up by the FIA, Mosley is of the impression they are “not in a position to agree detailed rules among themselves”.

He added: “Reading between the lines, they’ve been talking for seven months and there aren’t any [details], so one has to assume there are difficulties.

“That isn’t our concern because we will listen to everybody, but in the end publish the regulations.”

From Mosley’s point of view, it would appear to be a case of ‘we will do what we want regardless of what you say’, with the FIA looking to publish their rules by next month.

Among the initiatives planned by the FIA are: a controlled level of downforce to reduce speeds; a revised transmission due to the exorbitant expense of the current systems; the re-introduction of slick tyres and the introduction of active tyre pressure; a second-hand market whereby current teams can sell off cars or parts to attract new teams.

Mosley, though, feels ‘the rebel seven’ will fall into line and the status quo will be maintained come 2008.

“What we will do is publish the 2008 regulations and there will be a Formula One World Championship in 2008,” insisted Mosley.

“Currently there are three teams that have signed up to compete, with another three teams on the verge of joining them, and it’s only a matter of time before more follow too, but only they can decide.

“But there will be a championship in 2008 whether they are there or not. They can always go off and race in America or Japan – there are lots of top-level championships there.

“But usually they come back because Formula One is the most attractive to manufacturers because it brings the most marketability and competition at the top level.

“We’ll set out our stall though, and I’m confident that in the end there’ll just be Formula One and everyone will sign up and things will be as they have for the last 50 years.”