The FIA have released a statement on Thursday 30 October saying that recent events with Caterham and Marussia have justified its push tor reduce costs.
After news that both the Caterham and Marussia F1 teams have gone into administration and with rumors that a third team may follow, the FIA have spoken out about reducing costs in the sport. In the statement, the FIA say they have expressed their views “many times” about reducing costs, but stopped short of saying that teams were not willing to reduce costs in the sport.
“Looking beyond the end of the 2014 season, these failings once again acutely raise the question of the economic balance of the FIA Formula One Championship and justify the position, expressed many times by the FIA, in favour of any initiative that will help reduce costs in order to ensure the survival of the existing grid or attract potential new entrants.”
The FIA have said that they are willing to work together with the teams and Formula 1 Management to find a way forward for the sport.
“As such, the FIA, in close cooperation with FOM and the different stakeholders in F1, will continue to work towards maintaining the attraction of the championship and the equitable participation of the teams in it in the years to come.”
In the same statement the FIA have noted that Caterham and Marussia will not take part in the next two races and technically stand to lose their places on the grid due to missing races. The stewards are aware of the financial difficulties plaguing both teams and will deal with the matter “with extreme car and due regard for the circumstances involved.”
“It is the responsibility of the FIA Stewards to determine whether or not a team has failed to fulfil its regulatory obligation to take part in all events on the calendar and to take whatever action they deem appropriate. However, we have every confidence that the Stewards are fully aware of the financial situation of the teams concerned and these matters are always assessed with extreme care and due regard for the circumstances involved.”
