Williams has 'higher respect' for racing

The Italian giant is coming to the end of a dominant season in which its drivers have won 14 out of the 16 races run so far. But last week's United States Grand Prix was the first where Schumacher and Barrichello were permitted to race each other - only for the German to allow his team-mate to win in a botched formation finish.

While Head accepts Williams and McLaren are both at fault for not challenging Ferrari harder during the season, he also believes a dominant team should still allow its drivers to fight it out for the championship. That is inspite of his own pair, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, clashing at Indianapolis.

"There's no point in making a secret of it that both Frank [Williams] and I have a rather different view than [Ferrari F1 boss] Jean Todt," said Head. "In the years when one team does a job technically that is superior to any other team, whether it be them or their tyres or their engine or a combination of all of them, then I think they've got an obligation to motor racing.

"Jean Todt seems to think that the only obligation he has is to Ferrari. I suppose you've then got to say is the health of motor racing more important than Ferrari or not? Presumably the matter has been discussed closely with Luca [di Montezemolo, Ferrari president].

"Ultimately Frank decides what happens in our team, and I think Frank has a higher respect for motor racing than Jean Todt appears to have."