Head alleges 'manipulation' over engines
Williams technical director Patrick Head has suggested that there are deeper motives than cost-cutting behind the proposals to limit engine useage over a Grand Prix weekend. The suggestions to limit engines have the support of Ferrari and are due to be discussed in Paris on March 19.
Speaking at the opening round of the world championship in Melbourne, however, Head said: "It's politics. As it is at the moment, Michelin tyres are very good, but they need scrubbing for 10 laps, sometimes 15. If you have a two-stop race that means we have to do 45 laps to prepare our tyres for the race.
"Now, if you are Ferrari, with tyres that don't need scrubbing and with Michael Schumacher, who only needs one lap to get a time out of the car, your best way of doing damage to your two serious competitors is to propose one engine for a weekend."
This season, McLaren-Mercedes have joined Williams-BMW in using Michelin tyres and Ferrari are alone among the top three in running Bridgestones, which don't need scrubbing.
"It's all politics," said Head. "We are being manipulated. That's what's going on."
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