Team bosses reject handicap plan

F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone and Max Mosley, the president of motorsport governing body the FIA, are behind the raft of changes which was made public at the weekend. A dossier of the plans was delivered to the teams on Monday.

Although Eddie Jordan spoke in favour of the changes yesterday, some of his rivals made it clear that they will fight to stop handicapping being introduced.

Williams technical director Patrick Head said: "I find the suggestion of adding ballast to anyone's car distasteful. Will Arsenal have to field nine men when they play Chelsea - or Pete Sampras have two strings cut from his racket when he meets Tim Henman?

"It is just a knee-jerk reaction because Ferrari have been so dominant. But it is up to the other teams to overtake them and that is something we feel we are more than capable of doing."

McLaren managing director Martin Whitmarsh said: "We will not sign up to any handicapping. Ferrari have done a fantastic job and we and Williams have under-performed. It's up to us to put that right."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezmolo, whose team clearly has the most to lose from such a move, warned that "F1 is not a gymkhana".