In fact, the F1 supreme believes FIA should do everything possible to keep the manufacturers inside the sport and not aim to reduce Formula 1 only to independent teams. Budget caps could only intrude on the right of the championship's 'big guns' to spend how much they like on developing new technologies. As long as they commit to stay in Formula 1 for the long run, FIA should not tell them neither how nor where to spend their money.
“If the manufacturers are prepared to make a long-term commitment, say seven to 10 years, we should let them spend what they want to spend, providing they supply engines and gearboxes at an affordable price. Whether they will commit to that I don't know,” said Ecclestone in an interview for The Daily Telegraph.
He pointed out that this would be a great way to prevent situation such as Honda's quitting the sport this winter, as he would have a legal base that will ensure the manufacturers' participation for a long period of time, no matter their economic state at a certain time.
“Getting them to agree on anything has always been the problem. But if they did it would prevent the kind of thing we have seen with Honda because we could sue the arse off them if they left. They wouldn't like that,” argued the F1 boss.
Unlike Mosley, Ecclestone insisted that the introduction of KERS this season is just nonsense, especially since the system doesn't have any shot of getting into road cars any time soon. And even if it does, the World Touring Car Championship would be the perfect series to implement it in the first place.
“I have always been against KERS. Whatever they use in F1 they won't use in a road car, but if that is to be the idea then why not develop it in touring cars. It costs a lot of money when we are trying to save it.”
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