The paramount aim will be to adapt to the economic environment - Theissen

On Friday 12 December, the World Motor Sport Council ratified the radical cost-cutting measurements for Formula One. These proposed changes have the unanimous agreement of the Formula One teams, who have played a major role in their development. BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen about the FIA World Motor Sport Council's decisions:

"The decisions reached are a reflection of the intensive efforts made by the various FOTA working groups in recent weeks. The proposals for cost-cutting have also persuaded the FIA. That means we have now established a mutual basis for 2009, and in further stages for the following years, on which to carry out a restructuring of Formula One. The paramount aim in this will be to adapt to the economic environment. We will not, however, be neglecting the interests of the fans. Numerous suggestions are aimed at injecting the Formula One events with greater appeal. The approved measures will certainly require further fine-tuning, but with the spirit that has been shown over the last months, we will be able to resolve the details jointly as well."