Empowered teams seek deal to boost entertainment

Formula One could soon have a new commercial deal to make races more entertaining, team bosses said yesterday after winning their first battle over the immediate future of the sport.

The Formula One Teams' Association (FOTA) had threatened a breakaway series in a long-running row with FIA president Max Mosley over a budget cap, but an agreement on Wednesday ended the crisis.

A new deal has yet to be signed with commercial rights holder CVC, represented by Bernie Ecclestone, but an agreement is close with Renault boss Flavio Briatore in charge of spicing up the already glamorous sport.

"Flavio will be busy working with the commercial rights holder to improve the show of the sport, we hope we can find agreement with CVC in the coming days," Ferrari president and FOTA head Luca di Montezemolo told a news conference.

The teams feel empowered after largely achieving their aims at Wednesday's FIA World Motor Sports Council meeting in Paris, where the budget cap was dropped and Mosley said he would retire in October.

This year's rules will remain in place next season but costs will still be cut to the level of the 1990s.

FOTA members think the fresh start and ideas they came up with when pondering a breakaway can bring fans closer to the sport.