Todt: The cost reduction plan in F1 is “a joke”
At the request of the FIA, teams have made proposals to reduce costs in Formula 1, but Jean Todt called the initial suggestions a "joke."
The President of the International Automobile Federation, Jean Todt, criticized the initial proposals made by the biggest teams on the grid regarding cost reduction. After initiating the push for reduced budgets in F1, he asked the teams to make suggestions, particularly those with smaller budgets.
The Frenchman was present in Barcelona for the Spanish Grand Prix, quoted by Autosport, he stated: « What was proposed? It was a joke. » The first proposals, made at the end of April, were as follows, according to our British colleagues:
For 2015
Ban on electric blankets
Simplification of the fuel system
Simplification of braking systems
Simplification of front wings
Compliance of the lifespan limit of gearboxes with that of engines
Curfew increase
Ban on interconnected front and rear suspensions
2016
Standardized front and rear impact structures
Standardized transmission system
Standardized steering rack
2017
Standardized FIA active suspension
18-inch rims
Todt thinks that the teams have made proposals that are too cautious and that cost reduction must be much more radical: « We know that budgets are between 100 million dollars [about 73 million euros] and 400 million dollars [about 292 million euros]. The proposals with which they seem happy will reduce the budgets by 2 million dollars [1.5 million euros], which is ridiculous. »
« When we talk about costs, we need to talk about reducing things by 30 to 40%. Then we can feel comfortable. So what can we do? I have a few ideas. I have given some indications, and I want to see what the teams will say. We will meet everyone and hope they are reasonable people and that they will come up with sensible suggestions, » added the FIA President.
