Bernie Ecclestone has told The F1 Show that
ongoing debate over Formula 1's future regulations, rather than money,
is the central issue that continues to delay the new Concorde Agreement.
With the protracted discussions over the document that binds F1 together believed to be coming towards a conclusion, the future of the sport has taken central stage this week in wake of a meeting between the FIA, the teams and Ecclestone in Paris on Monday and further discussions between the latter two parties at the Indian GP on Friday.
At Monday's meeting issues surrounding a new cost-cutting mechanism, Championship entry fees and the FIA's role in regulating the sport were discussed and afterwards the governing body described the talks as "fruitful and helpful" and suggested a new agreement would be sealed in the "coming weeks".
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle during Friday's The F1 Show, Ecclestone revealed that "all the teams except HRT" had now signed up for 2013 and added: "We've actually reached a very good agreement with the FIA, with Jean Todt, and the teams."
But, in wake of the delays to signing the agreement, asked by Martin if it all came down to who wrote the regulations in future, or money, Ecclestone replied: "No. It's to do with regulations. Money's all sorted out to 2020."
The F1 supremo added: "Probably millions and millions and millions of deals are not being done throughout the world because of lawyers, whereas before we used to be able to scribble things down on the back of an envelope."
Speaking in the Team Principals' Press Conference in India on Friday, several leading figures, including McLaren and FOTA chief Martin Whitmarsh, had made clear that ensuring the long-term sustainability of the grid was paramount for F1's next era of rules.
The cost of the new generation of turbo engines scheduled to be introduced in 2014 has long been a concern for some of the grid's smaller teams and asked by Martin how a Caterham or Marussia would be able to afford the new units, Ecclestone replied: "That's what we're tying to have a look at. See how we can overcome these problems."
A long-time critic of the new engine format, Ecclestone admitted that while he thinks the change to V6 turbos is "not necessary" he doubts there will be any change to its 2014 introduction.
Following Friday morning's meeting at the Buddh International Circuit, several leading team principals appeared in the post-practice press conference, with the consensus among them being that the meeting with Ecclestone had proved constructive.
Lotus Team Principal Eric Boullier said: "I think we had some positive and constructive meetings altogether with Bernie and the FIA and even if we are still far let's say to closing and signing any Concorde Agreement, even if I think it should not take long now, with the global vision for Formula 1 I think we all believe there is some positives."
McLaren counterpart Whitmarsh, meanwhile, said that the teams had approached the negotiations mindful of the need to ensure the sport's wider long-term interests were served.
"I think in the short term we've all got our own self-interests but in the longer term we've all got the same interest and I think that's that the sport is successful, exciting and also viable," he said.
"I think we've got to recognise there is quite a lot of challenge for a lot of teams at the moment and it's important that all of us reach for compromise, find a way forward that makes sure that we can sustain all those teams.
"The good thing is that this isn't the old era which was I think very confrontational and probably good for the media but less good for the sport. I think that people are working together recognising that now is not the time to have wars, now is the time to be constructive, where necessary compromise, find a positive way forward for the sport."
http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12433/8196688/Bernie-Ecclestone-says-regulations-central-factor-in-new-Concorde-Agreement-talks
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