F1 drivers may continue to use aids such as traction control, launch control and fully-automatic gearboxes until the end of the season.
F1 drivers may continue to use aids such as traction control, launch control and fully-automatic gearboxes until the end of the season.
The sport’s governing body, the FIA, had planned to ban the aids from the British grand prix in July this year.
The FIA said the decision to delay the ban was due to cost and the fact that some of the teams were seeking arbitration on the issue. Williams and McLaren had threatened to go to court. Some of the teams were concerned that they had already spent money developing new systems and wanted to be able to at least use it in 2003.
“The technical devices which will ensure the absence of driver aids require substantial investment,” the FIA said.
“The FIA is reluctant to commit the necessary resources until actual or threatened arbitration proceedings have been resolved.
“Accordingly, the full enforcement of the long-established ban on in-car driver aids will be delayed until the first race of the 2004 season.
“If current uncertainties have not been resolved before the deadline for ordering the technical devices for 2004, competing teams will be required to demonstrate the absence of driver aids to the satisfaction of the stewards at each event of the 2004 and subsequent championships.”
