Analysis: Traction Control Won't be Scrapped Soon

Traction control systems are likely to remain in Formula One this year despite the FIA's wish to scrap them as soon as possible, according to the governing body's president Max Mosley.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) announced on Wednesday that it would use existing regulations to eliminate radio communications between team and driver and those that allow a car's settings to be changed from a distance.

Traction control, an electronically controlled system which reduces wheelspin and increases grip in the wet, was also targeted along with 'launch control' starting devices and fully automatic gearboxes.

However, teams were told that an absolute ban on traction control could be delayed until 2004 if it proved more costly to remove the systems than to keep them.

"The problem will be completely solved in 2004," said Mosley admitting it was unlikely that some teams would abandon the systems before others.

"We'll either agree that it's finished or it isn't finished," he said.

"We've given them the possibility of going on to 2004 and I don't think you'll get somebody switching it off when somebody else has still got it on.

"I would guess they will (run it for this year) but they may all agree to end it sooner. They've undertaken to discuss it and try to see if they can."

Friday Meeting

Mosley said the technical heads of the teams would meet FIA race director and technical expert Charlie Whiting on Friday to discuss the next steps.

He added the most likely outcome would be for them to adopt a standard FIA-provided electronic control unit (ECU), the 'brains' behind engine and transmission systems, to demonstrate compliance with the rules.

Minardi boss Paul Stoddart agreed that some of the measures would have to wait a year for full implementation.

"I think probably some of the changes will be deferred because they are not necessarily able to be done straight away," he said.

Traction control, a common safety feature on mass production road cars, was allowed in Formula One until 1993, when it was banned to prevent technology reducing the importance of driver skill.

The systems were reintroduced in 2001 after the FIA found them tough to police effectively amidst allegations of cheating.

However, Mosley denied on Wednesday that the systems were too sophisticated for the FIA to keep on top of.

"It was alleged that we couldn't police things like traction control. We never believed that but that was the claim and we think that events afterwards demonstrated that we could," he said.

Some observers had expected a shakeup on the grid after the systems were introduced but nothing changed other than champions Ferrari becoming increasingly dominant.

Mosley said the use of a standard ECU, to meet a new requirement that teams show by physical inspection that their cars comply with the rules, would ensure there were no suspicions of cheating.