Ecclestone fillip for Ferrari in F1 budget cap row

Ecclestone fillip for Ferrari in F1 budget cap rowBarcelona - Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has indicated he would protect Ferrari in a dispute with FIA president Max Mosley over the introduction of budget caps.

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has been critical of new budget cap guidelines, leaving Mosley to say Saturday Formula One "could survive without Ferrari."

Ecclestone told the Times newspaper published Monday he would not let Mosley "destroy" di Montezemolo.

"I won't let it happen," he said.

"The trouble with Luca is that you shouldn't let Max ever be in a position where he can start a debate or an argument. He's reasonably clever and you won't win.

"Even if you do win, it's like you being in the audience and me being there with the microphone. You say something smart and I don't give you the microphone - it's as easy as that."

Ecclestone, however, insisted the budget cap idea could still work if the teams and the FIA manage to agree on some important points.

According to the Times report, Ecclestone hinted that the budget cap for Formula One teams next season, which was set at 40 million pounds by the FIA last week, is likely to be raised in exchange for a championship run under a single set of technical rules.

The report suggested the budget cap could be increased to 60 million pounds, without giving teams who keep within the cap any technical advantages.

"It would appear that everyone is in favour of the cap, including Ferrari, if we can get them to agree, which we can," Ecclestone was quoted as saying.

The Formula One Team Association (FOTA), headed by di Montezemolo, is meeting Wednesday to discuss the budget cap proposals.

It comes ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona on Sunday, the fifth race of the season. (dpa)