Formula One team bosses have reacted positively to the new rules that will be enforced in the 2003 season. But will the rules be enough to stop another Ferrari redwash next year?
Formula One team bosses have reacted positively to the new rules that will be enforced in the 2003 season. But will the rules be enough to stop another Ferrari redwash next year?
The 10 team owners formed a substantial part of the 26-man Formula One Commission, which on Monday drew up a package of new rules to be adopted in 2003. The changes, as published on CARtoday.com on Tuesday, are not radical – considering that driver swapping and weight penalties had been suggested earlier.
However, most of the F1 team representatives say the new rules will “go some way to spice up the show and address the problem of declining viewing figures,” reported on Tuesday.
“The most pleasing thing is that there was not a dissenting voice,” said BAR boss David Richards. “We are in a cyclical phase and we are not witnessing the death throes of F1. Some will say the rule changes are not enough, but F1 has been very successful for the past 20 years and we didn’t want to tip things too far.
“I believe that this is everything that is needed but we will have to wait for the middle of next season to see. I think next season is probably going to be vintage F1 again,” Richards added.
BMW motorsport boss Gerhard Berger said: “I’m happy that drivers swapping cars and a weight handicap aren’t going to happen.
“The adopted measures are sensible, but we’ll have to see how they work in practice. The weather and state of the track are going to play a huge role in qualifying. But the new distribution of points makes sense, it will increase the number of teams who can score points,” the Austrian told .
According to reports, Eddie Jordan’s cash-strapped team stands to drastically reduce its costs by opting to test for fewer than 10 days in exchange for greater track time on a GP weekend.
“It was a good meeting with some very, very positive moves forward,” Jordan said. “I have been calling for changes to improve the show, and also to control costs, for a while, and I think the outcome of the meeting is very encouraging.”
Jaguar team principal Niki Lauda was more cautious in his praise, but was at least happy with one of its aspects. “The team orders are gone, which is the most important thing,” he said.
Ferrari team boss Jean Todt was also pleased with the way the teams worked together to reach agreement on the rule changes.
“It is a positive step in light of the forthcoming meeting of the F1 Technical Working Group on December 4,” Todt said.
“I am particularly pleased about the changes affecting qualifying, as they will make Fridays more interesting, as we will immediately be able to see what the pecking order is. They should also produce different grids to the norm, which will improve the show.”
