Alonso hopes to shine

Alonso aims for 'big points' at home grand prix


Fernando Alonso is looking forward to show his home crowd the best possible performance. The Spaniard realises it won't be easy to fight for a podium finish but aims for points in this Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya.

"It's always very special to race in Spain and I'm lucky to have two races at home this year in Barcelona and Valencia," Alonso said looking ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix. "Seeing the support of the fans always gives me a boost and I just hope that I can make them happy and have a strong weekend. It will be difficult to fight for the podium, but hopefully we can qualify well and score some big points in the race."

Even though the team has completed a lot of miles already at Circuit de Catalunya Alonso believes there is plenty of work left for the team to work on in the free practice sessions. He explained: "We tested there in February, but obviously we have developed the car a lot since then so we will need to work on the set-up during free practice. We are still missing some performance at the moment but the team has really improved the car already this season so we are certainly moving in the right direction. Hopefully we can take another step forward this weekend."

Ferrari is against

Ferrari against budget cap


The Ferrari team has hit out at the FIA's proposals for a budget cap, which would see those teams wishing to follow a new, less restricted set of regulations be limited to spending no more than £40m from next season onwards.

In a statement released by the Italian team on Friday, the Scuderia explained how it was chiefly against the optional scheme as it strives to maintain the 'untouched values of this sport'.

'As the only team to have taken part in every F1 World Championship since its inception in 1950 up to the present day, Ferrari strongly believes that this sport should maintain its principles of being at the cutting edge in terms of research, with the teams thus taking part in a sporting and technical contest,' the statement read.

'Ferrari, along with all the other teams in FOTA (Formula One Teams' Association), has, for some time now, felt the urgent need for a significant reduction in costs as from this year, and believes that the future of this sport requires stability of the regulations and the gradual achievement over the next two to three years of a cost-profit balance which would allow current teams to remain in the sport while at the same time encouraging the arrival of new ones.'

The FIA-suggested system would give teams the option of running with the budget cap plus greater technical freedom (including a significantly more powerful KERS unit) or, alternatively, abiding by current, more restricted technical rules but with no set spending limit.

'This is the position Ferrari wants to underline today,' the statement concluded, 'in the interests of the sport without looking to cause pointless controversy which would be harmful to all those involved in this sport.' The team's view follows mixed opinions from Force India plus McLaren and Williams' disagreement with running a two-tier championship.

2010 is tuff on f1 teams

The full statement from the FIA:
2010 FIA Formula One World Championship

Applications to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship are to be submitted to the FIA during the period 22-29 May 2009. Teams must state in their application whether they wish to compete under cost-cap regulations.

The maximum number of cars permitted to enter the Championship has been increased to 26, two being entered by each competitor.

The FIA will publish the list of cars and drivers accepted on 12 June 2009, having first notified unsuccessful applicants.

Cost Cap Regulations

From 2010, all teams will have the option to compete with cars built and operated within a stringent cost cap.

The cost cap for 2010 will be £40m per annum*. This figure will cover all team expenditure except:

Marketing and hospitality;
Remuneration for test or race drivers, including any young driver programmes;
Fines or penalties imposed by the FIA;
Engine costs (for 2010 only);
Any expenditure which the team can demonstrate has no influence on its performance in the Championship;
Dividends (including any tax thereon) paid from profits relating to participation in the Championship.
* For the purposes of these Regulations, the financial year is 1 January to 31 December.

A new Costs Commission is being set up to monitor and enforce these cost-cap financial regulations. The Costs Commission will consist of a Chairman and two other Commissioners, appointed by the WMSC for terms of three years.

One Commissioner should be a finance expert and the other should have high level experience in motor sport. The Chairman should have appropriate experience and standing in motor sport or sports governance. All members of the Costs Commission shall be independent of all teams.

In addition to the payments which it already makes to the top ten teams in the Championship, Formula One Management, the commercial rights holder, has agreed to offer participation fees and expenses to the new teams. This includes an annual payment of US$10 million to each team plus free transportation of two chassis and freight up to 10,000 kg in weight (not including the two chassis) as well as 20 air tickets (economy class) for each round trip for events held outside Europe.

To be eligible for this, each new team must qualify as a “Constructor” and demonstrate that it has the necessary facilities, financial resources and technical competence to compete effectively in Formula One.

To enable these cars to compete with those from teams which are not subject to cost constraints, the cost-capped cars will be allowed greater technical freedom.

The principal technical freedoms allowed are:

1. Movable wings, front and rear.
2. An engine which is not subject to a rev limit.

The teams will also be allowed unlimited out-of-season track testing with no restrictions on the scale and speed of wind tunnel testing.

Changes applicable to all teams

It was confirmed that from 2010, refuelling during a race will be forbidden in order to save the costs of transporting refuelling equipment and increase the incentive for engine builders to improve fuel economy (to save weight).

It was also confirmed that tyre blankets will be banned and that the ban on other tyre-heating devices will be maintained.

Full details plus information on further amendments to the 2010 Sporting and Technical Regulations will be available shortly on www.fia.com.

By exception, if supported by the Safety Commission, the FIA WMSC may approve the issue of the Formula One Super Licence to persons judged by the Council to have met the intent of the qualification process.