From left: Renault principal Flavio Briatore, Ferrari president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and Toyota principal John Howett -- PHOTO: AP
BOLOGNA (Italy) - THE Formula One Teams Association called for a neutral successor to FIA president Max Mosley after months of discord and promised on Thursday to make additional savings after reaching an accord with the sport's ruling body.
RENAULT boss Flavio Briatore also hinted that Fota would push for a return to some of Formula One's more traditional tracks, that have been dropped in recent years as the FIA looked for more lucrative venues.
'Even if the likes of Turkey are paying more money, we would rather have stadia that are full,' Mr Briatore told reporters. 'It is better for the spirit of the sport. We want stands full of fans.
The often divisive and scandal-plagued Mr Mosley has led FIA since 1993 and whilst Fota will play no part in choosing his successor, its vice-president John Howett called on the World Motorsport Council to elect a candidate acceptable to all.
'We would like to see someone independent, perhaps independent from any of us, either currently or historically,' Mr Howett said. 'It would mean a much better balance.'
Fota's members are Ferrari, McLaren, BMW Sauber, Renault, Toyota, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and Brawn GP.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told reporters on Thursday that additional cost cuts would be implemented.
'Already the savings have resulted in 15-25 per cent saved and we will see further savings in the next few seasons,' Mr Horner said.
A break up was prevented on Wednesday when Mr Mosley agreed with Fota to scrap a planned budget cap and step down at the end of his term.
Mr Mosley's climbdown on the voluntary 40-million pound (US$65 million) budget cap saw teams instead given a watered-down order to reduce costs to early 1990s' levels.
Fota had already implemented a series of cost-cutting measures themselves this season amid the global economic downturn, restricting on-track testing and the use of wind tunnels for aerodynamic testing. -- AP
