F1 teams will have their costs slashed by almost a third next year under a wide-ranging package of measures announced today to secure the sport's future in the face of the credit crunch.
The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that independent teams would see engine costs halved in 2009, with a year's supply priced at five million euros from 2010.
Testing will be banned during the season other than at regular Friday practice at grand prix weekends.
From 2010, refuelling will cease and grand prix distances could be shortened.
The FIA estimated that the new measures would save manufacturer-owned teams the equivalent of 30 percent of their 2008 budgets next year, with independent teams seeing even greater reductions.
The measures come with the sport staring into the abyss, with the manufacturers who own half of the teams facing plunging sales and share prices.
Honda, who have spent hundreds of millions of dollars for scant reward, have already announced they are pulling out -- triggering fears that another carmaker could quit before the season starts in Australia on March 29.
The FIA's world motor sport's council, approving changes unanimously agreed by the teams, said engines would be detuned to 18,000 rpm and have to last for three races next season rather than the current two.
The teams will be limited to a maximum of 20 engines per season, eight for each of the two drivers and four for testing -- about half their current usage.
"Engines will be available to the independent teams for less than 5 million euros per team per season," the FIA said looking ahead to 2010.
"These will either come from an independent supplier or be supplied by the manufacturer teams backed by guarantees of continuity. If an independent supplier, the deal will be signed no later than 20 December 2008.
"This same engine will continue to be used in 2011 and 2012 (thus no new engine for 2011)."
There will be restrictions on the use of costly wind tunnels from January and reductions on the number of team personnel attending races.
The new KERS system, which recovers energy generated under braking to produce additional bursts of power, will not be mandatory next season.
"For 2010, FOTA (the Formula One Teams Association) is considering proposals for a standard KERS system," the FIA said, adding that it was awaiting proposals.
In the longer term, The FIA and FOTA "will study the possibility of an entirely new power train for 2013 based on energy efficiency".