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Independent' championship mused

Published on 02 Aug 2016 11:50
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By: Dominik Wilde

The idea of an independents' championship has been discussed according to Autosport.

The idea, brought up by Force India's deputy team principal Bob would see Force India, Williams, Toro Rosso, Sauber, Haas, and Manor compete in a separate independents' championship, in addition to the main constructors' championship.

The teams would abide by a $100 million budget cap (excluding spending on marketing, hospitality and driver contracts), and have a separate commercial agreement for their position in the independents' table, despite no discussions determining that taking place between the commercial rights holder or the FIA.

"What I was looking at was whether the six independent teams wished to enter into a voluntary cost-cap arrangement, obviously policed by the FIA, which would have been a second phase of discussion," Fernley told Autosport. "First of all we need to see if there was an appetite for it in the first instance. We were testing the water."

"In principle, they liked the concept, but they needed time to think about it," he continued. "We were going to organise a meeting at Hockenheim with all the teams if there was a consensus.

"[But] there is no appetite from cost saving from two of the six independent teams, that represents 33%, and it's not worth doing."

The idea was shelved however, after Williams and the Red Bull-owned Toro Rosso vetoed the idea.

"From the Red Bull point of view, it doesn't make sense because it's a two-class society," said Toro Rosso team principal Franz Tost. "If you start doing this, with a cost cap $100m, you can't develop anything anymore and then, from the performance side, you are last.!

"We should have a cost cap, but for all of us," he insisted. "The argument is you can't control it, but this is nonsense.

"The manufacturers don't want it because they get the money buy we're in a situation where the rich teams get even more money and they spend it."

Manor Boss Stephen Fitzpatrick agreed, saying that despite a budget cap "almost all teams given an unlimited budget, they would find a way to spend it."

"If we want to find a way to make it financially sustainable - and that means financially sustainable for fans, track owners and teams - then we need to look at how we can minimise costs without sacrificing performance," he said. "But I understand the reason why those who weren't in favour aren't in favour as it is almost accepting unequal status."

Haas however were in favour of the idea, but admitted it never gained enough traction for it to be discussed at length.

"We were approached about it, we wanted to hear more but it never got to the stage to be really discussed," said team principal Guenther Steiner. "It was an idea somebody threw out there and then some people didn't want to participate and then it was quickly gone."

"I didn't know a lot because it wasn't discussed with any of the authorities. It never got beyond the idea point."

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