Top teams rejected 'semi-constructors' proposal

It recently emerged that the FIA had commissioned McKinsey & Company, a multinational consulting firm, to examine the finances of the nine F1 teams amid the apparent need for cost-cutting.

But the latest round of internal meetings within Formula One showed that, at least among the most powerful teams, there is no mood for radical change.

According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, the major proposal was that teams like Sauber, Force India and Lotus be allowed to pool their resources and become known as a 'semi constructor'.

I do not want to specify a number but it is clear that we can still have a very good show for a lot less money.

Monisha Kaltenborn

They would then share the design, wind tunnel and manufacturing costs to produce a standard car, and then go their separate ways to develop and race them.

Correspondent Michael Schmidt said the top teams rejected the idea.

Kaltenborn, though, insists there are very obvious ways in which F1 can reduce costs.

"I do not want to specify a number," she said, "but it is clear that we can still have a very good show for a lot less money."

The big obstacle, she admitted, is the big teams, leaving Kaltenborn far from optimistic that a solution can be found soon.

"If you look at the trend of recent years," she said, "then you cannot answer yes to this question."