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Ecclestone wants €1m whistleblower reward

ESPN Staff
February 9, 2014 « Ecclestone: Bribery charges will be dropped | Lotus form cost Kovalainen - Fernandes »
Ecclestone has drastic plans in mind for the budget cap © Sutton Images
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Bernie Ecclestone is planning to offer a reward of €1 million to anyone who comes forward with evidence of teams breaking the budget cap, which is set to be enforced in 2015.

From next season onwards teams will have to adhere to a $200 million budget cap in an attempt to curb the costs of competing in the sport. Even though such a plan is hard to enforce effectively, Ecclestone hopes the reward will help police the new financial restrictions.

"The plan under consideration is to give €1 million to any whistleblower whose knowledge is proved to be accurate," Ecclestone told the Daily Express.

"We will then say to the team that the following year you will lose three of the maximum points you have scored. Then let's see if they want to cheat."

Ecclestone also told the newspaper the reward will be paid to anyone who has valid evidence, not just F1 personnel.

Though the budget cap has been agreed in principle, Ecclestone admits there is still a lot of work to be done to decide exactly what the new financial restrictions will entail.

"We have approved the budget cap. It is going to happen. Everyone agreed to $200 million," he added.

"What hasn't been agreed is what is in the $200 million. Unless we include everything, I am sure people will find ways around it. It's going to be difficult."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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