Brawn 'optimistic' after F1 crisis talks

Ross Brawn confirmed a growing feeling in the F1 paddock that the current political crisis is moving closer to a solution at Monaco.

Seven hours of intensive meetings took place in the Principality on 'free day' Friday, and more of the same are scheduled for Saturday.

And while no agreement between the rebel teams and Max Mosley was finalised so far, parties including the FIA president, Luca di Montezemolo and Nick Fry have commented that common ground is being found.

For example, it is rumoured that Mosley is now willing to exclude engine costs from the budget limit for several years.

"At this point I have to say I am more optimistic," Brawn, involved in both Friday's FOTA meeting and then the subsequent meeting with Mosley, said in Monte Carlo.

"We've gone forwards, not backwards," the chief of the championship leading Brackley based team added.

Another growing feeling, however, is that while the budget cap stalemate may not be insurmountable, it is actually Mosley's governance style that is causing the most unhappiness.

"Even some of the teams that might accept the cap are not really very happy about the governance of the sport," Williams' Patrick Head told The Times.