Schumacher urges F1 compromise as FIA receives FOTA letter (Roundup)

By Jens Marx Jun 10, 2009, 14:26 GMT

   Hamburg - Michael Schumacher can't imagine Formula One racing without Ferrari as the record world champion on Wednesday urged teams and officials to compromise in a budget cap row.

   Schumacher, who won five of his seven titles with Ferrari, said in a video interview on his website that he would regret if Ferrari and other big teams would split from FIA to form a breakaway series.

   'Considering what Ferrari means for Formula One you can't seriously imagine that they can exist without each other,' Schumacher said.

   'You can't imagine Formula One without Ferrai or the other constructors which have participated in it for so long.'

   'You have to sit down together and find a compromise - and I believe that you can find and have to find this compromise.'

   The ruling body FIA and eight teams organized in the union FOTA are at loggerheads over a budget cap of 60 million dollars the FIA plans to introduce from 2010 onwards.

   Ferrari, BrawnGP, Toyota, BMW-Sauber, McLaren-Mercedes, Renault, Red Bull and Toro Rosso have only provisionally registered for 2010, demanding a gradual reduction of costs.

   The FIA will officially unveil its 13 teams with 26 drivers on Friday.

   FIA boss Max Mosley told the eight teams to register unconditionally by a and then to discuss changes. The FIA said on Wednesday it received a reply from FOTA which was not fully negative.

   'The FIA has received a letter and various attachments from FOTA, the contents of which are not entirely negative, and we are currently examining the details,' FIA said.

Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug remained upbeat on Wednesday.

'I still believe that a reasonable solution is possible, and that the proposals made by FOTA are very reasonable,' Haug said.

   Of the current teams, only Williams and Force India have registered unconditionally, and as a result were suspended from FOTA. More than half a dozen others are lining up to join the sport.

   With time running out rapidly, the Ferrari advisor Schumacher also called for a reduction of cost, but warned that no one should go to extremes over the issue. He said that drastic cuts could cost jobs in the sport.

   'You can't expect those big top teams to adhere to rules which overturn everything from one day to another. Change has to be a process, not heave ho action,' Schumacher said.