Only two teams oppose F1 budget caps

Patrick Head

(GMM) Patrick Head, co-owner of the independent British team Williams, said on Friday that only two outfits staunchly oppose Max Mosley's plans for a budget cap in 2010.

After a meeting on Friday afternoon, Ferrari president and FOTA chairman Luca di Montezemolo indicated in Monaco that no current team will lodge an entry for the 2010 season as long as the FIA's proposed rules stand.

But after his partner Sir Frank Williams said on Thursday that the Grove team wants a cost cap, Head added: "The only teams that are not talking about it are Ferrari and Toyota.

"They are alone in the corner," the Briton is quoted as saying by Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.

Head said all of the other teams, even Renault that has issued a quit threat, will be willing to compromise.

"Mercedes give me the impression that they will be happy with the budget cap, even BMW are going that way, because you have to be.

"(Renault's) Flavio (Briatore) makes a lot of noise but it is he who for years has been warning that everything is too expensive," he added.

Head believes last Friday's FOTA meeting in London was a missed opportunity.

"Max came to us to discuss what the (budget) limit should be, then came the news about the Ferrari injunction and he cancelled the meeting.

"Now that Ferrari hast lost in court, he will no longer be so lenient; I can't imagine he will stray far from the 40 million (pounds sterling) now."