Three teams confirm budget cap support

Three F1 team chiefs on Thursday said they would welcome the imposition of a budget cap in 2010 and beyond.

With five of their rivals clearly threatening to quit over the dispute with FIA president Max Mosley, Williams, Force India and even BMW said setting a maximum expenditure limit would be acceptable.

Mercedes-Benz, too, has already explained its desire to find an agreement with F1's governing body rather than threaten to quit.

"We are clearly wholly in support of it (a budget cap)," said Sir Frank Williams, co-owner and team principal of the famous and historically successful Oxfordshire-based team.

"It suits us," he insisted, adding that a "glide path" for hugely funded rivals like Ferrari and Toyota may be necessary.

"To expect a major manufacturer to slash its spending by (three quarters) in four months is a very tall fiscal order," Williams acknowledged in Monaco.

Mario Theissen, boss of BMW's Hinwil-based BMW-Sauber team, also sounded supportive of the push for budget caps, or an alternative to be discussed by the FOTA alliance on Friday.

It is believed that BMW's previous objection was to the proposed 'two-tier' regulations, which Mosley has already agreed to discard.

"I think whatever we do, if it's a monetary figure or if it's another form to cut resources, we have to police it and I think it can be policed," the German said.

"If we were not convinced it can be policed we wouldn't expend any effort on it but I think it can be done with a bit of good will on all sides and the right spirit. It can be done," added Theissen.

Vijay Mallya, owner and principal of the Force India team, also backed the move.

"Whether you call it a budget cap or call it a targeted amount to be spent, that is very, very essential or else the small independent teams will never be able to compete with those who have, in comparison, extraordinary budgets," he said.