May 11 (GMM) Renault is not yet joining the threats of a 2010 entry boycott, but team boss Flavio Briatore has made clear his opposition to a 40m pounds sterling budget cap
It is expected that when the May 29 deadline for 2010 team entries closes, only Williams, Brawn and Force India will have submitted paperwork
It is believed that all the other teams, to meet for another round of FOTA talks as soon as this week, will shortly clarify that they are not willing to accept Max Mosley’s regulations as they stand
Briatore, although a staunch supporter of radical cost-cutting in formula one, told Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper that his objection is to the opening of the door to cut-price outfits
“Whoever has 20 or 25 million euros should not be able to operate a formula one team,” said the Italian. “If we make that possible, the brand will be worth nothing
“It would be like seeing discount stores suddenly established on an exclusive shopping street,” said Briatore, the owner of high-end clubs and fashion stores named Billionaire
He said the situation is serious, because big names including Toyota, BMW and Red Bull have already threatened to quit over the situation
“Without big, important names – and Ferrari is one of them – formula one is worth much less,” the 59-year-old insisted
But he suggested that he is not completely opposed to the idea of budget capping
“I could imagine that FOTA – not in 2010, but starting from 2011 – agrees with the FIA on a minimum sum per year, that is obligatory for all the teams,” said Briatore
“A brutal solution, that is before us at the moment, doesn’t have a chance,” he insisted
