09/12/2008
NEWS STORY
According to the FIA, there has been a "positive response" to Max Mosley's latest proposal for a customer engine.
It is believed that as many as five teams are considering the option, which, provided they sign up by 17.00 (CET) on Thursday, could see them running (un-badged) Cosworth engines for as little as £5.5m a season from 2010. Furthermore, in a surprise move - depending on one's perspective - Renault is said to be one of the teams considering the option.
"There has been a very positive response from the teams regarding our engine proposals," said an FIA spokesman today. However, when asked for a hint as to which teams are considering the deal, he said: "It would be inappropriate to comment on the reaction of any individual team, or give further details, in advance of Friday's World Council meeting."
Several of the manufacturers, most notably Ferrari, have said that they would never agree to the customer engine deal, however, Mosley's latest proposal gives them an opt-out. They can continue to build their own power-plants providing they conform to the same specification as the Cosworth.