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Force India's Fernley deplores lack of action by Liberty

As the end of the F1 season approaches, Force India's Bob Fernley was expecting Formula 1's plans for the future to be clearly defined by now.

The Silverstone-based outfit's deputy team principal insists there has been no lack of meetings and talks between the teams and F1's managers in the past months, buy a clear direction on the sport's future has yet to emerge.

"I'm disappointed in some ways," he told Motorsport.com.

"We have done an awful lot of talking and an awful lot of ideas have come through.But when we're nine months down the road, you'd have thought we'd have been firming something up a bit more now.

"The engine programme should be finalised because that is the cornerstone of the cost control programme.

"Cost control should be coming through very closely behind it, if that's where we're going, because people have to respond to it.

"The clock is ticking, it won't be long until we're into next year. I was hoping we would be seeing something now, at least a skeleton of where we're going but we're getting nothing at all."

Given the amount of information and feedback conveyed by the teams to the sport's owner, Fernley now puts the onus on The Formula One Group to put their decisions on the table.

"There has been a lot of meetings behind closed doors," he said.

"Really now, it's a case of Liberty presenting something that can be considered.

"Ross [Brawn, F1's sporting boss] has taken a very careful approach to everything, he's talked to all the teams, he's got all the feedback.

"They have a direction they want to go into. Now they need to get something out in the discussion process to all teams."

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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.

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