FIA discuss F1 future with Ferrari and Renault

Formula One's governing body has met Ferrari and champions Renault to formulate future engine regulations amid talk of a deal with carmakers threatening their own series.

The International Automobile Federation confirmed yesterday that FIA president Max Mosley met key personnel from both teams at Ferrari's Maranello factory on Friday along with privately-owned engine manufacturer Cosworth.

"Max Mosley, (race director) Charlie Whiting and (FIA consultant) Peter Wright attended a meeting with representatives of Ferrari, Renault and Cosworth at Maranello to formulate engine homologation proposals," a spokesman said.

The Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper said Renault's Flavio Briatore, whose team are part of the GPMA manufacturers' group that has yet to sign up for the championship after 2007, and Ferrari's Jean Todt attended the meeting.

The Italian paper, headlining 'The Peace of Maranello', said an agreement was reached to freeze engine development for a five-year period from 2008 to 2012 with the aim of reducing costs dramatically.

The governing body has already suggested a three-year freeze, a move opposed by some of the five GPMA carmakers who have been threatening their own series from 2008 unless they get far more of the sport's revenues and greater transparency.

Briatore wrote to the FIA president in January last year suggesting a raft of cost-cutting measures, including a three-year freeze of the technical and sporting regulations.

The Gazzetta said the proposals agreed on Friday would be put to the other carmakers, who were believed to have already signed up for 2008.

The other GPMA members are BMW, DaimlerChrysler's Mercedes, Honda and Toyota.

FIA deadline

So far only Ferrari, Cosworth-powered Williams, the two Red Bull teams, Toyota-powered Midland and Honda-supported Super Aguri, have committed to the championship from 2008 when an existing commercial agreement expires.

The FIA confirmed last week that all teams must sign up by the end of the month or be frozen out of the decision-making process, including engine regulations.