F1 could introduce a budget cap one-year trial

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Formula 1 is apparently working on a budget cap scheme for the sport which could be trialed for one year to evaluate its efficiency.

The budget cap idea has been pronounced dead on arrival several times in the past, but the concept has once again been brought to the forefront by Liberty Media in its efforts to level the sport's playing field.

According to Auto, Motor und Sport, a plan scheduled to be presented to the teams in the near future would provide a cap with staff, production and tool limits.

The scheme would then be introduced for a trial year without consequences for non-compliance.

"We want to see whether the monitoring mechanisms work," a Liberty source said.

Brawn imposed Strategy Group attendance rule change

New F1 chief executive Chase Carey said: "Everyone understands that the sport can only be healthy if it offers spectators action and competition and races whose outcome is not predictable.

"Toto Wolff recently said 'If Ferrari wins, that is good for the sport', and that's the point. He understands that it is about the sport.

"If one team wins everything, it has won the battle but lost the war if nobody is watching anymore," he added.

Another idea which has been considered is a Nascar-like system, where at a certain point of the season, cars and engines must be presented to the competition so that technical secrets are revealed.

But the novel approach doesn't appear to appeal to the smaller teams

"Not everything that works in other sports is transferable to Formula 1," said Force India sporting boss Otmar Szafnauer.

"The Nascar rule does not fit with the DNA of F1. Whoever wants equality of opportunity should give everyone the same money."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.