Formula 1′s 2014 regulation changes risk squeezing smaller teams out of the sport because of the lack of any viable cost control, according to Force India team principal Vijay Mallya.
While next year’s sporting rules have been left in limbo by the lack of a Concorde Agreement, the technical regulations have been set, with new 1.6-litre V6 engines being introduced.
Mallya fears the cost of such powertrains will increase the predicament of smaller teams already being squeezed by escalating costs, being driven by the self-interest of “one or two teams”.
Asked by Formula 1′s official website if he was concerned that costs would rise in 2014, Mallya replied: “Well, I fear that is for sure.
“Rather than reducing costs, one or two teams have decided winning at any cost is more important than the sustainability of the sport, so there is no resource restriction that is implemented, quite contrary to the fact that costs are going up.
“If you only want three or four teams in Formula 1 running three cars each you should proceed in the way it is now.
“But I think Formula 1 also needs the smaller independent teams as well, so everybody must also look at the common interests – not only the individual interests.”
Mallya admitted past efforts to impose cost controls had broken down, but said it was imperative for the sport’s current stakeholders to find a common solution.
“The FIA and FOTA – when it existed in full strength – had resolved that we need to reduce the costs of Formula 1,” he said.
“Whether it is the commercial rights holder, the FIA, or the teams themselves, I think it is very necessary that all the important stakeholders sit across the table and find a viable solution.”
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