Renault raise the stakes in F1 row

FELIPE MASSA has slammed as “absurd” the FIA’s two-tier rules fiasco for 2010 on a day when Renault joined Ferrari in threatening to quit Formula One.

Renault managing director Flavio Briatore and president Bernard Rey yesterday made it clear this will be the team’s last season unless the recently-adopted regulations for next season are revised.

Like Ferrari, Renault have derided the FIA for failing to consult with the teams on the matter of a £40million (€ 44.5m) budget cap, and have also called into question the governance of the sport.

Motor sport’s world governing body were expecting such a response from the teams, who now face crucial showdown talks with FIA president Max Mosley tomorrow with regard to the sport’s future.

Briatore insists the teams are determined to reduce costs, but in “a co-ordinated matter” and not via “unilateral governance handed out by the FIA.”

The flamboyant Italian confirmed: “If the decisions announced by the World Council on April 29 are not revised, we have no choice but to withdraw from the FIA Formula One World Championship at the end of 2009.”

The teams are adamant their threat is real, and if carried through should Mosley refuse to yield, would see the likes of former world champions Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso out of a job, as well as last year’s title runner-up in Massa. Appreciating the stance adopted by his team yesterday, Massa said: “I understand the motivation, why the company got to this point. The idea of having a championship with two velocities, with cars, which for example are allowed to have flexible wings or an engine without a rev limiter, is absurd.

“We’ve already seen this year that the rules’ uncertainty (relating to the double diffuser) not only led to a lot of confusion for us involved, but mainly for the fans. Imagine what might happen with what has been set up for 2010.”

The FIA see their system as simple: you either choose not to accept the cap and race under the current regulations, or abide by the cap and enjoy a degree of technical freedom.

However, those cars would have a considerable performance advantage via greater engine and KERS power, as well as aerodynamic aids.

It is understood a flexible rear wing alone, currently outlawed but available to a team next season working within the cap, could lead to a car being two seconds per lap quicker than those without.