Team Bosses to Meet to Discuss 2004 Changes

Formula One team bosses will meet in London tomorrow for talks over changes to the sport in 2004.

Minardi owner Paul Stoddart, however, insists: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

The 10 team principals will convene at a Heathrow hotel to discuss potential proposals for next season to raise to the Formula One Commission, who they are to meet with on Friday.

Moving qualifying from Saturday afternoon to a Sunday morning has been ruled out, while suggestions of reducing a Grand Prix weekend to two days looks unlikely. But a host of other ideas will be discussed to be tabled to the commission.

The biggest decision that has to be made is on testing rules, with teams currently offered the chance to test throughout the season or run a programme limited to 10 days and have extra time on track during Grands Prix weekends.

Four teams - Renault, Jaguar, Jordan and Minardi - were entitled to two hours on track on a Friday, but were in turn limited to just 20 days of testing during the season as part of the Heathrow agreement set up earlier this year.

Now, however, there is thought to be pressure mounting for teams to adopt a single testing format next year despite the major teams refusing to limit their testing programmes and cuts rising costs.

"We have not agreed what to do yet," said Stoddart, who is proposing to run his two-seater cars in a 'Celebrity Grand Prix' race at events in order to improve the spectacle for supporters. "There are lots of things to discuss and I don't think we will end up playing with it too much.

"I personally am not in favour of any change - not even in testing. I rather like the advantage that the Heathrow teams have at the moment and I am pretty sure you will find at least six teams opting for it next season.

"So far we have agreed not to have qualifying on Sunday and to have a three-day weekend. What format we will have on Saturday and whether we will run celebrity two-seater events on Sundays or whatever is what we need to sort out now.

"It's that old saying: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it. You couldn't have asked for any more from the changes for this year. We have got both championships going down to the wire.

"It will be a big news day in one respect because there is something that will be revealed that will be of big benefit to the small teams and it is nothing to do with the engines."