Monday, 15 June 2009

Formula 1 must learn from row

Ross Brawn believes Formula 1 teams and the FIA should take on board lessons from the row currently engulfing the sport - as he remains hopeful a solution can be found before Friday in the dispute about future cost cuts.

Speaking ahead of a meeting with the FIA on Monday to try and finalise agreements reached in a meeting last week, Brawn said that he hoped both parties could sort out their difference and head into a situation of better relations in the future.

FOTA teams have been given until June 19 to drop conditions attached to their entries.

"All of us - and I mean this collectively - have got ourselves into a situation we need to learn from," Brawn was quoted as saying by the Press Association.

"What we want to get back and put in place again is an agreement between the teams and the FIA on governance for the future, and how we can avoid these situations ever occurring again. I think there are still opportunities this week to resolve the issues, and if they are, then we will be happy to enter."

Although Brawn's future as a team is dependent on it carrying on racing next year, he has said that he is not wavering from his support of FOTA's stance against the FIA's planned 2010 regulations.

"FOTA have been supportive of Brawn GP, and the reason we are in Formula 1 is because of the support we received, particularly from McLaren and Mercedes, and offers of help from Ferrari," he said.

"So we want to support the group in trying to find a solution. We, as small independents, balance up the group with the manufacturers and they want to support the small independents.

"So we've stayed together as a group, and we can present a balanced approach on what needs to be done. It's not a manufacturers' association, it's the Formula One Teams' Association. That's why we are staying with FOTA.

"We believe in the principals of FOTA, and that as part of FOTA we can be influential in finding the right solutions."

And proof about his optimism for the future is that work has already begun on the team's 2010 car.

"I'm completely confident (we will be in F1 next season), and you have to plan on that," he claimed Brawn. "There's nothing else to plan for. We cannot allow this row to be a distraction to our engineering and racing plans.

"I'm not supporting a breakaway championship, but if there was one, then it would be one with cars similar to what we are working on now, which will be without re-fuelling."

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