Mar.20 (GMM) Many of F1's leading teams are clearly opposed to the voluntary budget cap for 2010, but chief executive Bernie Ecclestone believes the FIA should take the concept even further.
"Maybe the 30 million (British pounds per team per season) is a little too low for that," the 78-year-old conceded.Following this week's announcement about the controversial 2010 rules, the obvious division between the teams' alliance FOTA and the sport's governing body grew much bigger.Ecclestone, representing F1's commercial rights, is making clear whose side he is on, although he said he is open to meeting with the teams to discuss their concerns."The teams must wake up," he told the Milan daily Il Giornale. "The truth is that they are run basically by engineers. They all want to prove they are smarter than everyone else so what happens? The costs go up."The teams have reacted badly because they haven't yet read what the technical regulations for 2010 will be. I have said it for years: we must reduce the money the teams have to spend to be competitive," Ecclestone added.As senior Ferrari figures on Thursday gathered at Maranello for a visit of the Italian president Giorgio Napoletano, Luca di Montezemolo stepped up his opposition to the rule changes, including the new 'gold medals' scoring system."I find it really absurd, serious and dangerous that one week before the start of the season we have created a situation of this nature which is very negative for our credibility, the teams, the constructors, the supporters, the journalists and the sponsors," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport."I would like this climate to become more responsible, the teams have already reduced their costs by 50 per cent."It's important to create a more serene climate and to avoid continuously changing the rules, things that provoke trouble and worries for those doing the work," he added.
