RULES BLITZ RISKS 'CRISIS'

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from itv-f1.com:

RULES BLITZ RISKS 'CRISIS'

Last Updated: Monday, 23, August, 2004, 01:31

McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh has warned that the raft of rule changes planned for F1 next season could plunge the sport into crisis.

FIA president Max Mosley wants to implement radical changes aimed at cutting costs and curbing escalating speeds, and put a set of draft regulations to the teams for discussion.

After initially receiving a surprisingly warm welcome, Mosley's blueprint has since fallen out of favour. But team principals have repeatedly failed to reach agreement over an alternative set of regulations. If the stalemate is not broken by the FIA's 6 September deadline, the governing body will impose changes on safety grounds.

While agreeing that spiralling costs need to be addressed, Whitmarsh claims that F1 doesn't need a root-and-branch rules overhaul.

"We don't agree with the changes that are being proposed," he told BBC Online. "We understand why people want to make changes, but we think there are too many and it will be bad for F1."

He added that the timescale of the proposed changes is unrealistic and will actually increase costs as teams struggle to ready their cars in time for the new season.

He said: "If you want to control costs in F1 you have to have new rules in good time - otherwise you have to respond and it costs more money."

McLaren's engine supplier Mercedes is known to be strongly opposed to the proposal to replace the current 3-litre V10 engine formula with 2.4-litre V8 power units, which Mosley hopes will cut power output to around 700 bhp and significantly reduce top speeds.

At the other end of the F1 food chain, privateer outfits Minardi and Jordan are eager to see cost-cutting measures implemented, but are unhappy with the indecision which they say puts smaller teams at an even greater disadvantage.

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart said: "We haven't got a clue what the regulations are going to be, and I think it's devastating for the small teams. We are not preparing and getting ready to build a new car simply because we cannot afford to make a wrong choice.

"I would like to think that if we are going to be so late coming up with agreement on what it is we are building cars to next year, then some consideration is given to small teams to give us a fighting chance."