Talks between Formula One teams designed to try and save the Resource Restriction Agreement will now take place at the Brazilian GP weekend, after planned discussions in Abu Dhabi were postponed at the eleventh hour.
The supposed 'crisis' talks between members of the Formula One Teams' Association to rescue the RRA were postponed due to logistical issues last weekend.
At the time, no firm date was set for the rescheduled meeting, but it will now take place during the Brazilian GP weekend in two weeks time.
The ongoing debate over the future of the RRA, designed to limit team spending by controlling the use of key resources, has led to concerns that FOTA's days could be numbered.
But team bosses remain confident that a final agreement over the future of the RRA can be agreed upon.
According to reports, part of the delay in the scheduling of the meeting was down to a late proposal from Red Bull involving key changes in the make-up of the RRA.
"I think as you know we have done a proposal too, there was also this proposal submitted by Red Bull," Ferrari team boss Stefano Domenicali was quoted as saying by the Autosport website.
"This is a week when we need to think about it. RRA is a very important element for the future of this sport and we need to make sure it is effective.
"[The delay] is a week to prepare for the meeting in Brazil."
According to FOTA president Martin Whitmarsh, one of the key disagreements between the teams was over the use of external auditors to confirm that teams were abiding by the terms of the agreement.
"I think the difference of opinion is over the level of third party external audit that some teams are accepting," Whitmarsh told Autosport.
"McLaren's position is anyone can come in, they can pull up any drain cover, they can check anything they like.
"Other teams have got, for good or commercial reasons, a parent company and are part of a bigger business – so they say it is a matter of policy that we do not allow people to come and look at our books.
"We have to be a bit sympathetic of those things, and not just say, 'ah, that means they are cheating...'"
Whitmarsh's comments were likely hinting at Red Bull in particular, who earlier this year faced accusations that an external audit had thrown up the possibility they had breached the RRA in 2010.
The team insists that they did nothing wrong, and the matter has not been pursued by FOTA.
The RRA was brought in by teams for 2010 in an effort to find a cost-cutting solution for the sport, after the rejection of former FIA president Max Mosley's plans for a budget cap.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
