Toro Rosso's Tost: budget cap can work!

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Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost is firmly in the camp of those who believe that a restraint on spending could successfully work in Formula 1.

The sport's new owner, Liberty Media, is seriously thinking of implementing a spending cap sometime in the near future.

The idea was devised in the past by former FIA President Max Mosley and led to a heated debate with the teams at the time, several of which threatened to quit the sport if the plan went through which ultimately led to its demise.

Should Liberty attempt once again to force the issue, it could once more lead to division, although Franz Tost is very much in favour of the idea.

"Give each team, for example, 150 million euros with the FIA watching over it," he told Austria's Tiroler Tageszeitung.

"The big teams will cry foul, that there is no way to control costs but this is nonsense. At Toro Rosso, I know how much each screw costs.

"Many claim you cannot control it, but that's nonsense as well… if somebody doesn't want to present their expenditures, it could be pretty easy: then the FIA could charge this team twice the average price of the part in question. Then you'll see how fast all invoices would be filed with the FIA."

Tost, whose views may run counter to those of Red Bull over in Milton Keynes, argues that the future of Grand Prix racing could be put in jeopardy if costs are not reined in sooner rather than later.

"We need to reduce the costs. It shouldn't be that a team spends 450 million euros a year. On the other hand, we bargain for a few cents when it comes to road cars.

"Even the manufacturers cannot accept sums like this forever. It's not feasible. We spend way too much money on F1."

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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.