The governing body of motorsports and Formula One have reached a deal to cut costs for smaller teams beginning next season.
FIA president Max Mosley and Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo say the agreement will produce significant savings for 2009 and 2010. Their joint statement provided no further details.
“It was a very constructive meeting,” said an FIA spokesman. “We welcomed the teams’ proposals and we look forward to taking the discussion forward.”
The FIA announced at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix that it intended to change the rules to force teams to use a standard engine from 2010, announcing a tender for the contract.
That declaration, seen by many as more of a bargaining position ahead of Tuesday’s talks, found little favour with the car manufacturers who dominate the sport and would prefer other measures such as extending engine life from two races to three.
The agenda for the meeting also raised the possibility of using common chassis parts, including standard suspension and wheels and other expensive parts which “add nothing to the spectacle or the public interest of Formula One.”
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