SILVERSTONE, England — Formula One wants to cut team budgets in half and improve fuel efficiency by 2011 to improve racing.
The president of the governing body said Thursday that “urgent” changes were necessary because the sport was becoming “unsustainable.” Max Mosley asked Formula One’s 10 teams to reach a majority on any proposals to the rule changes and put them forward within three months.
“The major manufacturers are currently employing up to 1,000 people to put two cars on the grid,” Mosley said. “This is clearly unacceptable at a time when all these companies are facing difficult market conditions.”
The ruling body said changes were necessary to “allow a back-of-the-grid independent team to operate profitably.” Such as leading teams providing technology to others at an affordable price.
Teams are bracing for next season’s move to hybrid technology through an energy recovery system that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions without affecting performance.
“With attention on energy problems worldwide, Formula One cannot afford to be profligate in its use of fuel,” said Mosley, who expects general levels of spending to be cut in half “without affecting the spectacle in any way.”
“The target should be a 50 percent reduction from today’s levels of fuel consumption by 2015, while maintaining current speeds,” Mosley said.
The governing body wants a 20 percent reduction in F1 fuel consumption by 2011.
“We would like to go further, with developments to allow the cars to run in close proximity to one another without losing performance,” the ruling body said.
Since the 2003 British GP, only four of 86 GPs have been won by teams other than Ferrari, McLaren or Renault.
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