As Bernie Ecclestone looks for a resolution to the budget cap row that has split Formula One, there may be more interest from potential new teams. Ecclestone, the F1 chief, said a second US team are keen to join following the FIA's announcement of a proposed £40 million ceiling (Dh221.6m) for 2010. Dave Richards, the former BAR team principal and chairman of Aston Martin, is also looking to make a return by entering a team before the May 27 deadline. It could be a Gulf-backed consortium after recent talks in the Emirates.
Ecclestone said: "It will be good to see some new faces. Something like that is always good. "Who would have thought we would be talking about Brawn and Red Bull the way we are talking about them now." The proposed cap has sparked fear among the teams about a two-tier championship with those teams who do not comply with the budget restricted within the technical regulations. Ferrari have voiced their concern and talks are being planned between the teams and Max Mosley, the FIA president.
Ecclestone is confident the issue will not become embroiled in more arguments after Mosley claimed the sport would cope if Ferrari pulled out of F1. He added: "It's one of those things where Formula One is Ferrari, and Ferrari is Formula One. "It's just a marriage made in heaven, one of those super things that works well. "I don't think he [Mosley] meant what he said. He's a bit disappointed they are taking a silly attitude. We're trying to save them from stupidity.
"All we're simply doing is trying to reduce the necessity to spend to be competitive. "They can pay the drivers what they want, have bigger motor-homes, but we don't need them to spend money on racing unnecessarily." @Email:akhan@thenational.ae