FIA reach moment of truth in budget row

The FIA will today announce what could be a stunning line-up for the Formula One season next year as the budget-cap row rumbles on despite 11th-hour talks.

FIA president Max Mosley met with a handful of representatives from the Formula One Teams’ Association in London yesterday in a last-ditch attempt to resolve the dispute that has dominated the sport in recent weeks.

But Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali, Toyota Motorsport boss and FOTA vice-chairman John Howett, Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner and Ross Brawn left the meeting with fundamental differences still remaining.

That could lead to a drastically different starting grid being announced for next year. Perhaps aware of what is to come, a letter from Mosley to Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo was yesterday leaked, painting Mosley as a man who tried to find a compromise.

The suggestion is made that it is the teams who have perhaps refused to play fair and fall into line with his conciliatory thinking.

In the letter, dated May 26, and seen by PA Sport, Mosley is adamant a cap must be in place for next year, but suggests it “could be as high as €100m”.