Teams must rescue ‘unsustainable’ F1, says Mosley

FORMULA ONE supremo Bernie Ecclestone yesterday insisted it is up to the teams to shape the future of the sport.

On Thursday FIA president Max Mosley forced the hand of the 10 teams by stating Formula One was becoming “unsustainable”.

Mosley handed a letter to the team principals claiming “difficult market conditions” required the sport to drive down the cost of running manufacturer marques by “at least 50%.” He is also looking for them to improve the fuel efficiency of the cars, setting an October 3 deadline by which they must submit proposals, otherwise the FIA will prepare the rules from 2011 onwards.

Ecclestone believes the teams have been given an opportunity to make their mark.

“They know what’s good for the sport because they are part of it, they are spending the money, so they should write the regulations,” said Ecclestone.

“Max has always said you can’t leave them (the teams) alone because they would spend fortunes and go out of business. So we put this in, saying ‘write the regulations, but bear in mind we still want good races to ensure it’s not going to be just a big technical exercise’.

“We want the costs reduced so other teams can come in, so they’ve an opportunity here to do it, and if they don’t, the FIA will handle regulations.

“From my point of view, it’s good.”

In an apparent thawing in relations between Ecclestone and Mosley, a new Concorde Agreement is also close to being finalised.

Mosley had previously resisted, claiming Ecclestone’s Formula One Management company in conjunction with CVC Capital Partners who run the commercial side of the sport, were looking to take control.

Ecclestone, meanwhile, felt Mosley was looking for a say in how he runs the commercial aspect of F1.

But with the two men seemingly on good terms again, Ecclestone added: “We will get the Concorde Agreement signed, which we have been cracking away on for a long time. I don’t need it, but the teams need it, so we will get that done. It’s all in place.”

The 77-year-old has also confirmed it is highly unlikely the US Grand Prix will return on next year’s calendar.

Provisional dates for 2009 were released last week, with a 19-race schedule on the cards, but with no return to the US after it was dropped this year.

There remains a remote possibility it could figure, but Ecclestone remarked: “I don’t think so. I spoke to Tony George (owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway) yesterday. We’ll get together and see what we can come up with.”