Formula One news

Greater collaboration vital, warns Whitmarsh

Martin Whitmarsh has stated that a larger amount of cooperation is needed between the FIA and the Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) in order for the sport to sustain a positive future. The comments came in Spain as many teams have hit out as a possible 'two tier' system which could be introduced next year.

With teams presented with the option for next year of either following a budget cap or not, the new rules would also gives entries the options of running on either current or more open technical regulations, whether the spending limit was adapted or not.

"I think we are at a critical time for F1," the McLaren team principal said at the Circuit de Catalunya. "FOTA has made a lot of progress, but you never make as much progress as you want in these situations. I think that was the case this week, and we've got to continue to work together. It is inherently healthy and right for F1 that, for the first time in the history of F1, the teams are sitting down and having sensible conversations about the health and wellbeing of our sport. There is a lot of challenge there and we have to continue to press."

The issue was highlighted again on Saturday when Toyota hinted that a possible departure from the sport could take place in the event of the regulations not being clarified. "I think we will keep our opinions to ourselves," Whitmarsh said for the time being. "I think really making those sorts of comments probably isn't helpful.

"What F1 needs is a good sense coming together and working together. I think there is enough challenge in F1 without us creating other problems for the sport. Clearly, as is normal in life, there are a range of opinions and the teams should be able to discuss that privately amongst themselves and engage in constructive conversations with the FIA. Holding that discussion via the media is not right the quite way for us to get a good outcome."

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