According to a press release issued by the international body earlier today, the FIA holds the FOTA responsible for BMW's exit. There are no ifs and buts in the statement, as the teams are clearly blamed for putting so much work in preventing the FIA from introducing their own-developed cost-reduction measures for the 2010 championship.
“The FIA regrets the announcement of BMW’s intended withdrawal from Formula One but is not surprised by it. It has been clear for some time that motor sport cannot ignore the world economic crisis. Car manufacturers cannot be expected to continue to pour large sums of money into Formula One when their survival depends on redundancies, plant closures and the support of the taxpayer,” said the statement from the FIA.
“This is why the FIA prepared regulations to reduce costs drastically. These measures were needed to alleviate the pressure on manufacturers following Honda's withdrawal but also to make it possible for new teams to enter. Had these regulations not been so strongly opposed by a number of team principals, the withdrawal of BMW and further such announcements in the future might have been avoided,” added the press release.
The document states the FIA has indeed reached a compromise with the teams for the new cost-cutting plan for the years to come, although it's not exactly what the ruling body had in mind initially.
“Nevertheless, as a result of a sustained cost-cutting campaign by the FIA, new measures are in the process of being agreed which should make it easier for new teams to enter and enable existing ones to participate on much reduced budgets.”
“It is no secret that these measures do not go as far as the FIA would have liked but a compromise was needed in the interests of harmony in the sport. Hopefully it will be enough to prevent further withdrawals and provide a solid foundation for Formula One,” added the statement.
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