"We have people who have a boat of 50 metres, we have people that don't have a drink of water" says FIA president
Thursday 21 January 2016 11:29, UK
FIA president Jean Todt says F1 must make rules which cannot be influenced by budgets as he is powerless to affect the amount the teams receive in commercial revenue.
F1's financial deals are struck between the teams and the commercial rights holder which is fronted by Bernie Ecclestone.
Todt feels the current structure reduces the competitiveness of the grid, but feels powerless to change it.
"The FIA has nothing to do with that. It is a link to the teams, the manufacturers and the commercial rights holder," he said.
"Clearly it is a question if you give to the richest the most money and you give to the poorest the least money guess what happens? But I know exactly where I have the power and the strength and I don't have the power to say 'give this much money to this one relative to this one'. It is not in our hands.
"So in this case let's try to identify regulations which are not penalising people who have less money than the others."
However, Todt admits such is the self interest in F1, teams are unlikely to agree to monetary equality.
"We have people who have a boat of 50 metres, we have people that don't have a drink of water. That is life. That is why is I say in our golden gate of Formula 1 we should be facing sensible people and doing what is good for our sport," he added.
"Unfortunately very often it is self-interest rather than global interest which is discussed. I agree it would be much healthier if you have a good governing body who give rules which would make things much more equal for everybody.
"We should have a governor for that, so if they want I am very happy to take that on board."
Force India and Sauber have already lodged a complaint with the European Union over the distribution of F1's revenues and Todt feels the outcome of any investigation will back his position.
"When people are threatening European Commission and things like that I am very relaxed as it can only go in favour of the FIA," he said.
"Don't forget I have had a heritage, I have had to deal with the heritage that I have had."
